My caregiver was in a lot of serious debt when I was younger — as in, creditors constantly breathing down their neck, 'don't answer the phone'-type debt. Their credit was wrecked, to the extent they couldn't even get a phone contract.

They've still managed to get a mortgage. Later than a lot of others, sure, but that's also because they were unemployed for a very long time. They went to a charity that specialises in debt advice and that's when things started to turn around for them finance-wise.

Just thought I would share because it's often made out like your bad credit decisions when you're younger will fuck you over for life, when there's definitely hope.