Just as you don’t need to eat just apples and lettuce to maintain a healthy weight, you don’t need a huge income to get free of debt. Part of financial literacy is simply to realise you need to spend less than you earn.

Ayala Farrell, who had credit card debts and weight issues for a decade, is a firm believer that weight and money are linked. She came to this conclusion while saving the deposit for her home; after a year she had her house – and had dropped more than 17 lbs.

“I developed hobbies that didn’t involve spending, such as knitting, reading, jogging,” says Ayala. “I cooked for friends instead of going out. And the year I spent saving for my house deposit was the lightest I’ve been in my life.”