| Feeling stressed by the amount of debts you have? | | | | couldn'tchange her level of debt immediately. Michelle |
| Threeyears ago Michelle was struggling on a nurse's | | | | didn'tdeliberately put STOP signs in her life to prevent |
| salary. Shehad run up huge debts with a number of | | | | her dreamhappening. She simply hadn't stopped to |
| courtjudgments against her name. She longed to travel | | | | think about theconsequences that her spending would |
| - a dreamthat she kept telling herself was impossible. It | | | | have on her dream totravel. |
| was clearto Michelle that she couldn't continue to run | | | | Even though you may know what really matters to |
| up debt, yeton payday she would rush out and buy | | | | you, you mayput all sorts of barriers in place, which |
| new clothes to cheerherself up. | | | | firmly STOP youfrom achieving what you really want |
| Becoming more and more stressed about her debts | | | | to do. Have you longedto make changes, to find that |
| meant thatshe frequently slept badly and was not | | | | you have been stopped just asyou got started, or |
| fresh for work, whichresulted in time off sick. She was | | | | even beforehand? |
| unable to work anyovertime because she was always | | | | In facing her financial situation honestly, Michelle |
| too tired. She kept askingherself, Why is it so difficult | | | | couldsee how long it would take her to be debt-free. |
| for me to save instead ofspending all my money? The | | | | For thefirst time in her life, she took time to look at |
| same answer came back everytime: Because you | | | | heroutgoings as well as her income. |
| spend more money than you are earning! | | | | Michelle accepted that she had let things slide too far, |
| When Michelle was finally ready to listen to the | | | | andshe was determined to avoid bankruptcy. She |
| answersfrom her own conversations, she | | | | changed herspending habits and decided what was |
| acknowledged that she neededto stay awayfrom | | | | important in her life |
| shops so that she physically couldn't spend her money. | | | | (no debt and all the stress associated with it; being |
| She knew that, by continuing to shop, she would | | | | ableto travel). Three years on, she is working in |
| sabotage herdream of financial security and travelling | | | | Australia,with an apartment by the beach, having paid |
| abroad. | | | | off all herdebts. Now, most of her days are stress |
| Michelle had warning signs almost every day in the | | | | free. |
| shape ofbills and credit card statements. She began to | | | | If you find you are in debt, don't bury your head in |
| dread thepost arriving. Finally, she gave in to the | | | | thesand -debt does not go away. It is important to deal |
| situation andcalled me. As you know, she said, I bought | | | | with theproblem before it escalatesout of control. |
| a new car afew months ago, which I hardly use now. | | | | Speak to a friend, family member or a professional |
| The bank has justbounced my payment this month | | | | advisorand then acton sorting out the debt. Prioritise |
| and I can't see how I'll beable to make the payment | | | | repayments onessential services such as mortgages |
| within the next seven days. | | | | and utility bills. |
| She had not realised how much debt she had incurred. | | | | If you are paying off a range of credit cards pay off |
| Shortof winning the lottery, she accepted that she | | | | thosewith the highest rate ofinterest first. |