London Socialite Sees The Light

tking

I now use an airmiles linked credit card for my groceries and fuel spending. I pay it off using my mobile banking app as soon as I spend it! I find it's the best way - I don't have 'extra' cash sitting in my account and my CC balance is always zero (no interest and no debt).

I have over the last year or two gained enough miles for a few flights!

Keep the limit low and don't get carried away - I have to tell myself it's not for clothes/shoes etc.

Good luck.

lizzie_dripping

Virgin Atlantic charge a credit card surcharge but they are on Quidco as well which could wipe out the charge. Register for their loyalty card and you can earn Virgin miles too.

There is no reason why you can't earn through Quidco, Virgin miles and your credit card's cashback/points scheme for the same flight.

LondonGirl252

I've gone for the Lloyds TSB Avios duo card as you get an AMEX and a Mastercard, they also allow you to redeem points through shopping at Tesco which I do and there was a good introduction deal which I will qualify for and get 18,000 free miles after 3 months!

I have just set up a test payment of £5 to it and I;m going to do the same as you tking. I want to use it for all my spending and pay it off immediatley.

I got some good news last week.... my bonus is more than I was expecting! It will pay for the California holiday, we're booking it this weekend and going to go in October. Will only spend on food etc out there as we are staying with my friends parents

AND

next week me and two friends are going to book a long weekend to Washington to go and visit our friend in July who is working out there for a year

Next month will be the last payment to the credit card and I will have the cash to pay the flights off immediatley. I cant tell you how good it feels to be able to book holidays and not get into debt for them!!!

I feel like Ive "done it" I know I have my loan left to pay until i'm truly debt free but now I don't have to pay hundreds off my credit cards each month it feels wonderful!!!!

I spent hours at the weekend re-jigging my spreadsheet and I've set up a clever formula which turns the cells green on my savings account when I've saved enough to pay my loan off! As soon as that goes green (currently August) I'll go and pay it off

Woopheeeee

satchmo1

Well done LG, you have been very self-disciplined and still managed to have a life during your debt busting journey. The lessons will stay with you, and you'll soon have a lovely saving pot.

Enjoy your holidays.

mark55man

well done indeed - enjoy yourself for a few months - but don't get used to it

<nag>you should transfer most of your debt payments into savings/investments </nag> that way you won't notice they are missing and you will give yourself way more options in the future

nearlyrich

Wonderful news well done:j

Shoe_Gal

Well done! Fab to see a success story - it inspires me to keep going :A

allybee101

Well done! That's great news! I need to put my back into sorting mine out - shockingly behind on my planned debt busting

LondonGirl252

Thanks everyone

I paid off the final amount on my Post Office credit card this week which was an amazing feeling!! SO HAPPY!!!

I am going to call them tomorrow to cancel the account now as I assume they're closed on Good Friday!

The Avios credit cards have come through and I have been really good at transferring the amount I spent on it from my current account immediatley using my Iphones banking app so the balance on there is always zero! They gave me a balance of £2,000 but I'm going to call and reduce it to £1,000 as I never want to have the temptation to over spend.

I feel like such a weight is off my shoulders now and I have a savings account set up for me to transfer money too so that is set aside for when i have enough to pay the loan off.

In addition, the work sharesave scheme is starting again next month, I'm going to invest £175 in this every month as my long term savings which hopefully will be a big contribution to a mortagage deposit in a few years time when the share options are available (hopefully at a profit!)

I can't thank all of you enough for keeping me going through all the difficult times, if it weren't for this site I never would have gotten out of the spending trap. I can't wait for the loan to go and post of the debt free roll of honour!

Me and my friend M booked our California flights at the weekend, because we're going in October now we got them £300 cheaper than I had budgeted!! It was the BEST Feeling to pay for them upfront and not get into debt for them!!!!

Happy LG

if_at_first...

Hi there - I like your diary. Always wanted to live in London myself but somehow it just never happened. Who know maybe one day?

Good luck and have a great time on your US adventures!