How open are you about your debts?

chester81

Puzzcat wrote: »

Just me, myself and I...and all of mse of course! I am happy to talk about debt and ways to help sort it but only I know about the level of mine...My partner knows I have debt and am paying it off but not the amount. Maybe when it is paid off I will enlighten my loved one's..

Up until recently I didn't even know how much I owed let alone anyone else!!!

Ellieseleven

Just myself and my OH. My parents are elderly and I wouldn't want them to worry x

Muhren

Only my parents know the exact amount as they bailed me out and it is them that I am paying the money back to. My friends all know that I am in debt, as I told them about my gambling problem, plus the fact that I had to move back in with my folks made it pretty obvious anyway.

A couple of friends have asked me how much debt I am in but I haven't told them. When I have been drunk I have let slip how much money I wasted gambling but that isn't the amount I am in debt, it is infact more. So I'm not sure if they think that is actually how much debt I started with or not.

HaydenB

Been in a DMP since 2010 and only my other half, who I have been with for just short of two years, knows about it.

My parents (most specifically my dad) would be very disappointed if he knew that a) I had got myself into so much debt and b) not asked him for help.

LJB290

My in law's know about our debt (mother, brother and sister in law) and also our children.
We don't talk openly about our debts with anyone else but do let people know that we are doing as much as possible save money. We find this helps when explaining that we can't go out for dinner as much as we would like etc.

There is no way I could tell my own parents or siblings - there would be absolutely no level of understanding or empathy and we would be judged in a terrible way - so we keep it to ourselves.

Its the same with what we earn - we don't tell people openly what our salary is, so we don't tell people what our debt level is. We don't want people to worry and we don't want anyone to "bail us out" (even though the offer has been made). We got ourselves into the situation and we will get ourselves out.

Brightspark87

I had to be really open about my debts for work and therefore quite a few people know! But I would never tell my mum or dad. They would be very cross with me. However DH has an idea! x

Stewart_78

I don't think anyone knows the true extent, certainly not my parents. Anyway, I feel we finally have it under control and have stopped being idiots with money so the future is bright. Every day of every week of every year we are a little less in debt and I'm happy with that. Concentrating on the mortgage at the moment, the unsecured stuff can wait.

whattodo1967

Only myself my husband and stepchange know about our Debt. My husband didn't know the extent in the beginning. Still quite ashamed of it, but both fully on board with our DMP now and making good progress so far, 2 debts cleared only 9 more to go.

wishus

Well, all my debt was entailed with OH's full knowledge - and need. And he knows I'm managing with paying it off.

The only trouble is I know he has cc debt and I don't know how much. He was spending crazily because of his depression earlier this year, after we had 'sorted' budgets. I need to know soon, because he may be out of a job shortly, and I need to know how we are situated to plan in a strategy.

I think he will be fine disclosing, just picking the time as he is not well again.

My previous partner also had mental health issues that affected his spending, but the problem was his taking out secret loans in companies for which I had previously countersigned, and they didn't need me to countersign for subsequent loans, apparently, so I was liable for them.

Horrible thing to admit, debt, but it's a mistake to hide it from your partner.

Puddylove

My debts aren't a secret, but nor is it that important.
My mum knows, my partner too. Can't remember if I've told any friends.

Probably more people know about my debt level (about £6k) than my earnings...
P x