Paying off debt support

[Pinhead Larry]

Yesss! You're smashing it!
If you pay the £300 payday there's nothing stopping you from continuing the way you're going and in March when BF moves in, that could even increase!

I spent a little on Christmas presents - making friends nostalgic 'blockbuster' boxs with microwave popcorn (4 for £1 from Home Bargains), popcorn boxes from Amazon (10 for £2) and DVD's I got from CEX all around £1.50-2.50 each. DIY'd the covers to slip in the sleeves, I could just do with a tip to remove the sticky CEX labels if anyone knows!

I have a Hen party tomorrow - bottomless brunch and coach i've already paid for but there's about 4 hours of bar crawls planned after the brunch...
I thought about cancelling, but I think instead i'm going to grab a glass of tap water here & there and make do haha.

Definitely! By the time he moves in it'll be £1900 left to pay, so I can possibly see it gone, if I stay sensible. I now WFH 3 days a week too which has probably helped reduce my petrol bill

That Christmas present idea is so cute!! White vinegar should get it off, check on google theres some better tips

Have a good time on your brunch, definitely eases the stress to give yourself a bit of enjoyment here and there

 

[J3N1800]

Thankyou to everyone who offered me advise on my previous post.

A few positive updates to share:

Payday last week and have paid approx £600 towards my credit card.
If I can do the same over the next few months, it should be cleared by the end of the year.
I've also started leaving my credit card at work (my desk locks) to avoid any unnecessary spending/increasing that balance!

Somebody suggested the coach for travelling to London - my trains cost approx £100 return but the coach is around £40 - so would indeed save me a good amount of money! What deterred me was 8 hr travel after work on a Friday would mean I arrive quite late into London and shorten our weekends together.

HOWEVER, I had a brainwave provoked by this suggestion/you lovely people...

I currently work from home 2 days a week and in the office 3 - a rota system between two teams at work. I'm putting an appointment in with HR and my manager and discuss the possibility of me going in full time for 3 weeks a month and working from home (London) 1 full week per month.

This would extend the amount of time I can spend with my boyfriend during the week and feel better about coach travel at the weekends.

Futhermore, with my intent to move down to London in 2023 - if work offer me this flexibility now and I work hard in return, in an ideal world they might agree to me working remotely full time with maybe a week in the office, which I could also tie in with visiting family after the move - but that's getting a bit ahead of myself

Only managed to pay £350 towards my credit card this month, squirreled a bit away because my car is in for it's MOT - touch wood it passes and I can put another £250 towards my card next week.

I have a work Christmas Do in Dec - a £30 bottomless brunch, emptied my purse now I've been paid and managed £18 into an envelope, locked away in my work desk. If I do the same next month, that'll be almost paid.

Definitely! By the time he moves in it'll be £1900 left to pay, so I can possibly see it gone, if I stay sensible. I now WFH 3 days a week too which has probably helped reduce my petrol bill

That Christmas present idea is so cute!! White vinegar should get it off, check on google theres some better tips

Have a good time on your brunch, definitely eases the stress to give yourself a bit of enjoyment here and there

Thankyou! I managed a whole day/night out on £20 after the brunch so I was pretty pleased with that.

 

[mochibean]

Tried to get a consolidation loan and was rejected over 1 missed payment in the last 4 years. I just want rid of this money I owe the bank, I'm paying as much as i can each month but it makes 0 difference.

Little rant I'm fed up of going back and forth with them. They've been more than reasonable and froze my interest all year but I just don't earn enough to pay off everything.

 

[J3N1800]

Tried to get a consolidation loan and was rejected over 1 missed payment in the last 4 years. I just want rid of this money I owe the bank, I'm paying as much as i can each month but it makes 0 difference.

Little rant I'm fed up of going back and forth with them. They've been more than reasonable and froze my interest all year but I just don't earn enough to pay off everything.

I'm so sorry to hear

So difficult once to get out of debt because the money earnt monthly is usually spent with very little to spare, especially in this climate!

 

[mochibean]

Has anyone here taken help from debt consolidation companies? They said I'd be able to get the interest frozen on all my debts and pay it in one monthly payment but I'd also get a default on my credit file. Also, what happens to the interest? I'll have to pay that back later surely.

People have recommended step change or whatever it's called as I have mental health issues but I'm unsure as I don't know anyone that's actually used them.

I'm so sorry to hear

So difficult once to get out of debt because the money earnt monthly is usually spent with very little to spare, especially in this climate!

I couldn't have picked a worse time to get into debt. Now I'm having to pick, choose and balance what money I have between debts and being able to live. I've had to be so frugal which tbf isn't the worst, I've not missed overspending but it's definitely hard at times.
Hopefully this time next year I'll be in a better position.

 

[PumpkinKing]

Well I was finally getting my arse in gear and on my way to clearing a good chunk of my debts, then the old spending to make me happy started back up
I’ve done well selling things but I’ve not been putting it on debts, I’m just paying the minimum each month.
The 0% on one of my cards ends at the end of the month and the balance is £3600! I don’t have any balance transfer offers on existing cards and can’t apply for a new one with a big enough limit. Interest rate will be 20%
Really need to pull my finger out my arse and throw every single spare penny at this card.
Ugh, I never learn.

 

[rainbowlemon]

Well I was finally getting my arse in gear and on my way to clearing a good chunk of my debts, then the old spending to make me happy started back up
I’ve done well selling things but I’ve not been putting it on debts, I’m just paying the minimum each month.
The 0% on one of my cards ends at the end of the month and the balance is £3600! I don’t have any balance transfer offers on existing cards and can’t apply for a new one with a big enough limit. Interest rate will be 20%
Really need to pull my finger out my arse and throw every single spare penny at this card.
Ugh, I never learn.

Mochi also mentioned this charity.

Maybe they could help provide you with a bit more support too?

StepChange Debt Charity. Free Expert Debt Help & Advice

 

[Thank(space)you]

Well I was finally getting my arse in gear and on my way to clearing a good chunk of my debts, then the old spending to make me happy started back up
I’ve done well selling things but I’ve not been putting it on debts, I’m just paying the minimum each month.
The 0% on one of my cards ends at the end of the month and the balance is £3600! I don’t have any balance transfer offers on existing cards and can’t apply for a new one with a big enough limit. Interest rate will be 20%
Really need to pull my finger out my arse and throw every single spare penny at this card.
Ugh, I never learn.

It is gruelling and tough trying to be so blinkered with wanting to pay it off. I completely relate.

 

[J3N1800]

It's so hard at this time of year too, I justify spending because it's on other people and not myself - but it still increases my credit card balance and I still have to pay it off

In other news I have been travelling to/from London with National Express/Megabus! It's about £35 return compared to £104 return on the train! I have to leave an hour or two "spare" because they're often delayed with traffic but it's working just fine! Thanks for the advise folks <3

 

[no-no]

Does anyone else suffer with a scarcity mindset? I’m not paid for another fortnight and when funds are low it makes me want to spend. If I had money now I’d be prudent. I can last until then, but have spent a bit this evening. However, it was discount codes and I got stuff I’d need on payday for a fraction of the price. It’s just hard not letting it snowball and saying “duck it, I’ll get that as well”.

I’m single so can’t bear the cringe of getting a takeaway for one delivered, my vices are homeware, clothes and beauty orders. I’m chipping away at debts but it’s so hard wishing your life away for paydays

My main credit card balance was £3,000 in September and I’ll be able to clear the final few hundred at the end of the month. I think I’ve been part consciously not buying and part too stressed to lust over stuff (that I don’t need). I don’t want to be in that position again so will hopefully start saving once I’ve cleared it. Credit has helped with my credit score so it wasn’t all in vain, but I’ll be very reticent to use it so freely going forward. It’s been a long slog (this was one of my final credit hurdles) but worth it.

 

[Thank(space)you]

How is everyone getting on? I know this time of year is really tough financially, especially with debts over your head







I've not paid off as much as I'd have liked to this month, but I've got £400 left to pay. I wanted it all cleared before new years but looking more like jan/Feb time. Need to stop being so hard on myself because that's still bloody amazing!!

 

[Pinhead Larry]

How is everyone getting on? I know this time of year is really tough financially, especially with debts over your head


I've not paid off as much as I'd have liked to this month, but I've got £400 left to pay. I wanted it all cleared before new years but looking more like jan/Feb time. Need to stop being so hard on myself because that's still bloody amazing!!

You’ve just reminded me to check, thank you!

We’ve been paid early, I have a direct debit which goes out first of the month for my credit card of £300. So when that’s been paid out I’ll have £500 left of my salary until 24th January, when we’re paid again.

Once that £300 has come out I’ll only have £2500 left to pay off on the credit card until I’m free

 

[J3N1800]

Sending love to all those in debt over Christmas and into the New Year! Hopefully we can support each other take whatever small steps we can to clear our debts!
I've been unsubscribing from all the 'Sale' emails as soon as they've come in to avoid unnecessary spending! X

 

[no-no]

That’s a good idea re the email unsubscription @J3N1800 I’d also add ‘unsubscribing’ from or limiting being around people who are utterly feckless with money, in real life or online. Poor spending habits are insidious and their attitudes can really rub off on you.

 

[MemoryLane]

So glad I have found this thread. I’m hoping to get some tips on selling things I no longer use or need and use it to pay off a few outstanding bills.

Does any one have any useful tips for de-cluttering and earning a few quid from it? Mainly clothes and toys. All in good, clean condition.

Do you list little and often?
How do you work out what they’re worth?
What are your go to selling apps?

 

[candyland_]

So glad I have found this thread. I’m hoping to get some tips on selling things I no longer use or need and use it to pay off a few outstanding bills.

Does any one have any useful tips for de-cluttering and earning a few quid from it? Mainly clothes and toys. All in good, clean condition.

Do you list little and often?
How do you work out what they’re worth?
What are your go to selling apps?

I sell things in GumTree when I want rid of furniture or old toys.

 

[rainbowlemon]

So glad I have found this thread. I’m hoping to get some tips on selling things I no longer use or need and use it to pay off a few outstanding bills.

Does any one have any useful tips for de-cluttering and earning a few quid from it? Mainly clothes and toys. All in good, clean condition.

Do you list little and often?
How do you work out what they’re worth?
What are your go to selling apps?

Look at Vinted. I made just over £20 before I took my page down.

I listed things cheaply because I just wanted to get rid of them.

 

[Pinhead Larry]

I’ve just managed to open a savings account and put in £200 . My outgoings reduce by £100 in feb and then by £325ish in March, and we are paid early this month so I thought I’d get a step ahead. My resolution was to have £2000 in savings this year and pay off my debt. I’m very determined to make this work!!

 

[candyland_]

I’ve set saving goals. Half way there to my January target and I’m over paying my debt. I only have £500 left on that now which I hope it pay off by end of February.

 

[Grannytakesatrip]

I’m hoping to be credit card debt free by by next payday. I’ve set up sinking funds direct debits for everything I can think of to prevent the debt from snowballing up again