Debt free - we did it!

Newgirl_2

After much heartache, stress and b****y hard work my partner and I have done it. We are (consumer) debt free. Starting in 2006 we owed around £70k and we have cleared it all.

We owe so much gratitude to both the CCCS (now Step Change) and to you guys here for the invaluable help and advice and, sometimes, just the sheer realisation that you're not the only ones, that othe people are going through the same (and sometimes worse) situation.

We have learned a most valuable lesson and will NEVER be in a financial mess again. A harsh lesson to learn but perhaps a necessary one for us and some people.

We do have a managable mortgage which I don't consider to be an evil debt and I am proud to say that we've managed all this time to sort ourselves out and never missed one mortgage payment or been in arrears with any primary account. How we did it, I don't know. The budget process helped and we are now better structured with all bills paid monthly so no nasty surprises. We will even be able to build up savings for things like car expenses.

To those people who are just starting out, we want to say it is possible. It's not the end of the world and in one way or another, it's fixable. Nobody died. The most important thing is to accept your situation and tackle it head on. Nothing is ever resolved by hiding.

It's surprising but one of the best moments for us wasn't as you might think reaching this point, although that is a good feeling. It was when we had our LBM and realised we could make a change. Things happen for a reason and I now know we will have a better life than we might have if we had just struggled along as we were.
We start each new financial month with money in hand. No credit cards, no huge bills looming. Freedom.

Once again a thank to you everyone on this forum - we haven't been particularly active in posting but we've read the boards regularly and taken so much help from it.

Best wishes to all DFWs. If we can do it, anyone can. We wish you all the luck in the world.

Newgirl

MrDebtWarrior

Well Done!!!

nicp60

Huge congrats - it's the start of a new life of freedom! Well done, most people won't realise what an absolutely massive accomplishment that is, but 70k of consumer debt cleared is utterly wonderful!
:beer::j

BEAT_THE_DEBT

A huge well done xx

mrs_motivated

Congratulations to you both...I love it when the hard work pays off. Don't forget to post on the 'roll of honour' thread :T:T

System

Congratulations!!!!!

Moneymash

If you owed £70k at your LBM, then I'm guessing you have paid off more than that due to interest, a truly amazing achievement.

I'm not sure I could have done it, it sounds completely overwhelming.

Congratulations

[Deleted User]

It's a fantastic feeling, isn't it?

luckystarr

Congratulations that is amazing

Newgirl_2

Wow thank you everyone for your kind comments and congratulations. When I posted, I was thinking more as inspiration for the newbies who feel like they'll never get there.


Mrs Motivated - thank you, I forgot about that. I certainly will.

Moneymash - Actually, I think we were very lucky to freeze most of our interest quite quickly. The interest we were paying beforehand, I don't like to think about :-O

BedsitBob - it most certaiinly is :-)

I have to say, my OH has been amazing. He turned into a spreadsheet demon and worked wonders with our budget. Couldn't have done it without him.

Thanks everyone. I'm grinning now.

Newgirl

harrys_dad

Brilliant, an inspiring thread for all those newcomers here who feel there is no end in sight.