Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

Willowtree222

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

They do make it too easy to get into debt. They never look at affordability or what your outgoings are :mad:. Most people have no financial education so are easy targets :mad:.

Agree with that too. I thought it was all 'normal'. My education has been learning from the awful mistakes I have been making x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak wrote: »

Agree with that too. I thought it was all 'normal'. My education has been learning from the awful mistakes I have been making x

Me too Nicnak

Willowtree222

I am grateful for learning though and seeing the light. A lot of people never get to this stage x

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

We only repaid half of what we owed (as full and final offers), but I reckon the 50% we didn't pay was all interest.

I know what you mean though, Carboot. We're the ones who spent the money so we should repay it.

I'm glad we didn't pay the interest though as our creditors did encourage us to take out more and more credit, and kept raising our credit limit without telling us :mad:.

I am proud of being debt free now and intend to stay that way .

I shall be making F&Fs within the next few weeks to polish off what's left of my debt balance:j. I started on nearly £57k and have repaid all but just under £9k. I won't feel guilty about getting discounts (hopefully big ones) on the remaining debts because, as you say, it's likely to all be interest. They've had more than their pound of flesh out of me:eek:

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

We don't have many visitors apart from stepdad and he's a bit like your OH .

Good job he is:rotfl:

Onebrokelady

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I must seek out your diary, Onebrokelady:)

Well done on acknowledging your debt:T:beer:, it's not easy is it?
I know what you mean about shaking when the awful realization hit home. I had some really serious shakes when I worked out that I had amassed debts of just a little under £57K by early 2013:o:eek:. Miraculously, I'd never missed a payment until that time, although the previous year several had been a couple of days late and resulted in late charges been added:mad:. Life was a misery, I knew I couldn't go on like that, forever robbing Peter to pay Paul and checking accounts constantly see when money had been credited so I could withdraw it immediately to pay someone else. With a current debt of under £9000 (must update my signature) I feel practically rich:rotfl:


Good luck in getting your debts paid off:beer:. You will get there and be debt free. Can I be nosy and ask if you're seeking help such as through a DMP? You may have already mentioned it on this thread or another that I visit. I seem to meet so many fellow debt strugglers that I get a bit mixed up about who said what:o. Opting for a DMP was my salvation, I can never thank Stepchange enough although after about four and a half years I decided to self-manage my debts for a bit more flexibility.

Hi CB
I will remember that awful feeling of realising how much trouble I was in for the rest of my life I think.
I hadn't missed any payments at that point but was about to start getting to that point when I came to my senses,my problem was that I didn't check my accounts,I just hoped for the best and stuck my head in the sand,but no more I am a different person now

I am in a DMP with StepChange and they have been brilliant so far,Im about to test them next month because I need to reduce my payment and I'm hoping it will be ok,if not I will have to be brave and go the self managed route,I haven't done it yet because I needed someone to take charge and tell me what to do
My debt problem is also a secret from my family so there is that added worry too,I would hate for my DDs to find out what a mess I'm in and so far I have managed to keep it to myself,if I go self managed I'm worried my creditors will start phoning me and writing again,I don't hear from them at the moment which is just fine by me:D

HairyHandofDartmoor

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I shall be making F&Fs within the next few weeks to polish off what's left of my debt balance:j. I started on nearly £57k and have repaid all but just under £9k. I won't feel guilty about getting a discounts (hopefully big ones) on the remaining debts because, as you say, it's likely to all be interest. They've had more than their pound of flesh out of me:eek:

They certainly have had their pound of flesh Carboot! Our debts were at very similar levels. Good luck with the F&Fs. You've done so well. How many years have you had a DMP?

HairyHandofDartmoor

Onebrokelady wrote: »

Hi CB
I will remember that awful feeling of realising how much trouble I was in for the rest of my life I think.
I hadn't missed any payments at that point but was about to start getting to that point when I came to my senses,my problem was that I didn't check my accounts,I just hoped for the best and stuck my head in the sand,but no more I am a different person now

I am in a DMP with StepChange and they have been brilliant so far,Im about to test them next month because I need to reduce my payment and I'm hoping it will be ok,if not I will have to be brave and go the self managed route,I haven't done it yet because I needed someone to take charge and tell me what to do
My debt problem is also a secret from my family so there is that added worry too,I would hate for my DDs to find out what a mess I'm in and so far I have managed to keep it to myself,if I go self managed I'm worried my creditors will start phoning me and writing again,I don't hear from them at the moment which is just fine by me:D

My family never knew about my and DH's debts either. I would have hated them to find out . Especially the DC as it would have worried them.

You shouldn't get letters or calls from creditors now Stepchange is dealing with it all.

beanielou

45 quid a week is dire.
I would cry

beanielou

carbootcrazy~~Hope the F & F's go well when the time is right.