Could your debt problems have been avoided?

lieutenant_dan

yes but only the truly desperate will go to loan sharks.

Not that I'm saying that's a good thing, to be in that position, but for the majority who just wanted more credit to live above their means, they'd think twice about going to some of those loan providers.

heppy23

Yes, my debt problems could have been avoided.

I have a huge impulsive streak which won't go away.

I got into debt by basically living beyond my means whilst living in London. It's easily done.

I moved up to Yorkshire but then ended up working in London which basically meant running two households on one salary.

It all came to a head, defaults on credit records etc. Credit record is much better which means my impulsive side is being offered money again.

blueye

yes if i could have avoided my OH, well you live an learn shame it take such a long time to get out of debt that by the time you have your whole life has past by

red74

Yep, if it had occured to me to keep track of what I was spending I probably wouldn't have ended up in such a mess:o

mhe

Most of my debt has been caused by

1, Trying to enjoy a lifestyle i wanted but couldnt quite afford - made easier because kind people kept uping my CC limits

2. Going on maternity leave 3 times and having my £2000 salary reduced to £400 a month but all the outgoings staying the same (if not increasing) for 6 months.

beckseven

I think mine definitely could have been avoided. I left college with debts which I did pay off but I got more unfortuntely by not looking ahead and saving and thinking-I'll put this holiday on my credit card and I'll pay it back afterwards and then of course not doing it. This was in my 20s when I had a small mortgage and no kids and disposable income so in the end I saw sense and paid them off but still when I look back if I'd had this site I could have saved no end of money and possibly overpaid on my mortgage. I did save for my wedding and honeymoon and actually enjoyed seeing the money mount up but my problem was not saving enough for my maternity leave and using my credit card to top up. (when I could have easily have saved the money but didn't!) and then finding it hard to adjust my spending when I had to go back to work and we had £530 worth of nursery bills extra to find. However, to look on the positive side I have drawn up a budget and am sticking to it and am determined to live within my means and pay off my debts.

mum2one

Mine was the credit was too easy, just spent, spent, spent, then fell pregnant, (back in 2002), went from 1k a mth to £250pm ssp, (couldnt work due to complications in pregnancy), then smp, my money went up to £300 pm wow we! then couldnt go back to work, partly due to illness but also due to the way id been treated by my employers whilst pregnant. Spent from july 02 - me + bum), started seeking legal advice re job, had dd sept 02, spent from then to jan 05 in tribunals and fighting them back and forth, had an out of court settlement in Jan 05, 8k, so paid parents what owed them, paid my od/loan, instead of clearing credit cards, i took 3 foreign hols in 3 mths and took parents and dd away for hols, total 05, on hol 17 weeks, (7 outside UK), hense skint, then started the credit card trail, Im was on IS and DLA, yet companies were throwing cards at me, luckly have had no ccjs, and am now rying my hardest to pay them off, was Oct 09, but may have to readjust figs as Jan was break neck and need another £100 pm than what i have allocated.

But working the way up the ladder in repaying debts, be a long hard struggle, but intend to pay all debts and what I owe parents by mar 2011, i intend to celebrate my 40th with a hol in Las vegas or a trip on Orient express. They will be paid with cash! x

mhe

Having babies certainly seems to be the cause of a lot of debt tonight!!