Her situation left her relying on her daughter for even basic necessities like food.
Sue Johnson, 75, found herself in severe financial difficulty after her divorce in March 2003.
Despite moving out of her marital home, she was still obligated to pay £400 towards the shared mortgage with her ex-husband while also covering the rent for her new flat.
This financial burden intensified when she purchased a new flat, leaving her responsible for two mortgages—the second costing £450 a month.
Working as a librarian, Sue earned £1,200 after tax, which was quickly drained by the dual mortgage payments.
This left her with almost nothing for essential expenses. Unable to afford her weekly food shop, Sue had to rely on her daughter for financial support.
“Because of the new mortgage I was paying for myself and that old one shared with my ex-husband, I had just enough money to pay for gas and electricity but not enough for food,” Sue recalled.
“My daughter had to send me money for food, but she didn’t have a lot to send me.”
Sue resorted to multiple credit cards to manage basic living costs, often transferring balances to new cards with 0 per cent interest rates to avoid mounting interest.
Within a year of her divorce, Sue had accumulated over £1,000 in debt—a significant sum at the time.
Recognising the need for change, Sue joined a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) money course at her local church.
(Image: CAP / SWNS)
Through careful budgeting and financial planning, she managed to clear her debt within ten months.
Sue now dedicates her time to helping others avoid similar financial struggles. She works with CAP as a money coach and regularly visits Chelmsford Prison to teach inmates about money management.
“Learning how to budget and manage your money is so important,” Sue said. “To now help others do the same is incredibly rewarding.”
Peter Snell, CAP’s money coaching expert, highlighted the importance of accessible financial support:
“We’re not just offering budgeting tips; we’re offering a lifeline to those drowning in financial worry.”
CAP’s new Budget not Blues money coaching sessions for 2025 are now available for booking, providing essential tools for people to regain financial control.
More information can be found at: https://capuk.org/budget-not-blues-whats-your-money-personality.