The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

[Deleted User]

So pleased to be able to post here :T

a. The date of your lightbulb moment: November 2017.
I had been living in rather naïve ignorance - I had been overpaying slightly over my minimum, and making bigger payments when I could, but really was kidding myself that that technique would get me back on track. In the back of my mind, I'd convinced myself that if I could really pay attention, I could clear the total in a year, or maybe 18 months. Working out what the reality of that would entail, made me gulp, and then let out some very sweary words :eek: In the end, it's taken 2 years of really putting making the debt a priority, instead of an afterthought.

b. Debts at their highest: £8,619

c. Debt-Free Date: Today! 29th November 2019

d. Your one pearl of wisdom: Get as much debt shifted to 0% as you possibly can It really helped my motivation seeing the total go down by the actual amount I paid to it each month, rather than seeing a chunk being swallowed up by interest.

e. Links to the MSE guides that helped you: Too many to choose from, but the Haggle your Broadband guide was used most recently (and very successfully!)

f. Which forum threads helped you: I’ve found the Pay All Your Debt off by Christmas 2019 to be motivating (helped by my 0% deal expiring on Dec 25th!) however all of the DFW diary threads deserve a mention - there are people working miracles with their finances in there, it's been so inspirational to follow them along.

g. And if you had a debt diary on the Debt-Free Wannabe board (DFW), a link to it: Yes! My diary has been so helpful to keep me motivated and accountable. Thanks to everyone who lurked, liked and posted on it It is here: Going, Going...Still Going!
:j :j

Jami74

a. The date of your lightbulb moment:
October 2018. Was paying £60+ charges on a joint overdraft and one more month would have taken us over the arranged maximum. I helped OH open a personal account and restricted joint spending to bills only. Then I applied for a loan in my own name to pay off the overdraft.
b. Debts at their highest
£5,911
c. Debt-Free Date
01/01/2020
d. Your one pearl of wisdom.
Don't let other peoples spending keep you in debt. Take control of your own money. The less I spent, the more 'available' funds were available for OH to spend. Separating our finances forced both of us to live within our means.
e. Links to the MSE guides that helped you
Obviously the Debt Free Wannabe board, but I also spent quite a lot of time on the Credit Card board and the Loans board learning properly how they work and the Budgeting & Bank Accounts board.
f. Which forum threads helped you?
All of them! Then Energy board helped me save money on electric and water.
g. And if you had a debt diary on the Debt-Free Wannabe board (DFW), a link to it.
I didn't. I was in denial about some of the debt so wasn't counting it and my numbers seemed small compared to others.

doingitanyway

sares wrote: »

Your story brings so much hope to me! I am at my wit's end - I owe about £20,000, I am a single parent, I work part-time and I have to find £500 every month to pay my bills. I think I will take your advice and call CCCS but I am so embarrassed and ashamed. None of my family know and I am too scared to tell them but I need to take that first step so I will call CCCS this week. Thanks

Don't be embarrassed or ashamed just do something about it so you can be proud of facing and dealing with a difficult situation

Cariad21

Lightbulb moment - June 2015
Debts at their highest - £15,000
Debt-Free Date 9th September 2019
Your one pearl of wisdom.

Empty your purse/wallet of all the loose change at the end of the week and squirrel it away in a sealed jar - you'll be amazed at how quickly it fills. Also round down your bank account and send the pennies to your debts. Even small amounts will let you see the light at the end of the tunnel

Links to the MSE guides that helped you
Which forum threads helped you
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6081129/pay-all-your-debt-off-by-xmas-2020
I used the 2019 thread to help clear the last bit of my debt. Being accountable to someone/thing really helped me focus!


No matter the size of your debt, if you keep your focus, make some little sacrifices (whilst remembering to treat yourself and have a life), you will get there! Good luck

backfromthebrink

report

a. The date of your lightbulb moment: 02/01/2007
b. Debts at their highest: £97k
c. Debt-Free Date: November 2018
d. Your one perl of wisdom : Any debt burden can be dealt with if you get your head out of the sand. Don’t be ashamed, address it.

This forum helped me every step of the way! So grateful :money:

beanielou

backfromthebrink wrote: »

report

a. The date of your lightbulb moment: 02/01/2007
b. Debts at their highest: £97k
c. Debt-Free Date: November 2018
d. Your one perl of wisdom : Any debt burden can be dealt with if you get your head out of the sand. Don’t be ashamed, address it.

This forum helped me every step of the way! So grateful :money:

Awesome. Well done

Kamaya

The date of your lightbulb moment: 18/05/2010 (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2476931/doing-something-about-it)
b. Debts at their highest: £17-18k
c. Debt-Free Date: January 2020
d. Your one pearl of wisdom: Swallow your pride, ask for help. The pride you get back when you're debt-free is many, many times larger!

brownie17

Dobby is finally free, he got his sock

Pentacle

a. The date of your lightbulb moment: September 2018
b. Debts at their highest: £7100
c. Debt Free Date: 21st January 2020
d. Your one pearl of wisdom: Document every penny spent to monitor and feel in control, shift debt to 0%. And I made a grid square for each debt, so I could colour in my progress and keep an instant visual reminder of how far I had progressed.
f. Which forum threads helped you: I loved this thread! It's a great motivational boost to read other people's success stories. I also followed the No Spend Day thread.
g. And if you had a Debt diary on the Debt Free Wannabe board: I didn't, but I lurked on so many for inspiration. Special thanks must go to BlackCoffeeNoSugar, whose diary I followed religiously, borrowing all their tips and tricks, and who became my unknowing debt buster buddy. A huge help. I also appreciated all advice given by EnthusiasticSaver, wherever I read it. People on these forums are amazingly supportive and encouraging.

wihising999

That the food and so on you should purchase at places which include Lidl and Aldi (which I turned into very snobby approximately earlier than)is just as suitable as Sainsburys and Waitrose in lots of cases and you may save a fortune by using shopping there.