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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Happy New Year to readers old & new! Well, it's time for a new chapter. My old diary ("Put away your purse & become debt averse") achieved pretty much what I intended. I shared the story of how I got into debt at the age of 19 & stayed that way until a pretty enormous lightbulb pinged on during my early 40s, I've shared…
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Don't hit me with those negative waves Moriarity
I have lurked for a long time on this forum, then joined and lurked (and lurked some more). Maybe should have gone with an Adams family reference for the title but ho hum I'm here now. I think I'm ready to start a diary even though I've had one running through my head for months as I had my light bulb moment back in…
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Let's get this sorted then!
Hey everyone, I went back to uni just before I turned 40, so have quite a lot of debt from that, and from generally trying to live whilst working and studying. I tackled a bit before the end of 2024, but that was mostly getting on top of things, doing some 0% balance transfers, and I paid of two small debts of about £250…
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Need to stop spending and chasing dopamine!
Hello! I’m creating this diary to hold me accountable, as I’ve been trying to pay this debt off for 3 years now and I just keep kicking the can down the road so to speak. The good news is it’s all on 0% interest. The bad news is I need to have the most boring year next year (aside from a holiday) to be able to pay it all…
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Paying the invoice
Built an intentional life, now it's time to pay the invoice. No regrets, made the best decisions from options available to me at the time. Short term sprint - pay of hbos clarity card In Sept 2026 - debt consolidation Gratitudes - health, family, home, stability, options.
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Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations
Time, I think, to start a new diary. My first was about removing our debts, paying off our mortgage and working towards, and through, the first few years of not working. I don't call it retirement at that point, because a wealth of volunteer activities were taken on or continued, and a number of hobbies aspired to or taken…
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My DMP diary - 2026 (year 1)
Well… inspired by others I intend to chronicle my own journey through the DMP maze. This is the year I turn 50 and I can't juggle these plates any longer. I earn enough to pay my bills and my debts but there is nothing left for contingency, household or family emergencies, holidays, days out, gifts, car repairs, vet bills…
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Road To Financial Recovery
Ah, time to get back into the race so to speak, can’t believe I am doing this again.It is time to start taking finances seriously again. It is a rubbish feeling to be back in a position where I feel my finances are back in a mess. There isn’t any major debt so that is a positive of course but feel like a plan is needed…
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My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary
New year, new start - trying to save in 2025.
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A whole new world, for now
So, here’s the new thread I’ve been promising myself for a few months. My old one, that served me so well, is https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4855808 A potted history of me. I’m 49, live in NI with OH, DD and dog and DS is London based. Have been in debt for a lot of my life and came here post personal debt…
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5 Year Fixed - 60 Months to Financial Stability.........Hopefully!
Good day fellow DFWer's, Serial diary starter here, I know it's annoying, but in my ADHD brain I've had some changes so I need to start from scratch. I've just started on a new 5 year fixed mortgage so I'm going to set myself some goals over this period to get myself on track with my finances, home, weight and try to get…
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Making 2026 a debt busting year
Hi all So, DH and I have been in debt for years, mostly credit cards, and decided to make a real effort last year to start to clear them. The aim is to have them all paid off by the end of 2027. We have no mortgage but do have a loan for some for some work on the house which will be cleared in April 2028. We started 2025…
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Onwards and the debt goes downwards!
Hi All Old diary is here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1000559 I can't do the posh linky things. Things are all changing in the Lucielle household. DS1 arrived back from New Zealand and has moved out to start his new job. Spent most of last week building flat pack furniture from the well known store. DD1…
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Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!
Hi there!😀 Having finally retired from work last Friday as my State Pension kicked in, I have decided to start a new diary as I begin the next stage in my life. I began my first diary on these boards in 2014 when I was 58 and in £31,000's worth of debt!😱 I realised time was fast approaching to retirement and that I needed…
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We will get this debt down & the savings up
Several years ago I joined MSE with a different user name, but then it all went a bit wrong with losing job and other things, so I sort of fell by the wayside. Now I have created a new profile and am starting again with more determination. I have read so many people's diaries and can see that it helps you focus and it is…
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Juggling mum/work life, whilst looking after my future self, both financially & healthily
Hiiiii, So I thought it was time I started a new diary as my old one got a bit complicated. A little about me. I’m a mum in my 40’s, my husband works away a lot, I work full time, and I have 2 children a tween and a teen. Along with 2 noisy cats. The last few months have been hard financially, and my work is teetering on…
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Busting this debt before 42
New year, new car and new loan, equals new diary. My previous dairy; Why am I doing this s**t agin? Right…because last year I had a midlife crisis and succumbed to the ‘shiny new car’ syndrome. Buggers. I very much enjoyed the challenge of debt busting last year so lets gooooooo round two! My finances so far: Sinking Fund:…
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Back again
Morning everyone, I closed my DF diary a few months ago for various reasons at the time. However on reflection I think I haven't been myself for months , but I feel myself coming out of the place I've been and wanted to be back here. The last two years have been very testing with RL things going on in the back ground but…
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15months to debt free - I hope
Well I thought it was time I started a diary having put my two pennorth into several others. Brief bit about me. I am a retired careworker having done other things as well. I have a husband who has mental health issues and 3 old dogs. A 15 year oldJack Russell X who has heart and kidney failure so I am not sure how long we…
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£2,576.79 to clear by March
£956.15 on one credit card, interest free period ends 16th March £1620.64 on the other, interest free until the 1st March It's entirely possible that I can't quite manage and end up doing a balance transfer, but this diary is to give me the accountability to try my best. We've had a tricky year financially after my husband…
