Want to be in the Sunday Times

MSE_Martin

The Sunday Times is looking into the subject of personal debt and would like to hear from people who have declared themselves bankrupt or who have run up large debts -- £30,000 or so -- on their credit cards. Do please email [email=deirdre.fernand@sunday-times.co.uk]deirdre.fernand@sunday-times.co.uk[/email] if you are able to help.

thaylock

Martin, why are people obsessed about other people talking about how much debt they are in. Why doesn't somebody write an article about people who are sensible with their money, i.e. no debt, appreciates the value of money, doesn't get suckered into manic consumerism promoted by marketing/advertising, I get the feeling these people (not all of them) blame easy credit for their problems, well I only have two things to say to that, it was YOUR choice & YOUR responsibility to take the credit in the first place. I would be interested in your comments. Personally I am amazed by how much debt people appear to have got themselves into, people simply shouldn't buy what they can't afford, if you can't afford it then you simply neither need it or deserve to have it - that's how I think anyway.

Willsnarf1983

it doesn't shift the papers out of the stalls thats why

Will

elona

Well said but it is like the old saying - if I owe £10 - my problem -if I owe £100,000 - their problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

mountainofdebt

I would also like to see an article where people have been in debt but have managed without being made bankrupt) have solved their debt problems......I would like to see articles featuring this site as I reckon this site is an inspiration to everyone that has debt problems.

The only reason I know about this site is that I heard Martin , quite by chance, on a radio 4 phone in about debt and he mentioned this site then. I am sure that alot of people would find the help given on this site invaluable.....I know I have.

Sarahrhiannon

But its oh so simple. Choice number one is to earn more money (choose a way that pays you 24/7) - thats the one I opted for. Choice number 2 is, before u buy on credit, try putting the monthly payment aside every month for at least 6 months. I'll wager that most people will find they can't avoid dipping in to this before the 6 months is up, proving that they can't afford to take the item on credit. Granny was right on so many things, and in the case of non-appreciating assets, its often wiser to save up for them rather than borrow. You'll appreciate them so much more aswell.

skylight

Agree with All.

I am one of those who would have "blamed the easy credit" this time last year - £40k now and can only blame myself (and hubby obviously!)

BUT Finally putting money away, sorting out debts on payment plans and organised massive savings all over the place and most of it down to this place!

Inspiration? This site has it in bucket fulls! - Advice? Everywhere!

And I really don't need my 15 minutes of fame by branding my woes on TV or the nationals!

And I found where the people who have saved their money are - overseas looking for holiday homes! Its where I want to be!

MSE_Martin

All i can say folks is i don't write the articles. However you will find that (i hope when i read it) many of the points you make are points I've made above.

As for the good news stories - you know they go in my email tips. When I write my newspaper columsn they are always how too's I don't write features.

Do remember this website, whilst it does seem like a small family actually has 1,000,000 visits a month, which equates roughly to 650,000 different people. That is a substantial readership - and much of that is reading the good news stories and how to get out of debt.

It's easy to think the web isn't a media like TV, radio or papers, yet actually this site reaches more people than many of the personal finance sections of the national newspapers!

martin

mountainofdebt

Martin

I don't think we were shooting the messenger (you're worth far too much to do that, lol!) - speaking personally I was assuming that the sunday times article would be another 'oh aren't we in a mess and its everyone else's fault, not mine type article.

It would be nice (and hopefully if they've come to you there's a strong chance it will be!) that this web site will have its address featured in the article. I thinkif it could help just one person then the article would have been worth it.

And yes I am putting my money where my mouth is ....anyone I know who I think this site could help I do tell them about it!

stripeyfox

This website and all (well most) of those who sail in her have been a major reason for me getting back on track. I used to switch the radio off if I heard Martin or the other bloke (Alvin Hall) as I didn't want to face my problems. I had an attitude of "well i'm up to my neck already, another 2K on a credit card won't make any difference". And in response to those who say "it's your own fault", I completely agree - it is. Nobody made me do it and I have and will always pay back every penny(and then some) borrowed. I never have and never will default on the money I've borrowed and I blame no one except myself. Maybe if Martin's website had existed 14 years ago when I borrowed for the first time then I wouldn't have got in so deep but I can't really blame him for that can I?
So thanks Martin and all the other contributors - keep up the good work!

thaylock

stripeyfox wrote:

Maybe if Martin's website had existed 14 years ago when I borrowed for the first time then I wouldn't have got in so deep but I can't really blame him for that can I?
So thanks Martin and all the other contributors - keep up the good work!

Yes, I think you should.