The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

beanielou

ms_london said:

beanielou said:

Be proud @spendaholic.

I remember you too beanielou. 

I’ve only just logged in for the first time in years, it’s like taking a trip down memory lane! 

A wee blast from the past!
Good to see you 

oops_a_daisy

beanielou said:

ms_london said:

beanielou said:

Be proud @spendaholic.

I remember you too beanielou. 

I’ve only just logged in for the first time in years, it’s like taking a trip down memory lane! 

A wee blast from the past!
Good to see you 

Oh my goodness, all these names from my past x great to see you are all on MSE
Lots of love
Oops A Daisy 

spendaholic

Yup, I'm recognising the names too! Where have we all been?!

We'll all get done for going off topic at this rate! 

sunshine_raincloud

a. The date of your lightbulb moment: January 2022

b. Debts at their highest: £7393

c. Debt-Free Date: Today! 25th November 2022

d. Your one pearl of wisdom: There are so many things that have helped me along the way and I am so grateful for the wisdom of so many people on this forum! My main piece of advice is actually sitting down and figuring out where all your money is going. I remember the sickening feeling of dread when I finally calculated how much money I was wasting per month on take away, eating out and clothes. It is a great motivator to change your behaviour and recognise your triggers for spending beyond your means. Other than that, tracking everything has helped me massively (bills going out, amount of debt paid, savings) and setting up star charts so I could really see that I was making progress. My tactic has definitely been to increase my income where I can to pay off my debt, with bank switching, selling items and surveys really helping a lot. I also took in a lodger to help with funds and took on any extra shifts that I could. Budgeting obviously plays a big part as well. I found waiting at least 24- 48 hours (if not a week..) after the urge to buy something kicked in before clicking the purchase button really meant I more often than not realised I didn't need or want that thing after all. 

e. Links to the MSE guides that helped you: So many.. I remember seeing the article with the debt spiral diagram on and thinking "this is me!" 

f. Which forum threads helped you: Reading other people's diaries has been my main motivator and source of great tips to help with my own journey, so thank you everyone! I couldn't have done this without you  

g. And if you had a debt diary on the Debt-Free Wannabe board (DFW), a link to it:  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6336882/taking-charge-of-debt

DrCarrie

Lightbulb moment September 2020

Debts at their highest £21,170

Debt-Free Date 25th of November 2022

That's me done, on to savings  

enthusiasticsaver

DrCarrie said:

Lightbulb moment September 2020

Debts at their highest £21,170

Debt-Free Date 25th of November 2022

That's me done, on to savings  

Congratulations 😁😁😁

CRANKY40

Lightbulb moment 15th of December 2020

Debts at their highest £9277.32

Debt Free Date 1st of December 2022

Pearl of wisdom - Don't waste time feeling guilty. Spend your time figuring out how to manage with what you have available and working out what you need to do so that you can stay out of debt as much as possible. Having an emergency fund was crucial to me as it stopped me worrying about not being able to afford house repairs. 

shell16

Great news at @CRANKY40 !!

pencakes26

The post I have wanted to do for a very long time 😍

The date of your lightbulb moment 
Many false starts, but the real lightbulb went off in May 2019

Debts at their highest
Over £50k, at lightbulb moment in 2019 it was around £44k

Debt-Free Date
26th November 2022

Your one pearl of wisdom
You should never be ashamed of asking for help. I definitely made things worse for myself by ignoring my problems and trying to hide it from those closest to me. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed of my situation that I allowed it to consume me, it wasn’t fun at all. Once I finally got help from Stepchange, I felt more in control and started to talk about the situation to my close friends and family. It was genuinely life changing. 

Which forum threads helped you
Many, especially when looking for information and advice, but I can’t recommend enough setting up your own debt free diary. It was a judgement-free space to empty my thoughts, track my journey and speak to like minded people. The kindness of strangers is amazing. It meant a lot to me. ❤️

And if you had a debt diary on the Debt-Free Wannabe board (DFW), a link to it https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6090608/a-return-to-mse-with-a-dmp-so-i-can-be-debt-free

rigare11a

The date of your lightbulb moment
August 2021

Debts at their highest
Started at £5824 - started to pay off then had to replace car and added £9000! 
Total - £14,824

Debt-Free Date
January 17th 2023

Your one pearl of wisdom?
There will be set backs (like my car needing replacing) you are just going to have to roll with them and readjust the plan of action. Life isn't linear and neither will the journey to being debt free

Which forum threads helped you?
Other debt diaries made me revaluate what I was 'wasting' money on. And what was really essential. This is not to say that I have not spent on non essentials or fun things but they were better planned and considered. I have also found cash stuffing has been an amazing help and has enabled me to start saving. 

And if you had a debt diary on the Debt-Free Wannabe board (DFW), a link to it , you can find this in my signature : )