Debt Free Diaries - The Book?

TriftyDiva

Hi Martin

- this is a public website - and pubished for everyone in the world to read. The ideas are out there

Sorry I'm new to this and hope that the selected text is visible as a quote...

This is my point exactly. Because it is public and free I don't think anyone should have to pay for a book. Alas, as you said, publishers don't produce books for free. Would be nice if they would do it at cost price only at least. Hey probably not in the real world, huh?

Anyhow I guess if the price is not prohibitive and the ones posting the threads don't have a problem with that - who am I to say.. It was only my opinion anyways.

On a different note. I've noticed my silly spelling error in my user name. :eek: How embarrassing. Is there anyway to edit this? If not I'm going to have to sign up anew because I cannot live with that. No wonder the name was available - oh it's been a long day

savingholmes

I think a book of real life stories based on interviews with some of the authors of debt free diaries is a good idea... however I know if I was "selected" for arguments sake and identified by name and it was possible to track it back to my individual diary - there would be some posts that I would need to go back and delete as they could cause me trouble at work or with relatives.... Just a thought...

winner12

Hi there I kinda like the idea how about setting it out like the Grumpy old men and Grumpy old women books with snippets of peoples diaries in with all the debt busting tips some are good humoured and funny especially the banta when you get as low as I have been sometimes they are a good pick me up and I know its personal stuff in there but writing it down is a great leveler and it can keep you going even on your darkest of days

niccatw

I think it's definitely a workable idea.

Those who use the internet and don't want to buy a book have ways and means of finding us all here. But there will always be people who won't, don't, can't. And many people who just want to read a real, actual book version of what's here.

I have friend's who don't use the site (or at least the forums) because they find them huge and unweildy and scary... but would love a pared down version to flick through.

Yes, there's a lot of personal info in the diaries; a reason many of us started them in the first place. And whilst the thought of being identifiable to any-one I have already chosen not to share that info with terrifies me, I'm very well aware I might already be sharing that info with them as they lurk - and I just don't know it.

By the time any identifying bits are taken out, the editors have polished up the semantics and syntax of it all, the boring bits have disappeared (Hypno, I moan a lot about ironing too ) you'd be hard pushed to know whose diary it actually was... but the essence of the diary would be there.

I think it would be a fabulous way of showing all the faces of debt. We all mostly access DFW because we are working our buts off to get out of debt. The reasons we are in debt, the reasons we found ourselves here, the reasons we were brave enough to share our stories and the reasons we stumble (some more than others ) on our journey out of debt are so diverse... and that's something that very hard to get across in the way you want to in a factual book about debt, but is so easily seen in reading the diaries.

Young families, older families, separations, physical health, mental health, addictions, spending beyond means, one daft mistake, bereavement, the amount of debt you are in... The reason behind the debt can be so different for each of us, and so complex too, but, whatever your situation, if you've the time to trawl the diaries, you're bound to find some-one going through a similar situation. And that in itself can be such a life-saver when you are alone and wondering what the hell to do next!

I think it's important to get that out there and let people know there are so many people who understand it, have been through it, are going through and can, will and do support each other through it.

Yup, there's bound to be issues, but they can be worked through.

And we've still many, many cuts to come in the UK... people will need that book more and more. And the debt charities will need any money generated to help them through the ever increasing interest and demand on their services.

I'll step down from my soapbox now folks! Goodnight .

niccatw

winner12 wrote: »

Hi there I kinda like the idea how about setting it out like the Grumpy old men and Grumpy old women books with snippets of peoples diaries in with all the debt busting tips some are good humoured and funny especially the banta when you get as low as I have been sometimes they are a good pick me up and I know its personal stuff in there but writing it down is a great leveler and it can keep you going even on your darkest of days

Winner12 said what I wanted to say much more concisely!

moo2moo

Take away the whinges about OHs and the avoidance of the ironing pile and what you have left is a collection of things that the diary writers have done to make the cash stretch further. It wouldn't read like the diaries do now once this information is removed. It could be entertaining reading in its own right though.

clippy_girl

TriftyDiva wrote: »

Rather than giving x amount of money of annual charitable donations maybe book agents and publishers could be persuaded to produce a free booklet with the best money saving ideas which could then be distributed to debt charities provided the original authors agree to this.

i like this idea hopefully if it sells there would be some money left over after costs so this could be done.

re comments about people in debt having to pay for the book, if you have not had you LBM yet (or if occasaionally even if you have ) you are still spending uncessarily on pointless things eg clothes, coffee, lunches etc... so if the book is bought during this stage then it is not diverting money that would go to repaying debt anyway and if it helps someone have a LMB then its done its job

(also you could get it out the library and then you wouldnt have to pay... although that would defeat the object of point one!:p)

NAEFAGS

i think its a great learning tool for people to see that they are not the only one walking the same path as them (i always thought it was just me in the debt boat)

if it helps people iam up for it no pictures to many chins lol
(air brush);)

Professor_Pat_Pending

An excellent idea provided certain protocols are followed (which I'm sure they will)
Lets face it, more and more people are going to face problems over the foreseeable future and the more education and information that is out there for them the better, in my opinion. PP

beanielou

Excellent idea me thinks.
A long time coming.