The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello,

I have waited a couple of weeks to post this since I can't quite believe it. Am I really posting in the Debt Free Roll of Honour!!?


a.The date of your lightbulb moment

I joined in September 2007, my best friend had told me about Martin Lewis. She had seen him on TV and bought his book - Thrifty Ways for Modern Days..... She didn't know I had debts, but she did know I like natural cleaning products.......! So I bought the book too (now I would just borrow it obviously!).

Any how I started reading the Oldstyle forum from the links in the book and discovered the Debt Free Wannabee forum. I had believed Debt was normal, it was fine and everyone had it. It literally never occurred to me that I could be debt free, I had gotten used to simply moving the debt around to various 0% cards and loans.

The more I read, especially the diaries the more I wondered if I had it right. In real life People really don't talk about money at all and I had no idea if my friends had debts and vice versa. Its funny, they knew so much about me but not the money stuff. People on the forum spoke openly about that feeling in a shop when you buy something to make you feel better or working out payments and realising you don't have enough, that awful sinking pit of the stomach hit at the end of the month. I was manging my payments but my life couldn't move on whilst I was paying out almost a thousand pounds a month in debts! I was in a holding pattern...waiting for some thing to change. And I had found all these people who were making that change.

I think my light bulb moment happened in October 2007, I was utterly frozen in horror when I looked at my DebtFree date (August 2012) I knew perfectly well that before that I would continue my cycle of borrowing more money, I had just recently started to spend on another credit card. Oh I felt like such a screw up. It was horrible. So I started my first diary and the rest is history.

I won't lie folks it has been a tough 3.5 years, alot happened at work and in my personal life - as it does with everyone but the feeling of being debt free and actually really knowing I can move on now. I feel very lucky and like I am finally free.



b. Debts at their highest

£24240 (could have been higher, but I never fully worked it out:o probably not more than 25000:o)

c. Debt-Free Date

14th June 2011

14 months early on the loan finishing date.

d. Your one pearl of wisdom.

One! Sorry you are going to have to have a list!

1. Pay the debts first, always make minimum payments, even some kind of payment is better then none.

2. Find what works for you. Some people can do the frugal no treats all on the debts approach, I tried that and each time it lead to a blow out shopping trip and left me in the same position as I was when I started. Instead I worked out my over payments to the loan and a set payment to the CC and if at the end of the month I had money left I paid it off the debts. If I didn't have any money, well I didn't have any money! THis approach made it easier to feel I was paying things off and also still having a life.

3. It takes a long time. You are at some points wishing your life away and it is easy to get sad about that. You are not your debt. Your debt is a problem you are solving, if you are reading these boards you are already on your way to solving that problem. You are not your debt and you shouldn't commit to a plan or a system that essentially is leaving you miserable. You do only get one life and I think a balance between meeting the obligations of the debt and the obligations of having a life is very important.

4. Join challenges, get involved on the boards, there are some truly lovely people here and they don't care about your debt, they won't judge you and the support is amazing.It has got me through my darkest times. I have made some very good friends on here and can think of about 6 different places in the country I could drive too and be welcomed by some one who loves me. Its amazing. I owe those people an awful lot. To say they have changed my life is an understatement.

5. Have a debt free dream. In detail, mine was a house with a laminate floors and an open plan kitchen diner. I can see it in my head right now and each time in the last year especially when I have thought oh the debts not so bad could I just buy xyz? I made myself think about that house, with a space for the guinea pigs under the stairs.........

Good Luck

and if you see a Daily chat thread post on it and say hello!

Love Buffy xx

solventsoon

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Hello,

I have waited a couple of weeks to post this since I can't quite believe it. Am I really posting in the Debt Free Roll of Honour!!?

Love Buffy xx

Congratulations Buffy:T:j:T:j:T:j, I'm really pleased for you xx

There's some great advice in your post - thanks for that:A.

Hope you have a wonderful time planning and enjoying your DF future and your lovely new home - you have a great goal to aim for now with that.

spoon xx

beanielou

Great post Buffy :j :j :j

saorsie

Congratulations on becoming Debt Free Buffy and thank you for writing such a wonderful, 'straight from the heart' post ~ made me feel quite teary

I hope that people on here who are still continuing with their DF journey read your roll of honour post and take strength from your motivation and honesty

-s-

gothrockchic1

roxiepie wrote: »

Thanks GRC I've actually read some of yours in the past and enjoyed it!

I love your sig, I may have to steal some ideas from it for my own!

Thanks! Well your welcome to put anything into your sig

gothrockchic1

Congratulations Buffy I have read your posts on and off and I am so so glad you made it. Its inspirational to everyone on here and I hope you get your house :j

impulsive

Lightbulb moment - 22nd May 2008

Debts at their highest - £38,000

Debt-Free Date - 1st July 2011

Your one perl of wisdom - Never beat yourself up. Everyone makes mistakes in their life. If you learn from them then it can turn out to be a good thing.


:T

Hovel_lady

Well done, thats fastastic :j

DevonGirl

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

3. It takes a long time. You are at some points wishing your life away and it is easy to get sad about that. You are not your debt. Your debt is a problem you are solving, if you are reading these boards you are already on your way to solving that problem. You are not your debt and you shouldn't commit to a plan or a system that essentially is leaving you miserable. You do only get one life and I think a balance between meeting the obligations of the debt and the obligations of having a life is very important.

Hi Buffy
First of all CONGRATULATIONS!!! :j:j:j I'm soooo pleased for you. Having been on this forum for a couple of years now it's great to see one of the 'old timers' getting out of debt! (And I'm referring to your debt, not your age there!)

Secondly, the bit above is sooooooo right, and written in such an upbeat manner, and I wondered if you'd consider posting it as a thread in its own right??? Would give encouragement to loads of people I'm sure.

Or maybe as a message on the DMP mutual support thread? There are a few new people who are starting DMPs with CCCS (1st payment comes out today) who I think would really be bouyed up by your words of wisdom?
Just an idea....

WELL DONE AGAIN - Here's a beer on me!!:beer:

DG

southernbelle

Congratulations :money:

Truly inspirational, I am starting my DMP next month and am looking forward to being able to have dreams.