If you don't ask, you don't get!
onadebtfreemission
Posts: 4 Newbie
Hi, I'm new on here, but have been a browser for a while
Just wanted to share a success story on my long (but ever shortening) route to being debt free!
I owe a lot - over £50k - as a result of a combination of things. Living a lifestyle I thought I deserved for a few years (but could not afford) and also, getting stung by a falling market when a relationship breakdown forced the sale of my jointly owned house. So, negative equity, legal fees, moving costs and living the high life for a few years/spending to feel better left me in a bit of a mess!
I had my lightbulb moment just over a year ago and decided to get a grip and tackle my debts properly and try and sort my crap credit rating out too. The result? In just over 12 months I have:
- Cleared and closed down a credit card (£1800 balance with 2.008% pm interest rate) which I was paying the min balance on and getting no where
- Cleared a credit card (£800 balance, high interest rate) which I kept spending on but would struggle to clear each month
- Paid off an old joint bank account balance (£500)
- Paid my parents £500 of the £4k I owe them & agreed to pay them a token £25pm moving forward after I admitted the sh*t I was in and explained what I was trying to do!
- Improved my credit score on credit expert from 327 (very poor) to 999 (excellent)!!
- Paid a lump sum (£8k) to Northern Rock
How the hell have I managed that I hear you ask? No I didn't win the lottery and it is not a quick fix solution, more a re-jigg and refocus on paying the right things and some negotiating!
Basically, the key was improving my credit rating. I knew I would be in a stronger position all round by doing this, so I checked my credit report and made some changes to build up my history again. I made an arrangement with Northern Rock and stuck to it and made sure I made every minimum payment every month on my credit cards and loans. I think the thing that made the biggest difference was using my Egg Money card to my advantage - I use it every month for essential spending (food and fuel) and have a DD to clear the full balance each month. These things have all led to my improved rating. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the score last November! Instead of feeling it was all out of my hands, I felt in control and had the confidence to renegotiate and consolidate my finances.
I had an existing loan with my bank which I'd been paying for 2.5 years. With 66 months left on the term, I owed about £16k and knew I could maybe go back up to £25k as this is what I'd originally borrowed. After making it very clear why I wanted the extra and making it clear I didn't want to extend the repayment term, I finally got the loan approved (and on a lower interest rate than my original loan!!). I cleared existing credit cards and my £250 overdraft and was left with £8k bargaining power with Northern Rock. In short, in return for payment of this lump sum, they agreed to reduce the interest rate on my outstanding balance by 5%!!! What I have saved paying out on various debts every month, I now use to pay my (rather high!) monthly repayments on my bank loan and I'm now paying less per month to NR but actually am now paying something off the balance each month instead of just covering the interest. Once I've paid my bank loan, I'll use that cash to pay NR and then finally, I can pay back my parents.
I'll be debt free by November 2016 :T
I was in a very low place for a very long time, but now feel empowered and positive about my debt free future knowing it is now back under my control. I have trained myself to be meticulous about my finances and have a spreadsheet I use to track everything. I know how much I've got, what is coming out and when and it sounds basic, but its an absolute revelation after buring my head for so long. I live a very frugal life and my only treat to myself is my gym membership which helps keep me mentally as well as physically healthy. I am lucky to now have a very supportive boyfriend who helps me enjoy life, but my debts are very firmly my own and I am determined to clear them.
I just wanted to share this story to hopefully inspire others and give people hope that where there's a will there is a way and as my dad always says "If you don't ask, you don't get"!
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Just wanted to share a success story on my long (but ever shortening) route to being debt free!
I owe a lot - over £50k - as a result of a combination of things. Living a lifestyle I thought I deserved for a few years (but could not afford) and also, getting stung by a falling market when a relationship breakdown forced the sale of my jointly owned house. So, negative equity, legal fees, moving costs and living the high life for a few years/spending to feel better left me in a bit of a mess!
I had my lightbulb moment just over a year ago and decided to get a grip and tackle my debts properly and try and sort my crap credit rating out too. The result? In just over 12 months I have:
- Cleared and closed down a credit card (£1800 balance with 2.008% pm interest rate) which I was paying the min balance on and getting no where
- Cleared a credit card (£800 balance, high interest rate) which I kept spending on but would struggle to clear each month
- Paid off an old joint bank account balance (£500)
- Paid my parents £500 of the £4k I owe them & agreed to pay them a token £25pm moving forward after I admitted the sh*t I was in and explained what I was trying to do!
- Improved my credit score on credit expert from 327 (very poor) to 999 (excellent)!!
- Paid a lump sum (£8k) to Northern Rock
How the hell have I managed that I hear you ask? No I didn't win the lottery and it is not a quick fix solution, more a re-jigg and refocus on paying the right things and some negotiating!
Basically, the key was improving my credit rating. I knew I would be in a stronger position all round by doing this, so I checked my credit report and made some changes to build up my history again. I made an arrangement with Northern Rock and stuck to it and made sure I made every minimum payment every month on my credit cards and loans. I think the thing that made the biggest difference was using my Egg Money card to my advantage - I use it every month for essential spending (food and fuel) and have a DD to clear the full balance each month. These things have all led to my improved rating. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the score last November! Instead of feeling it was all out of my hands, I felt in control and had the confidence to renegotiate and consolidate my finances.
I had an existing loan with my bank which I'd been paying for 2.5 years. With 66 months left on the term, I owed about £16k and knew I could maybe go back up to £25k as this is what I'd originally borrowed. After making it very clear why I wanted the extra and making it clear I didn't want to extend the repayment term, I finally got the loan approved (and on a lower interest rate than my original loan!!). I cleared existing credit cards and my £250 overdraft and was left with £8k bargaining power with Northern Rock. In short, in return for payment of this lump sum, they agreed to reduce the interest rate on my outstanding balance by 5%!!! What I have saved paying out on various debts every month, I now use to pay my (rather high!) monthly repayments on my bank loan and I'm now paying less per month to NR but actually am now paying something off the balance each month instead of just covering the interest. Once I've paid my bank loan, I'll use that cash to pay NR and then finally, I can pay back my parents.
I'll be debt free by November 2016 :T
I was in a very low place for a very long time, but now feel empowered and positive about my debt free future knowing it is now back under my control. I have trained myself to be meticulous about my finances and have a spreadsheet I use to track everything. I know how much I've got, what is coming out and when and it sounds basic, but its an absolute revelation after buring my head for so long. I live a very frugal life and my only treat to myself is my gym membership which helps keep me mentally as well as physically healthy. I am lucky to now have a very supportive boyfriend who helps me enjoy life, but my debts are very firmly my own and I am determined to clear them.
I just wanted to share this story to hopefully inspire others and give people hope that where there's a will there is a way and as my dad always says "If you don't ask, you don't get"!
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Comments
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Well done you. Getting debt free isn't easy and its a long road, but the more you pay off the more it inspires you to work even harder at it.
The feeling you get when you finally get there is just fantastic, and its worth all the hard slog.
Good luck:T2013 - Finally got the house we' ve worked so hard to get......now it's a life of diy and no money....couldn't be happier 😊
2020 - mortgage free target set 8 years and counting 🎯
Even the longest walks start with one small step....get your boots on.0 -
Well done. What an achivement you should be well pleased with yourself.
Well done and all the best with the new B/F0 -
Good work and nice post.
Hope you can and do stick to it.
I still wouldnt pay too much attention to your credit score though0 -
Thanks all, yes it feels great - but still a long way to go! Interesting comment about my credit score - is there something I should know as I've been quite paranoid about it being low as would like to get another mortgage one day!0
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onadebtfreemission wrote: »Thanks all, yes it feels great - but still a long way to go! Interesting comment about my credit score - is there something I should know as I've been quite paranoid about it being low as would like to get another mortgage one day!
The credit score facility provided by credit reference agencies is, essentially, a scam to get a bit of cash out of you.
You do not have a credit score of 999. Every lender grades you differently based on their own requirements.They call me Mr Pig!0 -
The credit score facility provided by credit reference agencies is, essentially, a scam to get a bit of cash out of you.
You do not have a credit score of 999. Every lender grades you differently based on their own requirements.
Hmm ok thanks - so I guess it'll just be fingers crossed when the day comes when I ask for a mortgage again ??0 -
Im afraid to say experian / credit experts credit score is rubish.
I though I had a poor rating and got a credit score of 999 from experian and was over the moon. I then done a credit score with equifax and it was down at 350 which is closer to what I expected.0 -
Great to hear a success story. Well done:T0
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well done it's so inspirational to hear a success story it seems so hard but you've shown it can be done!! mwah Maz xxA lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B."0
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I love reading a success story, congratualtions...Debt Free and Business Owner Wannabe
Halifax c/c: £[STRIKE]4000[/STRIKE]/3981.74
[STRIKE]Tesco c/c: [STRIKE]£465.74[/STRIKE][/STRIKE]
Goldfish c/c: [STRIKE]£1550.75[/STRIKE] £1537.19
Debt Free Target: anytime in the next 2 yrs would be good.0
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