newbie looking for help!

dancingfairy

Hi. Would agree with Numpty definitely try and pay off priority debts first - make sure you are up to date on mortgage, electric, gas, council tax, etc.
Also keep a spending diary to see where any extra money is disappearing to - you may need to revise some areas of your budget (if you have forgotten something).
It looks like you should be at least able to balance if you are able to pay off the loan or cc which is good point to start from.
df

poppyc

Thanks guys,

On a prepayment meter for gas and electricity - have just switched for gas - bit of a nightmare as all the bills are in my ex's name and he has to agree all the changes! The phone bill is for two lines, broadband and TV - going to get rid of tv ... we don't watch it and will stick to iplayer for the essential cbeebies requirements! So will have 2 lines and broadband. Need to get name changed to my name on the phone line as they won't discuss the charges with me, but they say it will cost £80?!
Any way round this?!

Poppy

vuittondreamer

Hi Poppyc,
I'm a newbie on this forum, You are not alone, and i love the support and guidance on this site.

Have your thought about transfering your Credit card to and interest free one, cut it up when it comes so you don't spend on it and use the extra money to pay off the loan. Does your loan have a early repayment penalty?(which i discovered when i paid one of mine off today after being told there was no penalty - already put my complaint in Lloyds TSB!)
I transfered balances (card tarting) but still spent on the other, bloody stupid i know, but thats how i got caught.!

poppyc

Just managed to be approved for the virgin 0% funds transfer ! Hooray! Thank you !!!! I think this is site is amazing! Why didn't I find it earlier?!!!

Poppy

GeorgeUK

Something i forgot to mention about the Virgin Card (you may already know this though)

For balance transfers, there is a 3% fee
For money tranfers, the fee is 4%

1st month, the minimum monthly payment is 3% (possibly 4% if you do a money transfer)
2nd month onwards, minimum payment is £25

poppyc

Saw that ... planning to continue paying the 174 min pay that i currently pay and then if i pay nr loan off frees up another 270 - so if I can stick to £400 payment should be able to get rid of this debt.... so worried as they have increased my credit limit and am terrified that I'll just spend that limit when it comes to xmas / hols etc!

GeorgeUK

Just had my credit limit increased too - now 12,300 on LTSB. Like i could afford that - crazy.

For the loan, you may need to call them to ask what the early settlement amount is - there is sometimes a charge for this but not as much as you are saving by paying it off early. Transfer the funds from Virgin to your current account, then use the cash from there to pay off the loan. I think that's the easiest way to do it. You'll be asked if you want to do a transfer when you call to activate the card if you haven't already done it.

If you are worried about using the cards, put them in a tupperware box half fileld with water and put that in the back of the freezer. That way you'll need to thaw them out before using them and will hopefully avoid temptation.

vuittondreamer

Cut the card up so your not tempted to spend on it.