When Kate's blog submission Ladies in the Red: For the Broke and the Beautiful crossed our virtual desk we were intrigued and wanted to learn more. As it turns out, Kate, and her story is pretty intriguing all the way around - a mix of down to earth financial advice and information with great personality and a big dose of humility, this girl has seen financial ruin (is still in the midst of it actually) and lives to tell, and teach, about the process of crawling back out.

We asked Kate a few questions, read further to get the rest of the scoop on her story:

What happened in your life that made you want to start this blog?

I'm 29 (next month) and have experienced both business and personal bankruptcy (the personal caused by the business). I was in the disposable industrial clothing business (i.e. adult nappies). Following a government embargo on clothing from China, who supplied our orders, my company crashed spectactularly along with every every penny we'd invested into it (or it was spectacular to us - like watching a huge firework as it hits your house) and I lost everything I've ever owned. There was a positive note in this however, at least I didn't have to feign interest in the absorbancy and fit of adult nappies anymore. Every cloud...

What about that experience made you want to get typing so publicly?

I began blogging about my experience because I quickly realised on becoming bankrupt that there was very little support out there for women going through what is still quite a taboo subject for many people. I didn't want to hear about how my life was "over" and I'd "never get myself back on feet again" as so many people wanted to tell me, but wanted something upbeat and positive. Something that focused on moving on and moving up instead of wallowing in the misery of bankruptcy. I couldn't find what I wanted so I tried to create it myself, and Ladies in the Red: For the Broke and the Beautiful was introduced to the world in March of this year...well, I say 'the world' but I know for a fact that the initial regular reading 'community' was made up only of my mum and my Aunty Annie.

What's now? What's next?

I'm out of bankruptcy at the end of next month, just as I turn the grand old age of 29, and the blog is getting more readers every week (I think I might be up to double figures now!). This Lady in the Red will hopefully be a Lady in the Pink in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.