Catriona's Credit Card Countdown

catriona79

I found this quote on a blog and had to re-post.

Had a very positive weekend and feeling good!

And it's pay day on Wednesday and I'm going to London to see Nicole Kidman on stage and stay with a great friend, where we obviously are going to have a great time.

Looks like mortgage is pretty much done and maybe another week or two and it will be cheaper. Think 28 Oct is the last month I'm going to pay it to the old bank. I did my budget today and have worked out how much is reasonable to have per month on all discretionary spending and food. If I stick to that I will be able to pay off my £900 Virgin card. It would be an amazing feeling and the first time ever I've actually paid off a card completely and not just moved a chunk to another card. It needs paying off by Januray, when it will become interest bearing, so this is all in good time.

I'm feeling motivated to try and do something interesting and challenging, that would stretch me. I'll have to think of what and how to make that happen. Hopefully I'm heading for a positive spell now, where I believe that everything is going to be fine rather than worry! . Badly needed!

catriona79

bellevie wrote: »

Thank you

The link was a good read, she has many good points! I found the hardest part when I was ill, or we were both ill at the same time. And of course it hurts that no one loves DD like I do, I dread to think how she will feel as she gets older.

My goodness the lab assistant I couldn't have tolerated. I can not stand lies, white lies or not, they are lies! My first thought would be 1) too needy, desperate to impress. 2) big headed and thinks he is a lot better than he is. 3) ashamed at where he is at = low confidence. None of which are attractive to me.

The great financial position guy again a lie, except a big one! It makes my bloody boil truly does.

I think its because I have a lot of empathy for people so actually I could understand that someone has been through a hard time financially or isn't happy in his job or whatever, as its in my nature to help, for want of a better phrase I do like to fix people. So lies I take personally, they truly offend me, ever since childhood they have been my biggest bugbear!

My favourite ex, I'm still very good friends with him now, we separated due to work taking us in different direction early on in our relationship, we stayed really good friends, he helped me get out of the area when I needed to. He is the most indecisive I know. He was kind and we got one well, but it meant I didn't really feel loved like really really loved. I couldn't live with the indecisiveness - it was the right outcome because he still hasn't changed lovely, kind, a real gem. Just hasn't got that urge, or fire in his belly.

That's easy to say about your ex husband, but something must have made you unhappy. Even if he is perfect, there must have been important to you at the time to make you want to leave, not only that but to the point of divorce. He may be one of those people I mentioned, meant to cross paths but not in the way you thought, a lifelong friend?

Dating is good, and is mostly fun if nothing else!
We are lucky that we can have children alone nowadays, I will warn you though it will be the hardest thing you ever do. That said, regretting not having children as you get older may be just as hard! Just prepare yourself well, have you got anyone close nearby to lean on? If not, could you or would you relocate to have a support network, nearer to family etc?

That's very thoughtful what you wrote about you and your love for your daughter. I can only imagine how hard single motherhood is. Do you have your family nearby? I'm not British, so none of my family are close by, and I would have to put a few things in place. But, overall, I think if I took a couple of years to do what I need to do and go from there, I think it would actually be ok.

Had a great chat with my good friend and she said that maybe it would be doable to just think that for the first 12 years I would not have any time to myself or a weekend to myself. If I just understood it and accepted it and enjoyed that part of life. And maybe there is something in it. I'm sure that motherhood, whilst tiring, is also amazingly rewarding.

Agreed re lies, big or little. Really annoying how they completely change my perception of someone. My ex became ridiculous to me after claiming that he was in a great financial position. Like you, I'm prepared to help people, but - for goodness sake - my partner needs to be a bit more down to earth and honest with himself and with me about the extent of his situation.

Re indecision, think we are onto something there. Agree re letting people go who can't give you a relationship that is fulfilling. Your ex sounds like he's a thoroughly nice chap.

It's so late now and I cannot believe it's time for bed and it's Monday tomorrow! Another Monday! But on the plus side, I've only got a couple of days of work and then it's London and Friday off! Really looking forward to it!

catriona79

Rebecca01 wrote: »

Thank you for your message Catriona. I think you do deserve it as you have achieved it yourself and also yes ,you have made bad decisions but don't we all. Its just how you have handled them;they havent stopped you.

I wish I had your ambition sometimes then I would aim higher at work but now I have dd. I don't think its worth the pay off.

Interesting reading about the types of men. Hope it all works out for you.

Hello Rebecca,

Lovely of you to come by and write.

I guess you're right, we have all made some bad decisions in our lives. Today is a new day though, free of any mistakes!

Re ambition, I have to say I don't have much in my line of work. I just try to keep my head above water and think of things that can be exciting and make me money at the same time. The house I have loved, because it was a creative and focussed task, and I do love a bit of delayed gratification! And it must be my background, because I also get motivated by adversity!

But essentially, I'm not very ambitious work wise and completely understand that you'd want to spend more time with your daughter instead of climbing the ladder at work! There's no shame in that and it's about your quality of life. When you have more time you can cook from scratch etc and save money that way. So a smaller salary but more time is ok, if that's fulfilling.

I'd love to be able to work one day less. For now I've got to persevere, but I'd love to have that ability when I have a baby! And I definitely want to have a baby

So enjoy the beautiful and fulfilling things in your life, while planning what needs to be planned practically in your life. I think you said you were ENFP, from which I gather that you are gentle and relational.

Sending hugs x

catriona79

:T 36 hours to payday!!! :T

catriona79

Just got back from a date with a cool ENTP. He was interesting, we like similar things. Didn't feel the pull though. Hmmm.

catriona79

This time tomorrow I'll have been paid! Whoop whoop!!! Cannot wait. I'm going to focus this month and try not to overspend on going out or clothes. I'll build in lots of long walks and home made Sunday lunches, it will be nice and cosy!

Mortgage should complete in mid November, and then it will be time to:
1. Use the rent money to pay off cards,
2. Think of something else to do on the side - an exciting project?

At the moment I'm thinking that each month my £900 rent could go towards the cards themselves, but I also save £300 in a regular saver and £60 a month towards car related expenses, such as insurance or any repairs etc. So I will carry on with that for 4 months, until I've only got one 0% card, and then reasses. I currently have £900 on one card, £2800 on another and £6k on the third.
I wanted to pay off the £900 and close down the account, but the credit limit on it is 12k, so closing it down would impact my credit utilisation ratio, so probably not a great idea to do that. I'll pay it off and keep it open for now instead. That should be paid off mid-November.
Card no2, £2800 I'll pay off in the subsequent three months, by mid Feb. then close it down, as the limit on it is small, £3600. 0% period on this one ends in May 2016.

But mid March is when the 0% ends for my big card, where at the time I'll have £5600. Hopefully I can then stick that onto another 0% deal, and hopefully without a huge BT fee!

I sometimes think that I actually enjoy this situation, as this planning is making me focussed and gives me a sense of getting somewhere!!!! :eek: perverse!!!!!

catriona79

Morning dear ladies,

Hope you are all well.

Wednesday is a day off for me and here I am, nearly ready to drive to London, to help my friend move and to go to the theatre!

Money wise I've been paid! Whoop whoop! Mortgage has gone down again, whoop whoop! And soon my debts will go down again a little! It's time to adjust my signature. I did a new spreadsheet at lunchtime yesterday, just a simple tracker. That shows that in April next year I should be debt neutral. Even if it's a month later, that's still cool!

So, I have a question to all of you here.

In my position, would you try to pay off the cards or try to move them onto another 0% deal and keep the savings in high % accounts? keeping the savings gives me the security I've been needing, I suppose, but my credit rating will not improve, and mentally I will still be in debt, there will not be a sense of achievement.

I'm thinking of getting rid of the £900 Virgin card, as that's a straggler and a distraction, that's for sure, but would welcome views on the other two.

I guess I should also see what work say re redundancies on 16 November, which is when they will talk about posts. If I'm losing my job, then it will be a good time to move all the debt onto long 0% deals, (3 years or so) and keep the cash for when I am looking for work. But if I'm ok, then I have more choices.

AspiringButAnxious

You're doing so well — hope you enjoy the theatre

Personally, I would try to pay off the ccs rather than transfer them, but this is based on my own emotional perspective. Mathematically speaking, it makes sense to keep the cc debt on 0% and keep your savings, but human beings are not unfailingly logical. I get a kick out of knowing I have fewer debts and less debt overall, so I would find it more motivating to pay off the cc and then build my savings back up (keeping some savings in the meantime as a buffer). It would make me feel more "free" and less stressed, because the cc debts wouldn't be taking up any headspace.

catriona79

This is what my totals are after being paid:

Debt

Halifax card - £5900 – 0% until March 2016
Santander card - £2780 – 0% until May 2016
Virgin card - £850 – 0% until January 2016


Savings

TSB account - £2820
FD regular saver - £1200
HSBC ISA – £320
M&S regular saver - £100
Car savings - £210



Total debt is: :eek::eek::eek: £9530 :eek::eek::eek:


Total savings are: :A:A:A £4650:A:A:A

catriona79

Now, I've still got a bit coming in this month, that is my rent. I'm hoping that it will clear the Virgin card above and then it can come off the totals and the spreadsheet.
I can't wait, as that will be only two debts then, the smallest number of cards I've had in about 5 years! All very exciting!