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From the very beginning, Stephen was incredibly supportive. He took the time to go through each debt, my income and outgoings, and my personal situation. Everything was clearly explained and documented so I could understand exactly where I stood.

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He helped me make calls and send emails and even contacted creditors on my behalf to advocate for me. Although I managed to clear some smaller or priority debts myself, I was still anxious about juggling multiple repayments long term.

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We talked through all the options, including a debt relief order and repaying lenders independently. As I hope to apply for a mortgage in the next few years, it was important to find a solution that avoided escalation or court action and was as mortgage friendly as possible.

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We decided on a Debt Management Plan through Step Change. It allowed me to make affordable repayments while still covering my household expenses and caring for my family.

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Throughout the process, we also spoke about money management. I realised I had never been taught how to handle finances growing up, and I wanted something different for my children. We changed their pocket money from small weekly amounts to a larger monthly sum that they need to budget themselves. My hope is that this, alongside age-appropriate financial education, will help them develop a healthier relationship with money.

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I am so grateful to Stephen and the CHAT team. Without this local, free support, I would likely still have my head in the sand. Instead, I’m now looking ahead to a debt-free future with far more confidence and understanding."​