I’m female and I’m 21 years old.

Two years ago I’d never thought I could be in debt, but I ended up in debt before I even realised it. It all began two years ago. 

I was an apprentice and still lived at home. I had everything I needed. But then I became pregnant, and the flat was too small for all of us and a baby.

Moreover, I wanted to live with the father of the child. So we rented a flat. I couldn’t go working, as I had to care for the baby. Hence I received unemployment benefit payments/ I had to go on the doll. (Hartz IV).

Neither did I have any furniture nor enough money. So I came up with the idea of buying furniture over the Internet. I thought that paying in instalments would be manageable. First everything went well, so I ordered, ordered, ordered. But the more I ordered the more I had to repay. Then I was also stupid enough to purchase a mobile contract.

In the end I wasn’t able to cover the expenses, so I just stopped paying the bills. I felt much better at once. But I still had the debts. The longer I was trying to avoid the debt, the more it continued to mount.

By this time, I’ve made a start on reducing the debt; I went to a debt counselor who helps me eliminating it.

I know now that it was a mistake to buy and order over and over again. But back then it was so easy! If you are not careful, however, you end up in debts like I did. I finally realized that it couldn’t go on like this.
And of course, I want to give my child a chance in life, not some debt.