The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

gig11

Lbm January 2012

Debt free 20th April 2016 amount paid off £34,200.

We have been on a DMP with Stepchange but made our final payment to Barclaycard ourselves on payday just to be debt free in April rather than May. Couldnt have done it without Stepchange. We started off with 11 creditors and the last 2 standing were Barclaycard and Marks and Spencer the only ones who charged interest . It was hard going but being debt free is the best feeling .

please-let-me-be-lucky

LBM June 2011 after hubby sustained a Severe Brain injury in a motorbike accident. He is still suffering and unable to work. I have become his full time Carer and overnight our earnings DRAMATICALLY reduced.

Debts at highest £23,729.31

Debt Free Date 08/04/2016

Pearl of Wisdom Don't underestimate how much the little extras you pay off can help. An extra payment every week certainly builds up. If you make any extra cash, pay it straight to your debt before it gets swallowed up elsewhere. Make sure you still have days out/little treats etc, but set budgets and where possible look for discounts/coupons/deals. Stick with MSE, you not only learn lots of information to help but you make firm friends too .

robbierude

See you in two months all being well :-)

Muhren

LBM - 10/12/2012 - Also the last time that I had a bet.

Debts at their highest - £38,180

Debt Free Date - 17/04/2016

Your one perl of wisdom - be frugal but don't deny yourself treats along the way, otherwise you will probably go insane.

Which forum threads helped you - lots and not just on the DFW forum, but if I was to pick one, it would be Single DFW as I have been active on there from before my LBM.

Baldybear

Hello world, am so pleased to post in here, apologies in advance if this turns out to be long

a. The date of your lightbulb moment
There has been a few lighbulbs over the past few years, first started a diary on here back in 2010 but the real breakthrough was when split up with ex in June 2013.

b. Debts at their highest
It varied so have broken down my dates:-
June 2010 - £22k Joint with ex
Jan 2012 - £20K Joint with ex
Jan 2013 - £31K - Joint with ex
June 13 - £16K from then on just mine
Jan 14 - £15K
Dec 15 - £8K

c. Debt-Free Date
Today :j:j:j:j:j
It is a bit bittersweet as managed to achieve the last of my complete debt freeness and managed to buy the ex out with an inheritance from my mum. Had achieved so much up to then but ultimately it is her death that has managed to achieve her dream of me being debt free and owning the house in my name, so this mum is for you :T

d. Your one pearl of wisdom
Find your mindset and stick to it, it took me until I was single to find it properly. I did have the right mindset with my ex partner but he was just spend spend spend so was always a never ending viscous circle, so the best wisdom is to make sure you and your partner/family on board, it makes life so much easier
Have sold sold sold on ebay, done surveys etc they all help and bring in those extra pennies to help slay the debt faster.

e. Links to the MSE guides that helped you
Snowball calculator, ebay tips, loads and loads of others cant list them all

f. Which forum threads helped you
Debt free diaries - have read so many and the inspiration gained from them is immense

g. And if you had a debt diary on the Debt-Free Wannabe board (DFW), a link to it
I've had a few - this is my last one - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5385065

My words of help to others:-
Since my time on here I have been through the mill and back in my personal life, to name a few:-
Dad heart attack and then subsequent triple heart bypass
Horse liver failure diagnosis and then he subsequently died
Good - got a new horse in between and a house and mortgage
Split up with ex and all the hassle of buying him out (today )

But its mainly since October last year that my life has gone into free fall. just to mention a few things.....
My mum got ill very quickly, found out had terminal cancer and died within 2 weeks
My horse suffered a major injury 10 days later resulting in 5 stitches and a £1,200 vet bill
Car issues including puncture and cam belt change
Dad diagnosed with Alzheimers
Sorting out house move for dad and sister to help the lifestyle going forward for Dad
Dad having a fall and fracturing his pelvis.

So after all the above to be at the stage now where I am debt free, I have a house, and just the mortgage outstanding, all in my name now I believe that anyone can do it. It takes a lot of hard work, determination but am sure you can get there :D

crunch_time

Crikey Baldybear you have been through the mill haven't you! You should be very proud of your achievements. Best of luck for the future.xx

Baldybear

crunch_time wrote: »

Crikey Baldybear you have been through the mill haven't you! You should be very proud of your achievements. Best of luck for the future.xx

thank you

Catwoman_2015

Hi All

Am a bit delayed in declaring my new debt-free status as have been in and out of hospital recently but am now pretty much fully recovered and able to bask in the glory of my achievement!!

LBM: 2009
Debt at it's highest: £24k
Debt-free date: 1st April 2016
Pearl of Wisdom: Just keep chipping away, however small the chips are! Ooooh, and ALWAYS shop around for the best price whether it be for car insurance, grocery shopping items or big ticket things like washing machines. Spending the extra time really does pay!
MSE Guide: Starting with the Money Makeover day is invaluable. Then learn to budget budget budget. Every penny has a job to do!
Forum threads: Using the debt-free wannabes challenges massively helped me focus on my end goal - knowing you have other people encouraging you to have a set number of "No Spend Days" per month is great.
I didn't keep my own debt free diary online, but I did keep a little notebook that I wrote down mini milestones I wanted to achieve so the task of clearing the debt didn't feel so overwhelming.

Bobarella

Well done Catwoman!

12_month_challenge

Well done catwoman

Enjoy your debt freedom :T