Help needed in my concerted effort to get debt free!

Dumbledore55

August Update

CREDIT CARDS

HSBC-£3823- £143 per month – 0% until December 2006 – 13.9% after

Macmillan-£7198-£210 per month – 0% until January 2007 – 12.9% after

Great Ormond St Hosp-£7380-£148 p/month – 0% until Apr 07 – 12.9% after

TOTAL £18401

Emergencies/Sales Fund.....................£434
Boots Vouchers (Cashback sites).........£130
Argos Vouchers................................£10
M&S Vouchers (Tops Card).................£5
Tesco Vouchers................................£21
Nectar Points...................................10856
Tesco Points....................................4631
Airmiles...........................................684

Well, it's been a while since I posted but I've been very down and looking at my debts hasn't helped me to get out of the doldrums.

The good news is that I've had enough energy to keep applying for 0% cards as the previous offers have come to an end so I'm still not paying any interest. I also spent some of my Tesco vouchers on my RAC membership and dry-cleaning that saved me £160. I'm saving all my other vouchers for Christmas shopping. Boots will get hammered with the 3 for 2 specials.

The bad news (from my financial point of view) is that I have just paid for my daughter's wedding but we did keep the costs down. Even so, I spent about £3K altogether so my debt-free plan took a knock. However, we had a wonderful day and the look on her face was priceless.

Now, I'm determined to get back on track, but I do need to look for a new 0% deal for when the HSBC one ends in December.

Dumbledore55

I WAS having a good month. My son is on holiday with his Dad so the food bills are low and then, just when I think things are bobbing along nicely................................the alternator goes on my car! I managed to limp off the motorway....think thank Heavens for Tesco Clubcard Deals. means I'm in the RAC.

20 minutes to answer the phone!! But when the guy arrived he was excellent, got me home and charged up my battery enough so I could drive to the garage this morning.

It would have to happen when I've just spent my emergencies fund on my daughter's wedding! Oh well, out with the Credit Card at leasst it won't appear on the bill until mid September - £200 I could have done without spending!

Praying I don't get too many unexpected expenses between now and Christmas, need to build that emergency fund back up now.

Dumbledore55

September Update

CREDIT CARDS

HSBC- £3273-£99 per month – 0% until 22nd December 2006 – 13.9% after

Macmillan-£6982-£210 per month – 0% until 5th January 2007 – 12.9% after

Great Ormond St Hosp-£7230-£146 p/month – 0% until Apr 07 – 12.9% after

TOTAL £17 485

Emergencies/Sales Fund …………………....….£0 (spent on daughter’s wedding)
Boots Vouchers (Cashback sites)…………….£150
Argos Vouchers (Cashback sites)………….…£15
M&S Vouchers (Tops Card)………………....….£5
Tesco Clubcard Vouchers……………….........£67
Nectar Points …………........………………………5249 (spent at Madame Tussauds)
Tesco Points……………........……………………..175
Airmiles………………………………............……….779

Not a bad month apart from the alternator going on the car.

I'm feeling much more in control of my finances now rather than being forced into things because the debts were chasing me.

Just keeping my fingers crossed that there'll be a 0% deal to transfer my balance from Macmillan to around Christmas time. HSBC should be at zero then or at least only one month left to pay it off.

I keep being tempted to apply for the Post Office one now but I'm trying to hold off, 1, it will do my credit rating good to have a break before applying for another card and 2, I won't get the full 6 months benefit if I apply too soon. I just don't fancy paying £1000 :eek: in interest if I don't get a new card, that's from my Snowball calculation.

Either way, it looks like my debt will be less than £15K by Christmas :beer:

Dumbledore55

October Update

CREDIT CARDS

HSBC- £2619-£89 per month – 0% until 22nd December 2006 – 13.9% after

Macmillan-£6843-£139 per month – 0% until 5th January 2007 – 12.9% after

Great Ormond St Hosp-£7080-£140 p/month – 0% until Apr 07 – 12.9% after

Estimated Interest until debt paid off - £713.75

TOTAL £16 542

Emergencies/Sales Fund …………………….£70.20
Boots Vouchers (Cashback sites)…………….£180
Argos Vouchers (Cashback sites)……………£15
M&S Vouchers (Tops Card)………………….£5
Tesco Vouchers……………………………….£67
Nectar Points …………………………………5679
Tesco Points…………………………………..2844
Airmiles……………………………………….823


An uneventful month - which is good because no extras to pay out!!

I've started doing some mystery shopping so hoping that will add to paying off the debts.

I think I've jusst been accepted for a Post Office Credit Card - 6 months at 0% - I say think because I've had 3 letters from them, 2 saying I was unsuccessful and one saying sign the credit card agreement and send it back. I have 30 days to sign it and send it back so going to hold off a couple of weeks before doing so.

Plodding along nicely I think and I'm not even panicking about Christmas because I bought a lot in the January Sales and for the rest I'll use my Boots vouchers (3 for 2).

Dumbledore55

I hate November. Both houses have their buildings insurance due!!

Well, thanks to this site saved £50 on my Landlords Insurance by going through Endsleigh and saved £10 on buildings and contents for the house I live in by going through AA. Also went through Quidco for AA Home Insurance so all being well should get £35 cashback!!

Can't believe I used to just renew with the same company every year before I found MSE............what a mug I was!

Dumbledore55

I can't believe it, a Direct Debit went out a few days early, the day before my wage came in. It took me £1 over my overdraft limit and my bank charged me a £25 fee!!

I politely e-mailed them as its online banking explaining that I was only £1 overdrawn for one day and that it had never happened before and asked if they would consider refunding the fee. Amazingly, got an e-mail back the next day agreeing that as it's a one-off, on this occasion they would - £25 now back in my account!!

It just goes to show, it never hurts to ask!!

Dumbledore55

Yay, my Post Office Credit Card has arrived - £6000 limit at 0% for 6 months, got in just before the offer was changed thanks to a tip-off on this site. Wasn't sure I'd get it because I'd had 2 letters saying sorry I'd been unsuccessful and one letter saying sign the credit agreement and send it back.

Time to review my situation and move some money to avoid paying any interest!

Verbatim

Well done Dumbledore.

Thanks for the regular updates. You've really kept at it and it's great to see how much progress you've made.

Like you I've been tarting on the 0% cards. I feel now that once I'm under £10k I'll be on the home straight!:T

Should be in that position if salaries and other income are as expected this month.

Dumbledore55

Went out Christmas shopping yesterday - used my Boots Vouchers that I'd earned through Pigsback and other online surveys - bought nearly £300 worth of presents and it only cost me £14.98 (using 3 for 2 offers).

I can't believe that for the first time in 20 years I'm not going to have Christmas on my credit card - thanks to this site!

I'm trying to remember how I found this site, I think it was after seeing Martin on GMTV or something - I must bore people rigid now telling them about it but I'm thankful every day that I found it and I really hope they'll benefit too.

Dumbledore55

November Update

CREDIT CARDS

HSBC- £1964-£75 per month – 0% until 22nd December 2006 – 13.9% after

Macmillan-£6706-£133 per month – 0% until 5th January 2007 – 12.9% after

Great Ormond St Hosp-£6930-£139 p/month – 0% until 27th March 07 – 12.9% after

TOTAL £15 600

(Estimated Interest until debt paid off - £699.72, actual interest paid so far - £0)

Debt Free Date - May 2008


Emergencies/Sales Fund …………………….£210.60
Boots Vouchers (Cashback sites)……….£0 (spent on Christmas presents)
Argos Vouchers (Cashback sites)…….…£15
M&S Vouchers (Tops Card)………………..£5
Tesco Vouchers………………………………...£67
Nectar Points ………………………………...…6279
Tesco Points………………………………….....2974
Airmiles………………………………………........851