I’m in £20,000 credit card debt but I’m not ashamed – I want others to know they’re not alone

I remember the exact moment my landslide into debt began – it was 14 years ago when I was fresh into university. I was 18, living alone for the first time, when I discovered the ‘£200 interest free overdraft’ on my current account was actually £1,500.

I was enjoying my newfound freedom in a city away from home – and didn’t hesitate to dip into that overdraft to buy new clothes, pitchers of cocktails at Wetherspoons, and multiple trips to Nando’s with friends. I figured I’d just pay it back easily when I got a job.

Fast forward to 2024 and that debt has gone up and down all through my adult life. I never changed my spending habits. If I wanted a takeaway, I would get it. If I wanted to go for dinner with a friend, I wouldn’t pause to check if I could afford it. It would just go on my credit card – as my £1,500 overdraft would always be maxed out.

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It got to the point where I had my head firmly in the sand. I never missed a credit card payment so my limits just went up and up, I could get almost any credit card I wanted.

I couldn’t imagine how I was going to pay it back so I convinced myself I’d just owe money forever, this was who I was. But that thought really depressed me. Two children later and it weighed on my mind even more.

I’m now in £20,000 credit card debt – and I’ve decided enough is enough.

At the beginning of this month I set up a TikTok account called thatgirlindebt to motivate myself to become completely debt-free. I didn’t expect the sheer wave of support that followed – more than 6,000 people now follow that account, and my top video has had more than 1 million views.

More than 100 people just this month have told me they are in a similar position; in debt but with no-one to talk to about it. I’m no financial expert (clearly) but I’ve seen in the last few weeks how helpful it’s been to just open up the conversation about owing money. It’s more normal than we realise!

I’ve had some unpleasant comments as well of course – people telling me I’m ‘irresponsible and lazy’ and ‘unhinged’. One person even said I was ‘dangerous’.

Irresponsible, sure. But not anymore. This changes now. In the last month I’ve sat down and really, properly looked at my accounts. I’ve made a budget on a spreadsheet and started tracking every single thing that comes in and out, from my £4 bi-weekly bus fare to the £49 monthly water bill.

I’ve moved all my credit card debt onto 0% interest cards and I’ve started using the ‘snowball method’ (a tip I learnt from American money guru Dave Ramsey) to pay them off one by one, starting with the smallest balance or the highest interest rate.

I hope to be completely debt free in two and a half years – but I’m gunning for two. For the first time in my life, I’m determined.

I want to save money for my children’s future, I want to be able to go on holiday with my family without fretting about the cost, or approach Christmas feeling festive and merry rather than a sense of dread.

If you’re in a similar situation, please know you are not alone. I don’t believe debt is anything to be ashamed about. For me, deciding to change my ways was the hardest step. After that, the actual changing part has been surprisingly easy so far.

I can’t imagine going back to spending what I used to. And I never want to again.

You can read more about my debt-free journey on TikTok via thatgirlindebt – feel free to come and say hello!

If you would like advice about debt, or if you’re worried about money, visit StepChange Debt Charity for free expert debt help and advice. The government also lists where you can find free debt advice here as well.