The Debt Free Roll Of Honour

gothrockchic1

asparagus1968 wrote: »

hiya


LBM july 2010 (flickerings many times before! )
Debt Approx £6000 overdraft and 2 credit cards
DFD 25th jan 2013

how i did it: new bank account and paid a little off OD in old one every month.
taking out a weekly amount of cash for groceries and petrol,
meal planning / shopping out of storecupboards was a biggie for me-think this was the major change actually. I now scour my fridge,freezer,cupboards,bathroom cabinet and cleaning drawers weekly then make a list!

best questions to keep asking youself- "do I really need this now,can I use something I already have instead,can I make do without?

Massive thanks to all on this site!

Well Done, enjoy your new debt free life!!

unoriginal_uk

Hi all!


a. The date of your lightbulb moment- July 2011 (ish).
I had just turned 26 and the realisation set in that I had no savings, a whole lot of debt, and nothing to show for it apart from having to move back to my mothers house because I could no longer afford my flat. I was severely depressed and used to get wadges of cash out every time I went past a cash machine because I got terrified of my cards being declined every time I used them.

b. Debts at their highest £16-20k

c. Debt-Free Date 31/01/13 - I can't quite believe it!

d. Your one pearl of wisdom - Get yourself a spreadsheet and record EVERY penny you spend. You will soon find (or at least i did) that you are less likely to buy anything unnecessary because you have to "answer to the spreadsheet" at the end of every day! Leave your debit card at home and pay off everything you can on the debt.


I finally, at the age of 27, feel like a responsible adult. FINALLY, my boyfriend and I can start saving seriously for a mortgage to buy a place of our own. I have already told him that, thanks to the MSE, we will get it paid off in just 10 years. He thinks I'm bonkers. I am just determined

gothrockchic1

unoriginal_uk wrote: »

Hi all!


a. The date of your lightbulb moment- July 2011 (ish).
I had just turned 26 and the realisation set in that I had no savings, a whole lot of debt, and nothing to show for it apart from having to move back to my mothers house because I could no longer afford my flat. I was severely depressed and used to get wadges of cash out every time I went past a cash machine because I got terrified of my cards being declined every time I used them.

b. Debts at their highest £16-20k

c. Debt-Free Date 31/01/13 - I can't quite believe it!

d. Your one pearl of wisdom - Get yourself a spreadsheet and record EVERY penny you spend. You will soon find (or at least i did) that you are less likely to buy anything unnecessary because you have to "answer to the spreadsheet" at the end of every day! Leave your debit card at home and pay off everything you can on the debt.


I finally, at the age of 27, feel like a responsible adult. FINALLY, my boyfriend and I can start saving seriously for a mortgage to buy a place of our own. I have already told him that, thanks to the MSE, we will get it paid off in just 10 years. He thinks I'm bonkers. I am just determined

Well Done, treat yourself first and then start saving xxx

dmb_2

Hi everyone,
Does anyone know the max allowances for basic stuff that Stepchange allow for petrol, food etc?
I think food is £340 or does this all depend on income etc
Have a great weekend folks

beanielou

dmb~I think it varies depending on personal circumstances and size of family ect.

doodah

a. The date of your lightbulb moment - December 2006
b. Debts at their highest - 31/12/2006 £8395
c. Debt-Free Date - 31/03/2011
d. Your one pearl of wisdom - Save, save, save! You will feel so much better buying things you've saved for rather than buying them on a credit card.
e. And if you had a debt diary on DFW, a link to it - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/322863

gothrockchic1

doodah wrote: »

a. The date of your lightbulb moment - December 2006
b. Debts at their highest - 31/12/2006 £8395
c. Debt-Free Date - 31/03/2011
d. Your one pearl of wisdom - Save, save, save! You will feel so much better buying things you've saved for rather than buying them on a credit card.
e. And if you had a debt diary on DFW, a link to it - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/322863

Well Done:T

CharliesAngel

a. The date of your lightbulb moment - July 2007 - DMP started August 2009
b. Debts at their highest - £34,147
c. Debt-Free Date - 18.03.2013
d. Your one perl of wisdom - My debts weren't solely down to me but I learnt to track every penny and remain focussed on reducing balances rather than taking notice of what the creditors threatened.


:T

sofa_bean

a. The date of your lightbulb moment - June 2007 - DMP started October 2007
b. Debts at their highest - £23,356
c. Debt-Free Date - 26th March 2013 :j
d. Your one pearl of wisdom - Sounds so obvious, but.....set a realistic budget and stick to it! (Also DO look into doing PPI claims etc even if, like me, you don't think you'd have a chance! - I got around £4,000 back last year and was able to negotiate F&Fs which brought my DFD forward by over 2 years!)

gothrockchic1

sofa_bean wrote: »

a. The date of your lightbulb moment - June 2007 - DMP started October 2007
b. Debts at their highest - £23,356
c. Debt-Free Date - 26th March 2013 :j
d. Your one pearl of wisdom - Sounds so obvious, but.....set a realistic budget and stick to it! (Also DO look into doing PPI claims etc even if, like me, you don't think you'd have a chance! - I got around £4,000 back last year and was able to negotiate F&Fs which brought my DFD forward by over 2 years!)

Well Done :beer: