From an early age I can remember my parents saying “put it on the credit card” “ok but which one” I was brought up in a world of credit and more worryingly that surviving on credit was acceptable.

When I was 16 I worked for a well known high street bank the money coming in each month was way more than I had ever earned and I never saved a penny. Mum always encouraged me to spend my money and “treat” myself to clothes and nights out.

When I turned 18 my parents divorced and I moved in with my Mum. We didn’t get on and before long I felt I had not other choice to move out with a friend. I had started at University the day my parents divorced. Still working for the high street bank I became useful to my branch because every time we were pressured for sales figures of the latest credit card or current account they asked us all to open one – so I did!

University was funded solely by myself as Mum was working 3 jobs just to allow herself o survive and Dad was an alcoholic and would offer money one day and not the next. Life for me was up and down. I moved back home with Mum but after 3 months I had moved back out again with my new boyfriend. We were young and stupid. We moved into a new housing estate and to 2keep up with the Joneses” we spent far to much on credit cards or credit. My goodness we bought home no more that £2000 a month and we leased an Audi A3… we were far to young and reckless!

2 years into our relationship we decided to separate. We still had 3 months left on our rental agreement and I said I would stay (how stupid) I carried on paying rent and debts way beyond my means! I had changed jobs and finished University by this point and was on a reasonable salary but still it was not enough. Again I moved home and started sorting debts out. I never owned up to Mum how much debt I was in so Mum expected a high rent and expensive gifts at birthdays and Christmas! I was single and depressed and spent my weekend’s spending money I just did not have, until I met my partner of now.

Within a few months we were living together. He had no debt and knew I had some (I never owned up how much) and paid for lots. His parents lived overseas and owned his house so whilst I paid rent when I could I never had that formal agreement. September 2006 I decided I disliked my current job so much that I needed to do what I always wanted and trained to teach. I gave up work for a year and took out as many grants as possible. I however had very little income to pay my debts off each month, I did babysitting to supplement my outgoings but it never amounted to much and I was too tired all the time.

I got my first teaching post in September of last year. Whilst I am on a reasonable salary my debts have spiralled way out of control. I carried on having the sleepless nights but burying my head into the sand until this January when I received 2 letters that my credit cards had gone into default. I spoke to Baines and Ernst and have begun proceedings to have an IVA. At present I propose to pay £630 a month. I have no news of when the meeting of creditors is to be held yet but I am hopeful that it will be agreed so that I can begin with my life. I am only 26 so I have my entire life ahead of me. I just hope that its debt free!

I shall keep you posted!

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