FOREWORD FOR BACK TO THE BLACK, 2015 EDITION
By Simon Read
Personal Finance Editor of the Independent newspaper

Debt is a serious issue. I've spent enough of my life in debt to know how distressing and destabilising it can be. And it's not just caused by overspending but can be the result of a tragedy, illness, or other traumatic event.

People who get into debt consequently often feel helpless. And if they're paying huge interest charges on the money they owe, they could well be heading for a financial disaster where their debts spiral totally out of control.

In short, being in problem debt is not a pleasant situation. Having experienced it personally I avoid borrowing money if at all possible. Sure, I have a mortgage, but that's planned debt. I know I can afford the repayments and have a set programme - including monthly overpayments - to clear the outstanding debt as soon as possible.

I write almost every week in The Independent about people who've got into financial difficulties for a number of different reasons. There was Sue who was diagnosed with cancer, lost her job because she had to take off so much time for treatment, and ended up almost homeless, before a debt charity stepped in to help her get back on her feet.

There was Dan, a well-paid banker who lived life to the full until he was suddenly made redundant and ended up losing everything because he couldn't pay off his debt. He eventually retrained and now works as a carpenter, a lot less well-off, but a lot wiser.

Michael MacMahon has been through the debt cycle, too, as you'll discover as you read his story. I know he never wants to repeat his experiences but sharing them with others is a hugely helpful thing to do. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when dealing with debt is admitting there's a problem, not just to family and friends, but to yourself.

Reading Michael's story of his descent into debt hell should help you realise that it's all too easy and not something you should necessarily blame yourself for. The difficult part, of course, is getting on top of the problem and climbing out of debt. But, again, Michael's story is a great eye-opener into just how that can be achieved and his constant advice throughout this book should prove pretty useful if you're in a similar situation.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of self-help books. They tend to be written by professional self-proclaimed 'gurus' who pull together a collection of over-used glib phrases and a smattering of common sense to sell tens thousands of books that are probably not much good to anyone, apart from lining the pockets of the author.

Michael's book is precisely the opposite. It's written from the heart by a man who has been there. If you think you're the only person who's struggling to cope with debt, he'll show you that you're not and help you find ways to put your problems behind you.

But only if you want to, of course. Getting out of debt is not easy. It will take self-discipline and sacrifice. If you're ready for that challenge then read on - and I wish you the greatest success.

Simon Read, Personal Finance Editor, The Independent