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The Debt Free Roll Of Honour
Comments
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# No.2 Save 1p A Day Challenge 2026 £295.85 / £667.95 (5)# No.4 Save £12k in 2026 - £7495.78 / £12,000 (5)# £10-a-Day Challenge 2026 - £89.85 / £1825 (5)# No.8 Sealed Pot Challenge 19 (24/10) 286.45 / £400 (5)# No.27 - Top Up EP 2 £350 / £2880 (5).# No.4 £2 Savers Club 2026 - Completed# No.5 Fiver Friday Challenge 2026 - Completed# Make £2026 in 2026 - Completed1
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The date of your lightbulb moment:
Approx September 2024, at first tried to DMP due to having a slary sacrife car (I'll go into that for anyone in the same boat in the pearl of wisdom section) , then was recommended an IVA (This was bad advice) but eventually completed a DRO.
Debts at their highest:£37892
Debt-Free Date:28/03/26
Your one perl of wisdom:I found myself in the position where I didn't have a mortgage, nothing of any value but had just taken on a salary sacrifice car because I required transport for the nature of my job and had no spare cash to get a car. After speaking to a nice gentleman at Money Wellness he pointed out Stepchange, who had previously sent me down an IVA route due to said vehicle were completely wrong. It transpires there is a section in the DRO guidance stating that if the vehicle is required for work it is allowed. If anyone else finds themselves in the same position please check this guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/debt-relief-orders-guidance-for-debt-advisers#salary-sacrifice--leased-vehicle
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I'm debt free! I planned to be debt free by my 50th, but missed that by a couple of months. Ive always, always been in debt. Highest I calculated was about 35k, but I dont think that's the highest it ever was. Ive spent years paying hundreds and hundreds in interest every month. For the last few years ive worked every hour I could get, every unsociable shift I could get and traded annual leave for wages. It will finally be cleared tomorrow!
Like others have posted before me, ive had to be single minded and miss out on a lot of things other people do. But I was already missing out on most of them due to loan, card and intetest payments.
My Personal 'hack' when I get the urge to spend is to allow myself a vinted purchase. The rules are: must be high end designer, must be something I really like, and must be very, very cheap (like under £5 cheap). Its do-able, but can take hours of searching, and of making low offers and waiting for a response. Mostly I get bored and dont buy anything, but it scratches the itch 😁
The other thing i did was listened to financial podcasts such as Dave Ramsey etc. I dont agree with everything, but it helps to keep my brain in the right direction listening to personal finance and debt management talk on my commute each day.
I have no-one at all to tell about my debt-freeness, so I'm telling you all! I think I'll keep the pedal to the metal for a little bit longer to build up some financial resilience. While I do that I'll think about the longer term. I'm not sure how long my brain will take to believe this is true! 😁😁😁😁😁
About 35k March 24
<then many hours working, little sleep, much grumbling>
Now:
£13577 Jan 25
£9500 Dec 2511 -
Be proud..
I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** in ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 19months left.2 -
Massive congratulations, that's a fantastic achievement.
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Well done, that`s a fantastic achievement, free from the chains at last!!
I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter1 -
Am debt free again, but this time i'm not relapsing. Am too old now in my early 50's - i'm done with debt!
The date of your lightbulb moment - Feb 2023
Debts at their highest - highest point 2015 but was cleared and slowly built up to 10k 2023/24
Debt-Free Date - 17 April '26
Your one perl of wisdom - Don't spend money on things you don't need if that money can pay a debt
Will save the £ spent on loan & cc's so my older years can be debt free 😁
May 26 NSD 5/16
Mag 26 Grocery challenge £0/£310
Debt-Free April 20263 -
@Sallyp2 - CONGRATULATIONS! Enjoy your renewed found debt freedom and liberation. Welcome to the Debt free, Chain free Club 🎉🎉🎖️✨🎇
@peacocking - AWESOME and a wonderful achievement. Welcome to the Debt free, Chain free Club 🎉🎉🎖️🎇✨
What an inspiration you both are; and others, to those who have grabbed the bull by the horns by reading posts on this MSE forum and are now dealing with their debt silently, but surely in the background🤗🤩😎. It takes courage to admit debt to yourself, let alone being able to post on MSE 🙌🙌🙌
# No.2 Save 1p A Day Challenge 2026 £295.85 / £667.95 (5)# No.4 Save £12k in 2026 - £7495.78 / £12,000 (5)# £10-a-Day Challenge 2026 - £89.85 / £1825 (5)# No.8 Sealed Pot Challenge 19 (24/10) 286.45 / £400 (5)# No.27 - Top Up EP 2 £350 / £2880 (5).# No.4 £2 Savers Club 2026 - Completed# No.5 Fiver Friday Challenge 2026 - Completed# Make £2026 in 2026 - Completed2 -
😍 thank you
officially debt free - cc's closed. Spending bank holiday snoozing in bed - not spending - watching spendaholics on you tube for free x
May 26 NSD 5/16
Mag 26 Grocery challenge £0/£310
Debt-Free April 20261 -
Souns like the perfect Bank Holiday Monday to me! Love the watching spendaholics on youtube as it certainly puts you off shopping and spending, that's for sure 😲🙃🤐.
# No.2 Save 1p A Day Challenge 2026 £295.85 / £667.95 (5)# No.4 Save £12k in 2026 - £7495.78 / £12,000 (5)# £10-a-Day Challenge 2026 - £89.85 / £1825 (5)# No.8 Sealed Pot Challenge 19 (24/10) 286.45 / £400 (5)# No.27 - Top Up EP 2 £350 / £2880 (5).# No.4 £2 Savers Club 2026 - Completed# No.5 Fiver Friday Challenge 2026 - Completed# Make £2026 in 2026 - Completed2
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