New around here.....and an attempt at a diary!!

DebtFreeDan

Hi there my name is Dan and I admit to being a bit of a lurker on this forum. I decided to join tonight after reading a couple of threads about being in debt and also being single and coping with it all on your own. As I also fall into that category I felt it would be good to get involved with the friendly folk on here who also have something in common with me!! :j

The good news is I finally owned up to my debt at the start of this year, around £28,000 worth of credit cards and loans and overdraft etc etc...
I decided to register with an IVA company who arranged a 49% payback of debt to all my creditors over 5 years. At the time this was a massive relief and weight off my shoulders as I had (and still have) more money to live off each month than I ever did without worrying and losing sleep over paying bills! I must admit though I sometimes do struggle to make ends meet and occasionally borrow from friends or family to try and survive!! I hope that by joining this forum it will encourage me to stop borrowing money and budget better. Basically I need keeping on the straight and narrow on my journey towards debt-free-ness!! (?)

Since January 2008 I've lost £360 which amounts to just over £8 a week on gambling. This doesn't sound a lot but boy I could do with that £360 right now!! Being honest about it and sharing my situation with other people on here may help me since I can't really talk about it with my friends or family. I won't consider giving up gambling since I do enjoy it so much but I DO hope to gamble less frequently over the next 53 months.....yes that's when I'll be debt free - February 2013 :T

I guess I'll set up a signature soon to encourage me on my journey and give me hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!! Thanks for listening!

Dan

SazM030306

Hi Dan and welcome How about posting up your SOA and some nice people will make helpful comments on how to cut down your spending!

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Good luck!
Saz x

Buffythedebtslayer

hey Dan Welcome to the forum!

its fab, soon you will be obsessed with the price of everything and once you get into those challenges! there is no turning back!!

Good luck with everything xxxx

DebtFreeDan

Ok thanks Saz and Buffy, I may just post up my SOA tonight or over the weekend!

This place is huge there are so many threads to explore, late for work already.....:rotfl:

Dan

Miss_Piggy_2

Hi Dan

Welcome to the site....in my opinion the best one on this site!

Get that SOA posted up and I'm sure you'll get loads of suggestions. I've managed to cut everything back, from utility bills, mobile bills to groceries.

Good luck!

Miss P
xx

Smamfer

((hugs))

^^welcome hug to you dan... i m one of those single debt people too so i know what your going through.. I used to do a bit of online gambling in the form of bingo and got a bit out of hand went from enjoying the game to chasing a win,,,

But i hope you stick to it,, i sometimes feel like having a naughty day but i pop on here i get excited updating my sig and reading all th support just keeps you going xx

Lula-Hula

Miss_Piggy wrote: »

Hi Dan

Welcome to the site....in my opinion the best one on this site!

Get that SOA posted up and I'm sure you'll get loads of suggestions. I've managed to cut everything back, from utility bills, mobile bills to groceries.

Good luck!

Miss P
xx

Hi Dan & welcome,

I couldnt have worded it any better than MissPiggy has. Many of us also do surveys & the like to increase our income / gain freebies. If you're not already joined up try quidco, I bought new car insurance yesterday & what with getting paid to use gocompare & actually buying the insurance I received £47.30 into my account. Getting paid to shop ... I love it .

Good luck & do post up your soa if you're ready to slash the cost of living

Lula xx

mummum2

Good luck Dan and welcome! this site isthe place to be with regards to help and getting debt sorted.

MM2

doodledo_2

Hi and welcome to the forum and good luck with your journey to be debt free.

There is a gamblers/ex gamblers support thread on this board which may be worth you joining.

DebtFreeDan

Thanks guys I appreciate your comments, I've managed to sort out a signature today which will spur me on as the months tick by..... the debt-free-day seems a long long way off tho..... at least I'll reach it before I'm 40! :j

Dan

Sea78

Hey Dan Welcome and well done on posting for SOA - I haven't got anything to add at the mo - but sure you'll have lots of different suggestions from others

xx