From Debts to Adventure!

Here is an e-mail I received a few weeks ago that I thought might give some inspiration. It comes from
Melissa who was in Ireland at the time of writing.

Hi David,

I'm actually working in Ireland at the moment. I've been on a working holiday since the beginning of
February and will probably be away until the middle of next year.

I've enjoyed getting the Simply Budgets emails and am definitely interested in 'It's All about You and Money' program when I return home.

Just want to say thanks for your budget advice.

2 years ago my friend was looking at your software when we were shopping one day, so I looked it all up and started getting your introduction emails.

At the time I had started to question where I was headed, especially financially. I was 27 and didn't
have any savings behind me and had a few debts hanging around (credit card and car loan). They
weren't big debts but I'd lived at home until I was 26 so I shouldn't have had any debt and I should
have been in a much better position.

I also wanted to go overseas again because I had gone away when I was 23 and I had to come home
after 5 months due to a tragedy.

Then I met someone etc etc, so I guess I just got complacent for a few years with my goals.

Then I got a bit of a shove because my mum and dad had moved 2 hours north of Sydney and my
sister and I were left behind, living it up in our family home. The shove came when my parents
sold the house. So that's when I started feeling down and anxious about my life.

My boyfriend at the time and I rented a nice little 2 bedroom cottage on someone's property, and I
started to feel more independent and grown up.

I started to focus on my goals again and I worked out a budget using your system (I didn't do it for
the whole year ahead though). I even got my ex-boyfriend to work out a budget (which was huge
progress). His didn't last long but it was still worthwhile for him to see how much money he wastes.

I paid off all my debts ($1500-hecs debt, $1800- for a lounge suite, $5000-car and credit card I'd combined together) I still owe my mum a few grand but at least there is no interest there! I also saved $9000 to go overseas. (DW comment - Good to see the priorities are right on that one!)

So I still use your budget now while I'm overseas, to manage my money.

I started my trip in London on the 5th of February, where I met my sister. I got a weekend job in a
pub to save money because we were traveling for 2 months in May. I earned £5 an hour, and it took
every shift I did to pay that first months rent of £275 so I didn't get behind or waste my Aussie
dollars on rent!

I traveled around Europe for 2 months and then moved to Ireland. I've now got a second job on the weekends in Dublin to save to travel again.

Well, I've probably given you a lot of detail David, just wanted to say thanks.

I would like to have more security eg, a house etc because I turn 30 next year but I'll look into that
when I return to Sydney.

The main thing is I've learnt to not be in debt and for now I'm happy seeing the world.

Kind Regards,
Melissa.

How about that then?

Melissa went from accumulating debts to seeing the world. I'm inspired as well!