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Debt free and staying that way while I re-evaluate life and keep blood sugar levels down
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enthusiasticsaver said:Do people use credit cards rather than debit for cash back etc or because they don’t have to think about how much is in the account and is it enough to cover the spend? In other words buying time to work out if it is affordable?2025 decluttering: 3,848🌟🥉🌟💐🏅🏅🌟🥈🏅🌟🏅💐💎🌟🏅🏆🌟🏅
2025 use up challenge: 328🥉🥈🥇💎🏆
Big kitchen declutter challenge 105/150
2025 decluttering goals I Use up Challenge: 🥉365 🥈750 🥇1,000 💎2,000 🏆 3,000 👑 8,000 I 🥉12 🥈26 🥇52 💎 100 🏆 250 👑 5004 -
Loved your story about Mr Jenkins, the bank manager. It made me laugh. I remember I had to make an appointment to see my local branch manager as I had to have a current account for my salary to be paid in - it was like seeing the headmaster at school! He was quite stern and looked quite old (although he probably would only be around 40, but he seemed old to me at 18). He ceremoniously gave me a cheque book and taught me how to write a cheque - i.e write “pay cash” to myself to withdraw my money! I remember I wasn’t allowed a debit card - that came later.
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This is an interesting debate, I was born in 1960. My parents had a mortgage, and no debt, and I learned from an early age that you saved up for things. We didn’t have much money and I learned to budget early. I even managed to save money from my student grant during my first year at university!
I’ve never had significant debt, other than a mortgage or car loan. I use a credit card for most purchases because of the vouchers and the protection, but pay it off in full each month - I generally know how much I can afford to spend, so it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t show up on the bill straight away.
My niece, born in 1987, has no fear of debt. She of course had a student loan, and she said to me once “when you already owe thousands when you start work, it doesn’t seem a big deal to borrow more money”. I think that has probably had a huge influence on more recent generations, who treat credit as the norm.I can remember interviews with the bank manager as a student, and also being refused credit in the 1980s (I think it was to buy a washing machine or similar) because my husband wasn’t with me to sign the forms! I wouldn’t want to go back to those days, but I wonder if it is just too easy to get credit now.Life is mainly froth and bubble: two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.9 -
Humdinger1 said:(I'm on the cusp of reversing type 2 diabetes)
2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shadingEverything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the endMFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £13502025 target = £1200, YTD £9190
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur9 -
jackieblack said:Humdinger1 said:(I'm on the cusp of reversing type 2 diabetes)5
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Totally with you on the carbs 👍🏻All the best 🤞🏻2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shadingEverything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the endMFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £13502025 target = £1200, YTD £9190
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur6 -
Finally you have a diary 🥳 You’ve made so many encouraging comments on mine and other diaries I’m subscribing to cheer you on.I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)7
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QueenJess said:enthusiasticsaver said:Do people use credit cards rather than debit for cash back etc or because they don’t have to think about how much is in the account and is it enough to cover the spend? In other words buying time to work out if it is affordable?I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£301.35
Save £12k in 2025 #1 £12000/£80007 -
Sun_Addict said:Finally you have a diary 🥳 You’ve made so many encouraging comments on mine and other diaries I’m subscribing to cheer you on.7
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So how did I get £140k into the weeds?! A tiny bit of bad luck but mostly magical thinking and an 'I'll show them' mentality. Have been self employed for years. Ran a big trade event as main contractor, then lost the contract. I set up some smaller events in the sector; lots of people said they'd join the events but didn't, despite quite expensive independent research beforehand. I should have been more realistic and awake to the fact that good intentions don't always materialise. Extended the events so doubled my exposure, then 2 big cheques bounced as 2 clients went bust. I decided not to go bankrupt as I was a big client for many small businesses; I called them all (the week before my wedding to my now DH) and told them they would all get their money but slower than we'd all planned. There were 27 companies that could have taken me to court but none of them did and I paid off every red cent over the next few years, prioritising payments to the ones that needed the money most. A hard lesson but it did teach me: will power alone isn't enough, you have to have a realistic plan; and only spend money and sign contracts on the basis of cleared funds; yes, actual cash. I was maxed out on personal credit cards and owed the bank thousands. I didn't even dare to work out how much I owed till I was in the last £25k. I aim to work for years to come; not full-time year-round but after that, I always want to be generating some money though not to the exclusion of relationships, fun and health. Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx13
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