The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

dreamdreamer

This is probably the most feel-good thing I will ever write. I have waited so long to post here....

a. The date of your lightbulb moment

First LBM, November 2008. Full brightness LBM, June 2009.

b. Debts at their highest

£15,800

c. Debt-Free Date

3rd September 2011 :j

d. Your one perl of wisdom.

Budget, budget, budget. Spreadsheets, spending diaries, if you can organise it, DO IT. Never buy ANYTHING on a whim. And most importantly, keep a goal in mind, something you'll do when you're debt free that you can focus on to get you through the bad times. Keep dreaming the dream!

And if you had a debt diary on DFW, a link to it

The amazing shrinking debt...

Off to enjoy my new found wealth!

Dreamer x

gothrockchic1

dreamdreamer wrote: »

This is probably the most feel-good thing I will ever write. I have waited so long to post here....

a. The date of your lightbulb moment

First LBM, November 2008. Full brightness LBM, June 2009.

b. Debts at their highest

£15,800

c. Debt-Free Date

3rd September 2011 :j

d. Your one perl of wisdom.

Budget, budget, budget. Spreadsheets, spending diaries, if you can organise it, DO IT. Never buy ANYTHING on a whim. And most importantly, keep a goal in mind, something you'll do when you're debt free that you can focus on to get you through the bad times. Keep dreaming the dream!

And if you had a debt diary on DFW, a link to it

The amazing shrinking debt...

Off to enjoy my new found wealth!

Dreamer x

Well Done, enjoy your new wealth!! :T:T:T:T:T:T:beer::beer::beer::j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

saorsie

dreamdreamer wrote: »

This is probably the most feel-good thing I will ever write. I have waited so long to post here....

Hey Dreamer, I've followed your diary and so pleased that you made it 'through the finishing tape' ~ congratulations, now go and enjoy your debtfree life ~ you deserve it

-s-

saggy56

LBM September2007
Debt £25000+
DFD 16th September 2011
Pearls of wisdom
1. Facing up to your debt is the hardest but best thing you will ever do
2. you will be amazed by how little you can get by on
3. It is hard but you will learn so much from the experience
4. Use these forums and money saving expert for support and to help you

DebtFree2012

Congratulations. Enjoy your new found financial freedom!

superwoman247

Congratulations all you all, isn't it weird not getting any more mail through the post??

cattyboo

a. The date of your lightbulb moment

6th January 2011

b. Debts at their highest

£3000

c. Debt-Free Date

18th August 2011 :T

d. Pearl of wisdom

Organise, plan and budget as much as possible. To the point of obsession if necessary! I now make lists when I go food shopping and try to make meals as much as possible with what I've already got in the cupboard/freezer. Actually checking my bank account helped and now I make accounts every month and graph exactly what I've spent so I can account for every penny and know I haven't frittered money away on pointless stuff.

I also found that if I wanted to buy something if I held off for a few days most of the time the urge to splurge passed and I wasn't bothered about buying it anymore so obviously didn't need it, not letting the impulse take over is tough but just walking away and thinking about the bigger picture helps chip away at the debt. Shopping wasn't the 'pick me up' I wanted it to be when I was feeling low, I've learnt that it feels better to make the most of what I've already got.

Little changes go a long way, switching from fancy brand name shampoo to budget bottles actually seemed hard at the time but little things like that have added up and made such a difference, it's one of many good habits I hope to keep.

Thank you all so so much for your support, I'd be in a real pickle without you

Love C xx

gothrockchic1

saggy56 wrote: »

LBM September2007
Debt £25000+
DFD 16th September 2011
Pearls of wisdom
1. Facing up to your debt is the hardest but best thing you will ever do
2. you will be amazed by how little you can get by on
3. It is hard but you will learn so much from the experience
4. Use these forums and money saving expert for support and to help you

Congratulations!

gothrockchic1

cattyboo wrote: »

a. The date of your lightbulb moment

6th January 2011

b. Debts at their highest

£3000

c. Debt-Free Date

18th August 2011 :T

d. Pearl of wisdom

Organise, plan and budget as much as possible. To the point of obsession if necessary! I now make lists when I go food shopping and try to make meals as much as possible with what I've already got in the cupboard/freezer. Actually checking my bank account helped and now I make accounts every month and graph exactly what I've spent so I can account for every penny and know I haven't frittered money away on pointless stuff.

I also found that if I wanted to buy something if I held off for a few days most of the time the urge to splurge passed and I wasn't bothered about buying it anymore so obviously didn't need it, not letting the impulse take over is tough but just walking away and thinking about the bigger picture helps chip away at the debt. Shopping wasn't the 'pick me up' I wanted it to be when I was feeling low, I've learnt that it feels better to make the most of what I've already got.

Little changes go a long way, switching from fancy brand name shampoo to budget bottles actually seemed hard at the time but little things like that have added up and made such a difference, it's one of many good habits I hope to keep.

Thank you all so so much for your support, I'd be in a real pickle without you

Love C xx

Congratulations!

System

The date of your lightbulb moment Feb 2006
Debts at their highest Approx 48,000
Debt-Free Date 1 Oct 2011
Your one perl of wisdom Let people (family and friends) know that you are in debt, don't try to hide it from them, it brings down an unnecessary weight on one's shoulders.

Well that's it, I'm there, over the line, 48K gone! Its been hard, I shiver at the physical and mental effects that I have been through over the last few years, I am scarred for life and for once in a long long long time I am finally debt free. Thank you too all my friends that I made during the early days on DFW, they really were absolute gems and I would not be where I am today without you; I truly will be forever grateful. Thank you everyone, thank you Martin and thank you DFW

Len