Massively in Debt and Sad

Newyorkdreams

Hi All ! Got some great news tonight! After an 18 month '0% interest' drought, me and my DH were FINALLY accepted for another card each (natwest). It's 23 months interest free and it's only £2200 limit each but I've worked it all out and we will be able to pay these plus another 4 cards off within the 23 months. That is, if our job situations don't change. I know we already have 7 cards between us but I am so happy because we have learned our lesson completely and we definitely won't spend anymore on them. It also means that we can pay £1500 more to our debt in 2013 rather than paying it to interest. It's just the spark I needed. xxx

Elena_Handcart

Hey there NYD,

that's wonderful news. Now that the 0% shop is open again - this should bring your DFD even closer.

I just had a quick look back at your original SOA, and it looks like your B*Card#1 is the highest rate of interest. If I were in your shoes - I would use all of the available funds from the new Gnat West card to pay as much off this card as possible. I don't think it clears it, but very nearly does. I would then use all of my overpayments to clear this as quickly as possible.

B*Card are usually quite good for their own 0% offers, so if they see that you have cleared their balance, they may be a bit more forward in offering you a 0% offer. Then this will just snowball until eventually all of your cards will move to smaller interest payments.

Best of luck, whichever you decide. i am off to subscribe now - to make sure I don't miss out on your progress.

:beer:

Newyorkdreams

Hi Elena thanks for dropping by and supporting me. The bcard is in my OH name and I was told you couldn't do a balance transfer to another persons card so I've put my £2200 to my nwide card and my OH has put his to his nationwide got a quick win and then the rest to his bcard. The plan is to pay off his n/ wide, my n/wide and his bcard, £1335 to my mum and £5000 to my dad in 2013 and the 2 natwest cards, his Halifax and my creation card in 2014 leaving the last 2 with the lowest APRs in 2015. It's going to be a long hard slog but since I've joined the forum I've felt more positive and in control. I don't feel as lonely, sad or ashamed as I did either.

Thank you for your support

NYD xxx

Newyorkdreams

And thanks for the tip about bcard and 0% that's really helpful xxx

jo91

Hi NYD, great news about the 0%, that's going to be a great help to achieving your goal, and also encouraging you to see your target dates are achievable.
You sound a lot more upbeat about things now - stay positive. From all the posts I have seen from you around this part of the forum, as I dip into the journeys of many in the same quest, you are reaching out to lots of available resources and doing tons of research.
It's good to see you don't appear to be sad anymore - instead, I am 'seeing' a very positive and focused lady long may it continue !
Jo

clearmydebts

Great news about the 0% card. I bet that has really given you a lift!

datlex

hi have been reading this diary and found it very interesting. So easy to get in frame of mind that we deserve certain things isn't it?
I noticed there is a large focus on your holidays. What you don't mention though is when you go on holiday. You may find a significant reduction in the cost simply by changing the time of year you go on holiday without scrimping on going abroad.

Newyorkdreams

datlex wrote: »

hi have been reading this diary and found it very interesting. So easy to get in frame of mind that we deserve certain things isn't it?
I noticed there is a large focus on your holidays. What you don't mention though is when you go on holiday. You may find a significant reduction in the cost simply by changing the time of year you go on holiday without scrimping on going abroad.

Hi Datlex - thanks for dropping by. I agree, we put a lot of emphasis on our holidays..or should I say holiday, because we actually only have one a year, but it's normally a biggie. I totally agree with the comment about 'deserving' things. It's a bad habit we have both got into if I'm honest! Not only that but the mentality of ' you only live once' which because of my OH cancer we tended to say a lot too! Neither get you very far in your debt free journey! LOL However, we have both had our LBM (although if I'm totally honest, me more than my OH although he is getting there, slowly). We always used to go away in June for our wedding anniversary but last year we went in October (because we were going to Australia and it's their spring time). This year we have to go and see my OH mum and husband as he is poorly otherwise we wouldn't be having one - it's in Canada though so that's flights and some spending money.

I've started to think differently about things. I used to think that I would deserve things because I work hard. The only thing I deserve is for the money I work hard for to be mine and not some bankers interest!!! LOL:rotfl:

NYD x

Newyorkdreams

So...have just been for our weekly shop. We've started sitting down at the weekend for half an hour together and agreeing what evening meals were are going to make (from scratch and healthy). I've just got back after trawling round Lidl (£32.34) and Sainsburys for the rest of the stuff that you can't get in Lidl (£22) - more expensive than last week which was only £37 but I had to get some household stuff, toiletries and expensive cooking products that we wouldn't normally get. So here is our menu for the week:

Sunday - Beef and red wine casserole
Monday - Chicken green thai curry
Tuesday - singapore noodles (with pork)
Wednesday - Chicken Korai
Thursday - Potato, Spinach and Chicken Curry
Friday - night out so won't be eating in the house
Saturday - home made chicken and veggie kebabs

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm - beef casserole is in the slow cooker as I type!

NYD x

Newyorkdreams

jo91 wrote: »

Hi NYD, great news about the 0%, that's going to be a great help to achieving your goal, and also encouraging you to see your target dates are achievable.
You sound a lot more upbeat about things now - stay positive. From all the posts I have seen from you around this part of the forum, as I dip into the journeys of many in the same quest, you are reaching out to lots of available resources and doing tons of research.
It's good to see you don't appear to be sad anymore - instead, I am 'seeing' a very positive and focused lady long may it continue !
Jo

Hi Jo - thanks for your encouragement and support. I certainly feel a lot happier and in control! I'm sure I will have bad days and good days but as long as I keep going with all this support then I will be ok. I'm trying to read as much as I can and support others where I can - although I am a newbie to money management so more about life experiences than advice!
NYD x