‘Every letter made me panic’: doctor who fell £28,000 into debt urges others to seek help sooner

When Ade bought her first home in 2022, she thought she was doing everything right.

A doctor working in the NHS, she had saved enough to buy a house and felt secure about the future. But within months, rising mortgage rates, inconsistent income and mounting debts left her struggling financially.

Today, after building up almost £28,000 of debt and falling £5,000 behind on her mortgage, she has a message for anyone facing money worries:

Don't ignore the letters and seek help sooner rather than later. 

Ade says unopened envelopes became a source of constant anxiety as debts were passed between companies and payment demands kept arriving. But seeking help ultimately gave her a way forward.

"I wasn't aware of how quickly circumstances can change"

Like many homeowners, Ade expected some fluctuation in mortgage costs. What she didn't expect was how quickly her monthly payments would rise.

"Within a few months of buying a house, it went up more than £500,” she told Money Wellness.

The increase came at the same time when she was getting less shifts and work and her income had become less predictable. After working full-time through the pandemic, she later moved into more flexible work to regain some control over her work-life balance.

Looking back, she says she underestimated how quickly finances can unravel.

"I felt like I had done well, worked hard and bought a house and then suddenly I was thinking that my life has been wrecked. I wasn't aware of how quickly circumstances can change without a backup."

The letters that kept coming

As interest rates rose, letters from her mortgage lender became a regular source of stress.

"I got letters three or four times within five months saying it was going up, going up."

Each one carried the same warning.

"Any letter you get about your mortgage always says it's possible to lose your house."

At first, she assumed she would cope. But as the increases continued, so did the anxiety.

Alongside her mortgage, Ade had loans and credit card debts linked to home improvements. When work became less reliable, keeping up with repayments became more difficult.

"If I don't work, I don't get paid,” she said.

New companies got involved and more correspondence arrived.

"Every time you get a letter, you get anxious about opening it."

The paperwork became overwhelming.

"I didn't know where to start.”

Like many people struggling financially, she found herself avoiding the very thing that could help her understand the problem.

Finding a way forward

Eventually, the stress began affecting both her mental and physical health.

"The anxiety and stress were affecting my mental health and my physical health as well."

It was her husband who encouraged her to contact Money Wellness.

That first phone call brought an immediate sense of relief.

"There was a sigh of relief when I was on the phone."

Ade was so relieved that someone helped her make sense of the situation.

"I felt like someone was helping me think."

We helped her create a realistic budget to maintain payments towards priority bills and arrears, as well as a suitable debt management plan, allowing her to make one affordable payment.

The arrangement gave her something she hadn't had for months, breathing space.

"It gave me space from the calls and letters and time to improve my finances."

Stability makes all the difference

One of the biggest changes has been returning to permanent employment.

Her income is now predictable, removing the uncertainty that came with temporary work.

"The stability is different now."

Instead of worrying whether enough work will be available next month, she knows exactly what income is coming in and can budget accordingly.

'People expect you're okay'

Ade believes there is a misconception that professionals are somehow immune from money problems.

"People expect you're okay,” she said.

That assumption made asking for help harder.

"It wasn't easy to seek help because people expected that I was okay,” she said.

Ade wants others to understand that a good job doesn't guarantee financial security.

"Just because you're in a profession that pays relatively well doesn't mean circumstances can't change."

The lesson she'll never forget

Looking back, Ade says the experience transformed the way she thinks about money.

Her biggest lesson is to prepare for uncertainty before it arrives.

"Think of the future whilst you're making decisions for the present."

She now understands the importance of emergency savings and having a financial safety net.

She recommends that people facing debt problems engage with them rather than avoid them.

Because when the letters start arriving, ignoring them rarely makes things better.

As Ade discovered, opening them, and asking for help, can be the first step towards getting your finances back on track.