The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

beanielou

Great new for you SRM

mummum2

Well done SRM! wwonderful achievement.

Paragon

Lightbulb moment
2nd January 2007

Debts at their highest
£21,000

Debt-Free Date
28th September 2009

Your one pearl of wisdom
It is hard, but keep at it, the little things do count, keep records and set yourself an achievable target. I learnt that life almost always costs more than I thought it would which was depressing until I simply adjusted my budget and targets to allow unforeseen costs and extras.
Remember, in the end it is so worth it!!

Mrs_Tradition

WOW Congratulations - Proof there's light at the end x

cashless_wonder

Lightbulb Moment: December 2008

Debt at Highest: £5,500

Debt Free Date: 30th September 2009 (5 months ahead of plan)

Pearl of Wisdom: When it came to the last 1.4 K I did some careful APR vs Savings Interest maths and took Martin's advice to chuck what savings you have against the debt . . . Even with a low APR balance transfer I would of been racking up a transfer fee to add to the debt so I worked out my money would be better spent in the long run by killing the beastie there & then before the 0% ran out. I can now work out a realistic budget for each month & FINALLY get my own place !!!!!

josephine82

Lightbulb Moment: April 2009
Debt at Highest: £3,264
Debt Free Date: 2nd October 2009
Pearl of Wisdom: Spending Diary- I went through my statements at the end of every month and shocked myself with the money that I spent unecessarily. It really helped to open my eyes as to where my money was going and made me think twice every time I wanted to buy something that I didn't really need.

(Land_of)_Maz

Hello - can i come in..... i am so stunned to be here i just don't know where to begin....

however if i post on here it means i am in no danger of going back.... as this is the first time i've been in the black since 1992.... when i was an 18 year old fresher! goddam student debt and all subsequent stupidity!

a. Lightbulb - April 2007
b. ooooer easily 10-12k, didn't really count it til it was coming down!
c. today, friday 09th October 2009
d. Claim back all PPI's you can, even if you don't know if you paid it, write to them and ask! i have had approx £5k back in PPI's across 2 seperate car loans....

Of all the advice i gained from this site, template letters when i came here looking to reclaim bank charges in 2007... i have to confess the one thing i have gained the most is true friends and an overwhelming sense of community, especially in the DFW peeps.....

now i am debt free i know i'll always be a debtfreewannabe at heart, always....

Thanks Martin!

beanielou

Congratulations hun :j:D:j xxx

mummum2

Well done (land) of Maze, Really great achievement:beer::beer::T:T:T:T

MM2

scrooge2008

Well I am very pleased to report, that having gone through my spreadsheets, and having paid in a large cheque, for a ridiculous number of hours that I worked last month, along with money from an equally silly number of mystery shops, my overdraft is now clear and this is my DEBT FREE DAY.

I am also totally cream crackered!!

Now going to concentrate on building up a savings buffer, to avoid slipping back into overdraft.

I made myself sprint to the finish line, as I thought if I didn't, i'd collapse with 100 yards to go, and never
move again.

My LBM was in April 2008, when following redundancy in the February, I was looking at a drop in income from 50k per year to JSA. The redundancy package practically paid off the mortgage, but our problem was living on a drastically reduced income, after having being used to a rather pampered existence.

For the first three months I continued to live as though I was on the old income and racked up debts of £1,500.

It has taken me 16 months to clear that debt and learn to live within a greatly reduced budget, but I have done so by fully embracing the MSE principles.

One bit of advice - it's actually really hard work. Changing ones self and learning self discipline, persistence, and a positive attitude, are not easy. But as David Cameron said yesterday, the VIEW FROM THE TOP IS WORTH IT!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1374957