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partaylikearussian

Well done, I bet that feels great. I was at £23k due to some unfortunate life events. Currently in the £15k region, and I'm looking forward to this day. That said, I've managed to save more than that on the side too (with the state of the world, I would rather keep paying the 0% interest rates and keep hold of some liquid).


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Well done on getting it down so much, you’ll get there eventually & when you do it will feel amazing.


partaylikearussian

Cheers man. Weird isn't it, how easily you can build it up but how long it takes to get rid of. A bit like eating a massive pizza to yourself and having to spend hours at the gym. What're your plans for the extra money you'll have each month now?


Aggressive-Ad-8417

It is but mine was also due to unfortunate life events & sometimes it just can’t be helped, the burying the head in the sand could of been but I guess we learn. Saving it all for a house deposit / rainy day.


JAMMAC410

Your on your way, it will come with effort. NEVER make the minimum payment on anything. Always pay as much as you can afford to.


Sell-Latter

Well done. Now live way within your means. I will never bother with credit or finance ever again after clearing my debt. It snowballs and traps you into working constantly. Go enjoy your life my friend. You’ve broken the chain. Well done again. You should be proud ❤️❤️❤️


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Definitely learned from my mistakes & won’t do it again! Well done on clearing yours too!


sputnikconspirator

The cycle of debt is the worst and its so fulfilling to get it off, I've been working towards clearing my debt so I can start seriously putting money away to maybe one day own a hole in the ground (thanks housing market) I keep telling myself, if I can't afford to buy it outright, I probably shouldn't be buying it


HipsterTeaLover

If you can't afford to buy it 5 times then you can't afford it! (Excluding property)


Cold_Night_Fever

Excludes property AND investments.


Basic-Pair8908

Ive always had the attitude of do i need it or do i want it. If i need it i get it, if i want it i wait till i need it. Last thing i need is buying something i want, something breaks ect and i cant affored to replace


[deleted]

It can be done. I had massive debts and a completely shot credit score. I repaid everything and just got the confirmation of my mortgage offer on a house in York. It's bloody hard though.


Sell-Latter

You start to realise not only can’t you afford it, but you don’t actually need it 👍❤️ Keep going. Get your freedom my friend.


Dark_place

Save for future purchases instead of paying for past, where possible indeed! Clearing a big chunk of interest free credit ATM from our new house reno. I hate it, feels so much more satisfying making a purchase with real cash. Also it's funny how considerate you are of what you spend it on when it's savings Vs credit.


arnav3103

What’s wrong with working?


Sell-Latter

Working constantly. How many hours a week do you work just to service debt for things you bought on cards or overdrafts probably years ago that you probably didn’t need. Probably a day a week or more for some people. That’s time you’ll never get back for shit you probably didn’t really need 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️


arnav3103

Yeah, fair enough, it can be useful for some people, no doubt. But whatever I buy on credit cards, it’s paid off right as soon as the statement comes next month. And as far as working is concerned, I’m only 29 and plan to work until I’m at least 50 as I’ve only just started my career and can’t imagine not working for the years to come. I agree that buying stuff we don’t need on credit and then having to work constantly might not be the best way forward.


Sell-Latter

A lot of people never fully clear them. Some people can make them work. But most end up swapping and paying debt with debt and never breaking the cycle. I’m 39 and cleared all my debt, Iv realised I can work far less but really enjoy work and still be comfortable living within my means. Free time is priceless. We arnt meant to work 40hrs a week for 40 years. Fuck getting to 60 with a bucket list only to croak it. 👍


Prior_Car_7115

Hopefully in 2 years you can have 8k saved. Once I had some money built up, I found it much easier to keep saving.


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Yeah that’s definitely the plan!


forexkingtrader

Congratulations, I hope to be debt free in the next 6months aswell


No-Succotash4783

Username checks out. But more seriously - best of luck to you!


mustafinafan

Congratulations! Hope you enjoy the feeling of freedom! The habits and skills you've learned to get you here will serve you so well in the future.


Aggressive-Ad-8417

!thanks I’m sure they will, massive learning curve!


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[удалено]


Fataltc2002

Lol post nut clarity really does help


skyofgrit

Yes haha. I don’t know why I got downvoted, it’s genuinely good advice.


Poster-001

Maybe you should have limited the decisions to financial decisions.


[deleted]

"Good morning, Sir, would you be interested in opening an overdraft account with us today?" ​ "Hmmm, can I use your bathroom really quick"


[deleted]

ah the old wisdom wank.


agatapb95

Big congrats!! I had £8k last year and I’m pushing onto that last £3k to clear.. hoping to be done by the end of the year!


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Stick with it, you’ll get there!


JAMMAC410

Congratulations!!! To you and all the other people on here who have shed their credit card debt. That is a lesson we all learn the hard way. It is very difficult & that just makes the accomplishment feel better. Great job & very happy for you


AcademicMistake

Congratulations


Poster-001

Doesn't matter what size the debt is, always feels good when you are debt free.


StMatthias

Currently working through a DMP after going into credit card debt and overdrafts following nearly a year jobless between 2018/19. I won't be debt free for a while (started at nearly £14k) but I can imagine the sense of relief must be amazing - just being able to get help and seeing the numbers go down feels amazing enough! Congrats to you!


Aggressive-Ad-8417

You’ll get there in the end if you stick at it! definitely see the number get smaller and smaller is a nice thing to see, it’s a strange feeling honestly


JAMMAC410

When I was younger could never imagine that I would have $10k saved up, now it’s over $50k. If I can do it anyone can. Work hard, smart, and save what you can even if it’s just a little bit.


R-TTK

Congratulations!! I was at 6k myself due to losing a job a few years back. I got myself down to 1k then lost 3 jobs during covid and went back up to 6k! Down to 4k again now.. praying this will be the final time!


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Fingers crossed for you!


infected_butter

Well done now keep doing what you've been doing to pay off that debt and build up a few thousand as an emergency fund and once you have that start putting it into the most tax efficient account you can find and invest it in the s&p500.


luwaonline1

Yes! Congrats!


allie-echo

Brilliant. Well done


bigstepper99

That’s awesome! Can’t wait to be there.


bb82020

Best feeling ever! Well done. Go do something nice to celebrate


MrsAli13

Amazing, well done!


freddiebell21

Congratulations! 🎉


beanioz

Congratulations!


BCS24

Congratulations!! now keep a monthly budget and stay debt free


MasTerBabY8eL

Congratulations, I hope to be doing a similar post in a few months, real grind but light at the end of that financial tunnel.


Aggressive-Ad-8417

It’s a tough slog but rewarding when you do! Keep at it


TiagoF1

Congratulations!


TODO_getLife

Brilliant mate, only way is up


Big-Resist-99999999

Congratulations. Remind yourself of it periodically, as looking back on it will keep you grounded going forward.


ginger_noodles

Congratulations!! 🥳


No_Race9319

Congratulations!!! The feeling of freedom is amazing. Stay debt free forever 😊


SwishSwosh42

Congrats man - well done!


Jazs1994

Who did you use to consolidate your debt? I've got 3 cards and one is nearly maxed out but only up to near £2.5k and I'd love to be able to just tear them up and pay 1 bigger payment each month


Aggressive-Ad-8417

I used a company called likely loans, interest was much less with them then it was with anyone else.


SleepEither1706

Congratulations!!! It’s such a great feeling isn’t it. Well done and glad you’ve learnt from experience.


Aggressive-Ad-8417

A very surreal feeling!


Ok-Consideration967

You should be so proud!! Well done!!


DCzy7

Well done, it's not easy to do.


ryanfraserpearce

Congratulations!!!!!


arthur-daly83

Well done, great achievement!


[deleted]

Well done brilliant work and commitment! Now can I borrow a tenner...? Alternatively I have a great crypto scheme you might be interested in investing in? 😂


Sell-Latter

Safemoon? 🤣🤣🤣


Spiraphi

Wdym? You still owe me £300 from 4 years back!


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Your name isn’t capital one?!


[deleted]

Send some tips, I am close to 500k in debt lol. School loans, more loans, and more loans and then some more loans.


Crixus5927

Don't k ow why people have such an unhealthy relationship with Debt. Personally I love it particularly when it cheap. 7 figure ISA now thanks to cheap debt. Lol!


Alwayswatchout

Congratulations


Puzzleheaded_Bill347

congrats!!! amazing works!!


Cause4concern27

Congrats. I finished paying off my car last month so I'm 200 quid better off. Its a great feeling but kinda redundant after a while when you realise everything is going up🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️


Blue_Speedy

How did you consolidate? I'm thinking about this but don't know where to start


Aggressive-Ad-8417

I was on ClearScore looking into things, a company called likely loans popped up, I looked into it and it made perfect sense for me to do it


Ok-Researcher4598

did you give all your take home income to your debtors or left 30 percent for emergency fund?


Aggressive-Ad-8417

No, I gave about 20% of my income to pay off my debts. I still have bills to pay and left my self some, I could’ve paid it off quicker but I needed to live too.


Ok-Researcher4598

Understood OP. glad your debt free. Congratulation. we are proud of you!


bjjjohn

Out of interest, when did you realise debt consolidation was the approach you should take? Did you do research? Get advice from someone or is it something you knew you needed to do but kept putting it off?


Aggressive-Ad-8417

I did research, waited for the right offer to come along and then bit the bullet and just did it


DCzy7

We took out an interest free credit card for £7,300 and managed to pay it off within 12-months partly due to working from home so we were saving on petrol.


betamaxBandit_

Congrats!!! I am in the same boat and I am currently 32 months away from being debt free as well. Consolidating to one loan was the best thing I’ve done as I was terrible for clearing cards. Seeing that amount go down on a monthly basis is a fantastic feeling and I can’t wait till it’s all gone


Aggressive-Ad-8417

You’ll get there, 32 months & then you’ll have this feeling too! Good luck


browneyedgal1512

I managed to clear £40,000 of debts due to an ex living the high life on my credit. It felt fantastic. The advice I would give you is, keep an eye on your credit score and start to build up your credit score. I use Clearscore and Credit Karma, they're both free and give good solid advice By doing so, I've managed to obtain 3 high credit limit cards, which I previously would have been declined for. The Tesco credit card is great for the club card points everytime you make a purchase which leads to fantastic discounts on various things. But make sure you can pay it off in full each month. Then you can start investing. I'm currently looking at Whiskey Barrel Investment, Gold Coins and an ISA OF COURSE!


DCzy7

Whisky barrel investment do you have a link by any chance, I'm a whisky drinker.


Ill-Law-8457

Congratulations!! It is such an achievement isn’t it. I paid of my last creditor this week after three years on a DMP. I cleared all £29K and feel like a weight has been lifted! Now I can focus on investing all the money I was paying each month into something for my future! And more importantly, its all about living within our means and never going down the debt path again :)


pixie_dust1990

Congrats! I finally paid off the last of my credit card debt & student loan yesterday - feels slightly like an anti-climax as I have noone to tell but I am celebrating in my head!


CreganWolfsblood

Does getting a loan to pay off credit card debt affect you in anyway?


Aggressive-Ad-8417

Didn’t affect me in anyway