The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

Ellieseleven

Well done to each and everyone of you who has reached your debt-free goal. I take my motivation from you all, you are truly inspirational.

Thank you
Ellie x

memberme

Debt free in December 2015, but forgot to post it here. Nice feeling and a hard drive to get here, but worth it in the end.

Good luck to all

thatchamlad

a. The date of your lightbulb moment 1st October 2016
b. Debts at their highest - Over£100,000
c. Debt-Free Date - Apr 2021
d. Your one perl of wisdom- Denial is the mother of all evil. Owing money is not a crime and its not life or death, its just one of those things. Make a plan, stick to it and every time you pay a part of a debt its a step closer to freedom.

Jonzo_2

I'm starting with one huge assumption, namely that having a mortgage does not count in this meaning of debt free. If that is the case then I can proudly. Say that I have never been in debt. From my paper round at 12 until two months ago when I retired from full time work, I have always had a job, had savings and never been overdrawn. Yes I did have a mortgage but paid that off at 55 and never remortgaged in order to fund extensions/holidays/cars etc.

I was one of the lucky ones though. Going to university in the 1970's meant no tuition fees and a nice grant. Add to that the proceeds of working every holiday cleaning in a hospital and I left university solvent and able to buy a motorcycle as I embarked on my first full time job. Since then I have prided myself on never being overdrawn and when I have bought big items such as a car I have saved then bought. That meant second hand cars until I was 52 but the upside was always being solvent. I wish the young generation now had the same opportunities to go to university without incurring debt . They have been let down, not by my generation but politicians and policy makers.

Willowpop

Hello!
Didn't know about this thread until just now.
LBM sometime early in 2013, debt free June 2016
Paid off over 11k.

Feels so good to be debt free at last. 😀😀

QuietOne

a. The date of your lightbulb moment: 2008 when my outgoings were through the roof

b. Debts at their highest: around £32k

c. Debt-Free Date: 21/10/2016

d. Your one perl of wisdom: it is really tempting to borrow money to get the things you want. Don't, saving up makes it more worth while.

TimeToDoIt

Yeah I guess I should be here too!
Woo

Seasidegal58

Date of lightbulb momonet: Non secured debt - Flickered in January 2014; full beam in April 2014; spluttered and died in October 2014 and generator kicked back into action in April 2015!

Debt at highest –Non-secured debt - £33,000 in January 2014.

Debt free date – Mortgage – June 2016; Non-secured debt – July 2016 (though c.£11,000 was paid via compensation payment via work).

Pearls of wisdom – Budget, budget, budget – I use YNAB and have found it invaluable, though plenty of people on here use different systems or their own spreadsheets. Whatever works for you - use it! Also don’t give up when you fall off the wagon – it will happen occasionally – just get back on and continue the ride! I fell off, got very low about it, stopped debt busting and missed some vital months when I could have been clearing things down.

Which Forum Threads Helped You – So many but the major one has to be Debt Free Diaries for all the support and advice. Would thoroughly recommend any DFW to start a diary even if it is just to record your own thoughts.

My Debt free Diary was called - "Scrimping behind the scenes - with debt of £31,000" Link to my current diary below in my signature.

Onmyway2

a. The date of your lightbulb moment
A couple of years ago I started using YNAB as I was struggling to pay the bills, I knew I had debts dating back to 2009 but until it was all laid out before me I really didn't know how serious it was.
b. Debts at their highest
Say it quickly - £22,500
c. Debt-Free Date
Today! Got my final credit card bill of £14.60, paid it off!!!!
d. Your one perl of wisdom.
Stay focused and do whatever it takes. Every penny counts. Also, try comping - free hobby that can provide you with some very nice treats (I won a holiday & quite a few days out I couldn't possibly afford).
e. Links to the MSE guides that helped you
Martins demotivator tool can be a slap in the face but that little print out can certainly stop you spending.
f. Which forum threads helped you
I'm a long time lurker & occasional joiner of the ninja turtles and make £10 a day.


Thanks to all the MSE-ers who have helped and/or put a smile on my face over the last few years. I will now be carrying on with the challenges in hope of saving a deposit for a house.
Onwards and upwards.....

Princesssparkle

lightbulb moment: August 2013
Highest Debt: £22,500
Debt Free Date: 1st October 2016

Pearl of wisdom: Always keep control of your own finances, don't let anyone else talk you into something you don't feel confident with! Know that you're not allowed what you haven't budgeted for.