Xmas "round robin!" A catchup & intro for all!

jitsuguy

Hello all,

I don't think I have ever given out my story so here goes.

Basically most of my debts came from my MSc year where I borrowed 5000 to help pay for the course and then managed to add a further 5000 on overdrafts and credit cards. Had managed to clear about 2000 by when I found this site, but it has been much easier to clear the debt after reading many of the posts from here. I have just started my third year in a PhD and am finding the stress a little too much (but luckily I am paid to do the PhD)!

Recently started matched betting to build up a fund to go visit a friend in Bermuda (probably only chance I will get in life) - free accomodation! Oh and got my money back from Barclays - only took 6 months!

I think thats it for now!

Jitsuguy

mizmir

One of the newbies here. Joined up a few weeks ago - lurked a lot longer than that. Finally woken up to the fact that things can't go on as they have been doing. We owe £27.5k (and that looks like it might be going up as I have to fix the car :mad:) but we are determined to get it sorted now. DFD is sept 2010 but I'm aiming at 2009! Thanks to this site and you guys I'm starting to feel in control of finances that have been spiralling away from me for years! Thanks all. :A

Snaggles

Hello!

I've been posting on here for a few months, been lurking for much longer. We've cleared about £15k of debt over the last few years, now just left with a small car loan, so financially things are now fairly comfortable (although I have a keen eye for a bargain and will never go back to overspending and frittering money away). I'm finally into the habit of saving for the things I want, instead of 'buy now, think later'.

No doubt things will get much tighter over the next year my baby is due in May, and I'm intending to have at least 9 months off work. But with the help of this site, I don't think I will ever go back to getting in debt over my head again.

Merry Christmas to all xxx

Plum_Pie

Longtime lurker, recent sporadic poster. Was a yoyo-debtor for 5 years - had£11k of CC debt at one point. Been debt-free for a year, this was followed by 3 months of unemployment. Never been unemployed before, how unemployed DFWs keep their sanity is a miracle to me.

All my debt came from being !!!!less and shallow and having similar friends. My parents have some good money habits but didn't pass them on!

Plum_Pie

OK, the blanked-out word is 'irresponsible and daft', written in the Irish idiom for a certain piece of anglo-saxon!

pollyanna24

What a great post.

Merry Xmas to everyone!

We are almost debt free and plan to be by April when the 0% runs out on the card.

Boyfriend will never have his LBM, so I just have to do it for him. I've completely taken over finances and we have pocket money now.

I've always been a saver, but since coming on this site, actually budget for things now.

Once April is here, gona start a little nest egg (as we have zero savings) and then concentrate even more on overpaying the mortgage if possible.

Then, once we are in a better position, start churning out the sprogs!!

duncans-mum_2

Had my lightbulb moment Feb 06 and life has improved greatly. Although has maybe only been on at 60 watt (through choice) and plans for 2007 is to have full 100 watt. New year and another new me. Finally managed to shift MBNA CC at 22% to 3.9 LOB which has been a weight lifted. Since LBM not spent a penny on credit card, been so much more in control of my money. Pay double towards what I used to towards debt and still seem to have more money for living purely through organisation.

Next year though there will be no stopping me. Starting the year with 10K. Lets see how quickly I can clear it!

Christmas & New Year Best Wishes to all.

LookingAhead

Good one lynz. I think for me, in a paragraph I can say.......I joined site in Feb 2006 and had a massive push to get debt down. This changed my whole outlook on money too which was welcome! Was doing ok till may then got burgled which turned everything on its head. Had a tricky Summer/Autumn, lost a lot of interest in money and really had a bad fall off the wagon I think. Clambered back on about a month or so ago after the lightbulb pinged back on again, this time even brighter I think...and am having a second wind as Moozie called it. I am determined to have cleared all credit card debt by February and overdraft by April 2007. This should hopefully just leave long term fixed loan to pay off - in 2010. :eek: I want to keep this feeling that I have right now that I can see some light at the end of the tunnel!

justmarried06

Hi all, I'm another one that mostly lurks but posts every now and then!

I got married a few months ago and while we managed to pay for a lot of it out of savings and through my very generous parents it had its own impact on my already sizeable debt!! I've moved jobs within my company though and am now earning more and have got a better handle on things than I ever have done before.

I'v moved all my credit card balances onto either low LOB rates or low BT rates to help me clear the actual balance rather than just interest, have £240 waiting to come to me from Quidco and have managed to pay for all the Xmas presents for both of our families from my current account rather than banging them on the plastic!!

This site has been a real help and the support is fantastic - I've been telling anyone who will listen to me about it!!!!

Happy Christmas all

JM xx

benbenandme

My background .... I found this site at the beginning of the year, 6 months after ex walked out on me and ds Although the only debt I have is the mortgage (£122) I still think of mysef as a dfw as I could so easily get into debt if I'm not careful as money is tight.

This year I have paid ex off the mortgage and found the delights of mystery shopping, quidco, etc!!

2007 could be a minefield financially as I am selling the house, relocating 100 miles away, have to find a new job and childcare etc etc ....

Merry Christmas everyone:D