Flo's Debt Free Diary

crazy_cat_lady

Good luck with the application Flo

Florence_J

I am tantalisingly close to my 1000th post on here which will be very, very exciting.

I didn't get the job (not even an interview) for the one that was close to home and am still waiting to hear back about the one within my current role, fingers crossed.

I am binge watching the Martin Lewis show and naturally it is brilliant. There was a bit when Martin Lewis was tackling a tricky energy phone call for a vulnerable couple and I was just whooping and clapping as he saved them lots of money.

Still blogging everyday, that takes up most of my time during the week.

I am off work ill (again) which is beginning to worry me, and I don't like being ill at the best of times.

Plodding along nicely. I just want it to be payday already.

crazy_cat_lady

Hope you're feeling better soon Flo

Florence_J

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

Hope you're feeling better soon Flo

Thank you.

I have actually felt worse this evening, but I absolutely hate having time off work we will see what happens tomorrow.

little_miss_spendtoomuch

Ah I've just realised yours is one of the first diaries I read that inspired me to start my own diary and take my debt seriously. Thank you

Florence_J

This is my 1000th post on MSE.

I often take time to reflect on the big milestone posts, but right now I am going to do something a little different, and write an open letter to Martin Lewis.

Dear Martin,

I hope it's ok to call you Martin, rather than Mr Lewis, I know we have never met but I just want to thank you for all you have done, week in and week out, not just for me but for everyone.

Your devotion to helping the public be better consumers, helping them save money, letting them know about their rights and working tirelessly to make sure no one is taken for a ride, well I would just like to say it is truly admirable.

In late 2015 I was spiralling deeper and deeper into debt. One of the many 'debt' purchases I made on my credit cards was a book, Thrifty Ways for Modern Days. I thought if I could somehow save some pennies then maybe my debt would diminish.

The book was great, so I, erm, bought a few more on my credit card, including The Money Diet and The Three Most Important Lessons You've Never Been Taught. I know you will tell me off for purchasing a money saving book on a credit card I couldn't pay off in full, but I think the ends justify the means.

By December 2015 I was so close to being on the brink of financial ruin that it is scary to realise how near I came to having everything I had worked for fall apart.

But your books were amazing, and what came up time and time again in them was the power of your website, and the forum in particular.

I find it extremely difficult to talk to people about the good things that happen in my life due to my mental health and social anxiety, let alone my problems and the fact that I had foolishly and stupidly got into debt. I still have many friends and family who don't know the extent of my debt.

As someone who has always kept a diary, as someone who loves writing, as someone who wants to be a writer more than anything, the idea of keeping an honest debt free diary actually seemed doable.

I read a few first and found like minded people, people in debt who weren't being judged or made to feel ashamed, people with anxiety, people who had suffered traumas in life which may or may not be a result of their debts now.

On December 6th 2015, when my financial state was so pitiful that I had to put the money in my bank account into envelopes marking what they were for in terms of expenses, and then give them to my boyfriend to HIDE because I couldn't be trusted with the money, I wrote my first post on my debt free diary. I couldn't think of a snappy title or a cool user name so I was Florence J and my diary was called 'Flo's Debt Free Diary'.

I did stumble, I went a good 6 weeks or so over Christmas not writing on my diary (in my defence I was busy being a Money Saving Expert Wannabe-changing my energy and broadband suppliers to cheaper ones etc) but something kept pulling me back and I started writing again on the diary.

It turned out to be the making of me.

I once said on my debt free diary that getting into debt was the best thing that ever happened to me. I would like to rephrase this obviously incorrect statement.

What I mean is I have learnt a lot of valuable life lessons, and it has given me a direction and focus that I think I had been lacking all of my adult life.

I now want to study economics, and whereas before in my life I would be too embarrassed to tell people my dreams and goals because I thought they would think I was some sort of fantasist (on account of the dreams being unattainable for me) I now tell EVERYONE about my desire to study economics and learn about the financial world.

These are many comparisons between my old life and my new MSE life, but I will highlight two.

Before I discovered Money Saving Expert I would go overdrawn on my current account (and usually one or more of my credit cards) at least once a month.

Before I discovered Money Saving Expert I had applied for a 0% Balance Transfer card (to tackle my debt) and I was rejected.

In the last year I have been overdrawn ZERO TIMES across any account.

Late in 2016 I was accepted for a 24 month 0% Balance Transfer Card.

I also have more savings then I have ever had before.

I also have the smallest overdraft I have ever had.

I am still in debt but it gets smaller everyday and I know it will be gone before too long.

Thank you, because my story is not unique, this is the story you see time and time again on the Money Saving Expert forum, I am a drop in the ocean out of all the people you have helped.

May you keep doing what you do best.

Yours

Florence J

Florence_J

little_miss_spendtoomuch wrote: »

Ah I've just realised yours is one of the first diaries I read that inspired me to start my own diary and take my debt seriously. Thank you

Thank you, that is lovely to hear

crazy_cat_lady

Florence - amazing letter.
Onwards and upwards.

Money_spending_mummy

Brilliant letter Florence. So well written. Well done on your amazing progress.

armchairexpert

Florence I'm so glad you want to go into money management as a career, because it so clearly suited you. You're wonderfully thoughtful and insightful, and your writing is just an absolute pleasure to read.

Best of luck, and I'm reading and cheering you along!