Have you told anyone about your debt?

James240

nope no one knows about my debt kept it all to myself, friends and family think im debt free, which is best all round i think.

Glitterari

lynzpower wrote:

the world and his wife know about my debt. I bore everyone to tears lol

I am with lynz on this one - everyone knows - OH, Mum, friends, work colleagues...I'll talk to anyone who listens.

I also bore everyone to death talking about this site - it's an execellent prelude, talking about my debt and I am overcoming it with the help of MSE.

Then I bore everyone some more telling them all about how to reclaim their bank charges.

I never get invited to the pub anymore...I wonder why?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

But - one thing is for sure, I am not in the slightest bit ashamed of my debt. It's just one of those things that is all too common in modern society, way to easy to get into and difficult to get out of.

I am in fact extremely proud of myself for sorting it out and paying it all back - it wasn't so long ago that paying it all back seemed like it would never happen. That's one of the best things about telling people about my debt - also telling them how well I am doing now...

Maybe it is because I never had 'much' debt to start off with (I'm not inc the student loan here!), maybe because I'm young and I know I have been lucky having my lightbulb moment before things got a lot worse...

Sorry for the ramble...

dottyanne

Me and hubby only know the full extent - my dad is staying with us at present and i think he has an idea though of course not by how much and to whom - i think personal debt IS very personal - my family wouldnt be able to really help me so theres no need to worry them with this - me and hubby are both adults and that said we were old enough/responsible!! enough to get into debt thus we should be able to get out by ourselves too - sometimes i feel like telling everyone and i do compare our lives and the constant budgeting to other family members and friends and i must admit i am jealous when they get new clothes/holidays etc - but as i said its our debt. our secret i suppose and weve got to deal with it

dotty xx

amosworks

I positively enjoy telling people about how much debt I used to be in but how it's all changed, and the ones most interested but who pretend they don't need the information and the ones that listen eagerly and nod their heads in agreement whilst faking they knew the advice all along are doubtless the ones that need the info more than others

Those disinterested are usually those that know nothing of money troubles YET. But, I suspect, the future will hold an interesting turn of events when advice is sought. Be it in several months or several years, it'll happen one day and because I was open in talking about my debt they will probably confide their debt secret to me.

You're either smart with money or in debt, simple as

oOMiaOo

My boyf is the only one who knows the amount, and his reaction when I told him is enough to put me off telling anyone else again EVER! I feel a lot better now I've joined these forums, as I feel that people are non-judgemental and supportive.

What I have done though is tell the people that I'm likely to spend money with (family, friends and colleagues) that I have debts, am trying to pay them off, and that therefore money is kinda tight. This really helps, because they know not to put me in any expensive situations eg posh restaurants.

LookingAhead

Lindylou54 wrote:

No one knows about our debt, except some very close friends. I didn't know about it until November last year when my husband told me his business had lost everything including the £100,000 he had remortgaged our house for. I have never been in debt in my life, always worked hard and come from a culture that buying your house was your security in old age. We are now in our late 50's and are drowning in debt, I feel ashamed, isolated, embarrassed, I lead a double life. Some days I can't stop crying

Awwwww LindyLou54......please post your SOA on a new thread and let us help you. Don't feel isolated, take a look around you here, you are surrounded by fellow debtors, some to a lesser degree granted, but some have big debts too. It's all relative and everyone is supportive.

MASSIVE hug to you. Please come back.

LookingAhead

As for me and my debt, well my OH knows now exactly how much as he saw my signature on this site (he didn't know it was me though) and said "Oh dear that's a lot..." and I said "errrr, that's me".

I didn't know how he would react but he was cool. I said "I don't want you to worry, I have it under control.." and he said "OK.....I won't worry".

Ever since he has been even more supportive & understanding about any frugal choices/decisions I make. We talk regularly too about what I am paying off next etc etc. I am so glad he looked over my shoulder that night!

My Mum knows I owe money but not how much. Some of my very close friends know (and are in similar situations) and are supportive.

Everyone else knows I have credit cards & a loan (everyone is moaning about it though to be honest) but not the amount.

lynz - you make me laugh! "The world and his wife..." :rotfl:

In_Search_Of_Me

I've told quite a few people & everyone close to me knows. Most have been really supportive ie my mum paidfor us to go on hol sends me tesco vouchers!)...couldnt do it without them and you lot...was very ashamed though but got through that! Its a very personal choice & depends largely on how close you are & partly your personality too!! Just do what is right for you as an individual - no right or wrong me thinks.

Mrs_Sparkle

Only Mr Sparkle knows- and he only has a rough idea of the figure. He also has a CC and an Egg loan roughly the same as mine which he is paying off monthly. Thank goodness we earn ok salaries and are lucky enough to pay off more than the minimum.

I joke with friends + colleagues about "my debts" but I wouldn't dream of sharing the figure. Like Dottyanne says, we got ourselves into this mess so we need to deal with it and not worry anyone else with it. But it's lovely to share it with you nice people *group hug*

postingalwaysposting

only my mum really and you lot, i have said stuff in passing to my sister (i cant do that/go there as i am paying back my debt) but she never asks any details so i dont tell anyone, and to be honest its not that much (nearly gone now) i am just glad i stopped when i did, before i confessed all on a thread on here 14/05/06 i was going to get another credit card :eek: but i decided enough was enough (then i told my mum), nearly debt free, fingers crossed the end of the week - i would have got debt free in under a month then, thank god for ebay :j