A group that helps people struggling with financial issues is celebrating 21 years in Dublin.
Debtors Anonymous is a support group that was established in Ireland in 2002 for people experiencing problems with money or debt. The group works similarly to Alcoholics Anonymous where members follow a 12-step programme to improve their lives.
DA spokeswoman, Maria, told Dublin Live: "A lot of people struggle with unsecured debt which can range from credit card debt, loans, student debt, store cards, borrowing from friends and family, or not being able to pay bills on time." Unsecured debt is any debt that is not secured with some form of collateral such as a car, house, or other property.
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She continues: "Debtors Anonymous helps people find a new way of living that offers recovery from compulsive debting and hope for a happier, healthier, and more prosperous life." The story of DA started in 1976 in America when some members of Alcoholics Anonymous started getting their lives back on track after getting sober.
Maria recounted: "They were seeing that they were still having financial problems when other members weren’t. So they started talking about putting together a programme that looked at money and savings.
"Over a five-year period, Debtors Anonymous was established. They realised that most people with financial troubles didn’t have any clarity and that's where it started."
Now, DA has support groups in various countries around the world including Ireland. Speaking of how DA came to Ireland, Maria said: "In 2002, there were two members who were separately going to DA meetings. One was doing phone meetings while the other was in America.
"Both came to the same place in Dublin city to inquire about starting a meeting and they were put in touch with each other. That’s how the DA meeting began in Dublin 21 years ago."
The first ever DA meeting was help in the Central Mission Hall in Lower Abbey Street, Dublin. Later, a separate meeting was started in Salthill, Galway, and a third meeting was established in Dublin for Business Debtors Anonymous for business owners or for anyone who’s self-employed that might be having trouble with money or debt.
Maria said the group has had a massive influx of new members especially since the pandemic started.
She said: "When the pandemic hit, like most 12-step programmes around the world, we went online. We saw people calling in Zoom from around the country and also Irish members from around the world and different nationalities signing in as well."
She explained: "We’ve people from all walks of life, bankers, financial advisors, teachers, artists, etc. Just because someone might be really good at accounts doesn’t mean that they have clarity in their own personal finances."
Maria said financial issues can show up in different ways. "Some people might relate to compulsive spending, others might underearning where they might not be bringing in enough income to meet their needs and wants.
"They could be overworking to pay off debt. Some people will get paid, spend all their money in the first three weeks and then run out of money and have to go into deprivation or borrow. Some people might not be able to make their bills on time and go into debt that way."
She explained that like any addiction, unsecured debt can lead to real problems in people’s lives, relationships, and families.
Like AA, where the only requirement is to not drink alcohol a day at a time, the only requirement for joining DA is a desire to not incur any unsecured debt a day at a time.
You can contact Debtors Anonymous via email debtorsanonymousirelandpi@gmail.com or call them at 086 408 4468. You can also visit the Debtors Anonymous website to find out more.
Please note that the stories shared today express the opinions and experiences of the individual member, and not necessarily that of Debtors Anonymous as a whole.
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