Debt-Free Wannabee Book Suggestions

Let_Robinson_Sing

Name and shame unethical DCA'S and DMC'S

advertise all the free DMC'S

Oh and also funny stories about correspondance people have had with DCA'S

tirednurse_2

How about explanations of what CCJ's and Charging Orders are?

Before I discovered this site I thought that a CCJ would involve me having to go to a criminal Court. I also thought that my creditors could force me to sell my home in order to pay off my debts.

Creditors have a way of wording things when they contact people which implies that all kinds of terrible things can happen.

MinnieSpender

How about a concise description of what happens in a civil court in cases of CCJs or bankruptcy. I've noticed that many posters are really scared by the legal process while it's really not that frightening at all.

*zippy*

The whats the cost-snowball calculator is very helpful

https://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx

Sorry if its already be mentioned

LookingAhead

I agree that an explanation about snowballing would be really helpful.

Definitely advice on not consolidating unless you really have to! Groan...why oh why did I learn about that after 16 years of consolidating!? Please make it stop for others..!

I would have loved to have read articles/advice on the whole psychological thing with spending...the "making yourself feel better then regret over the spending" cycle. And how all this "stuff" is worthless unless you tackle problems in other areas of your life.

Stories about fronting out your so called mates who can't get their heads around the fact that your life won't implode if you refuse to buy the latest plasma tv etc. I think they would be pretty good...and hopefully inspiring to others who are caught in the 'gadget trap'?

The Debt Free & Fat Free Wannabe thread I started seems to have touched a few people...advice on how to get fitter for free or on the cheap. Gyms are not always the answer (or the sensible option if you are hard up).

These are just a few that spring to mind immediately.

Emmzi

I think a psychology of debt section might be interesting. Not a massive deep exploration but maybe some self assessments to help people understand why they overspend. For example,

... it is important that I have genuine designer clothes because...
... it is important that I buy the first round because...

to help people challenge the underlying reasons.Something about immediate gratification versus lifelong security. Linked in to 'light bulb', I guess.

lynzpower

completely agree about the psychology of debt being a big requirement.Im sure none of us really believed debt wouldnt cost us more in the long run, but debt still seemed so appealing. Without a real discussion of this, maybe Martin have a look at some basic cognitive bahavioural therapy stuff, it can be very useful, and one of the few accessible therapies IMHO that can be understood by many and can be shown visually, with flow chart/ the "flower" - have a look at that, I think it might work really well.

Cheers
Lynz

oOMiaOo

OberonSH's thread is brilliantly written, and has a great balance between taking the debt seriously but seeing it with humour.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=206002

On the psychology of debt side, perhaps we could have something on how easy it is to get debt - whether the credit companies are being irresponsible etc. I remember a thread where people discussed who was responsible for debt (the debtor, the creditors, a combo of both) - I think it was started off by a student who wanted info for a project, but I'm sorry, I can't find it.

I think a, say, 10 step plan of how to get yourself out of debt would be great. Eg make a list of debts, start a spending diary, do an SOA, do a budget, change any debts you can to the lowest poss interest rate, switch your suppliers etc.

And I agree that a list of small things you can do would be great - sometimes your debts are so overwhelming that you just sit there looking at them, being scared. Giving a list of small actions (perhaps grouped by time taken - 5 minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour - and perhaps with an indication of how much you can save...almost like a recipe!) will help to get people on the road to debt freedom.

Success stories - definitely.

How to get back on the wagon when you've fallen off, without beating yourself up over it.

all_hours

I think there should be a section on how to recognise you've got a debt problem - with a budget planner or SOA template. Advice to work out how big the problem really is - in some cases trimming household bills will balance the figures, for others DMPs or IVAs would be needed. Then as other posters say a comparison of the 'big three' with details of what's involved.

A chapter for cutting back on household bills including utilities and food shopping.

A chapter on moving debt around to make it as cheap as possible.

Examples of how much debt costs - putting £2000 on a card for a sofa and paying the minimum each month - how much did that sofa really cost.

How to manage joint finances if the debts haven't been jointly created. Tips on coming clean with the OH.

A section that deals with the root causes of debt. Gross overspending/small overspending for years/gambling/alcohol/car mats. There are quite a few posters with 40/50/60k debt from gambling. So information on Gamblers Anon and software to block gambling sites.

loobyloo1980

what a great idea!!!! I would definitely buy the book. I agree with most of the suggestions made on here already, can't think of anything off the top of my head at the moment. Lightbulb moment would probably be my number 1.