My Graduate (Post-Student) Debt Diary!

MrJester

>12 Months

sauceoclock wrote: »

Hi Joe,

In my experience credit card companies were fine about reducing my credit limit... My Natwest card went right up to £6,500 at one point and I didn't want it to be, phoned them and they reduced it to £3,000 over the phone, change happened within 48 hours.. I don't see why you shouldn't have a similar experience

Good to know, yeah I'd like to try get them to reduce it if I want to continue using it to help credit. But like I said there's likely going to be much better cashback card options out there for purchases, worth a look at once I get there.

MrJester

>12 Months

Bleh, despite all my good efforts, after a lot of bills have come out I have about £50 left. Thing is I should have.. over £200 coming back to me through refunds and eBay sales, but I made purchases prior to receiving money from said refunds or sales so left a little bit like a duck out of water!

I paid £100 to my Bcard CC, but I've just had a look at my bills due to come out very soon, and had to pay my phone bill with that CC, £42. But as soon as money comes back to me I'll put that back, don't want to destroy that progress on that CC.

I'm looking at around £150 from eBay sales coming in next week, £50 refund on a broken bought item once they bloody come and collect it, plus at least another £70 on refunded clothes once they process that. Stupidly bought some clothes but returning most of it other than what I need.

So yeah, not looking too clever right now but don't worry all, I'll be back on form by end of next week I'm sure

MrJester

>12 Months

I today checked my Halifax BT card online and its let me extend my limit to 1750, able to BT a max of 600. So I've done that immediately, its 0% for 6 months which is ok, better than 600 being on this high interest card anyway. Transferred 600 from Bcard over to Halifax BT card, that should be approved shortly.

Its a big chunk out of the debt on the Bcard, and will drop it to around 1700-1800! Bit by bit will make this more manageable!

Still totally skint until money comes back to me from returns & ebay sales, tight weekend ahead and next week should have actual money again.

Oh had a cheeky result today with work though, did an event job with work, its production type work and got myself two free signed books by a famous author, two christmas presents sorted

System

JoeJester wrote: »

I today checked my Halifax BT card online and its let me extend my limit to 1750, able to BT a max of 600. So I've done that immediately, its 0% for 6 months which is ok, better than 600 being on this high interest card anyway. Transferred 600 from Bcard over to Halifax BT card, that should be approved shortly.

Its a big chunk out of the debt on the Bcard, and will drop it to around 1700-1800! Bit by bit will make this more manageable!

Still totally skint until money comes back to me from returns & ebay sales, tight weekend ahead and next week should have actual money again.

Oh had a cheeky result today with work though, did an event job with work, its production type work and got myself two free signed books by a famous author, two christmas presents sorted

Every little helps! I got a free meal through work the other day... As I'm healthy eating I now no longer take part in 'free bacon roll' friday so gotta make it up for it somewhere. Great work on the xmas pressies!

Good news on the BT, £600 that isn't earning high interest is better than nothing. How does the interest compare after 6 months? Will you aim to completely eradicate the high interest card and then work on the £600 on the halifax card next?

MrJester

>12 Months

sauceoclock wrote: »

Every little helps! I got a free meal through work the other day... As I'm healthy eating I now no longer take part in 'free bacon roll' friday so gotta make it up for it somewhere. Great work on the xmas pressies!

Good news on the BT, £600 that isn't earning high interest is better than nothing. How does the interest compare after 6 months? Will you aim to completely eradicate the high interest card and then work on the £600 on the halifax card next?

Should mention to them to do a healthy option too! Free soup friday or something too haha. Yeah those xmas gifts not shabby are they.

Yes I think that makes the most sense right now, I will reassess occasionally, the £600 transfer is a 3% fee, i think after which is an APR of 18-19% or something, cant remember but that springs to mind. So yeah utterly concentrate on high interest first, its likely that i will end up with being charged interest on the halifax as i doubt ill pay off 1.8k in 6 months but it gives me a better chance to pay off 1.8k and its interest rather than interest on 2.4k.

MrJester

>12 Months

That 600 has transferred, whey. So as of right now I see that as real progress towards getting debt free, gives me 6 months before I need to worry about 600 worth of interest.
I'm sure I will end up paying interest on it by that time but hopefully I will be in good position to do further balance transfers when that time comes onto new cards to pay as little interest as possible for all this debt!

MrJester

>12 Months

Haven't updated in a while purely because I only feel the need to once I've made a significant step, I am constantly trying to improve my debt and credit so no one panic

I have just been approved for a Capital One BT card. The max on these is £1,500 as advertised, I do not yet know how much I will get but will find out once they send the paperwork over. But any amount will help if it means pulling more money off my main high interest Barclaycard.

It is 0% until May next year. Its going to give me yet more breathing space, so this is good stuff. As I've been able to transfer a fair amount off the Bcard now I might actually be able to get rid of it before any other cards start charging interest. Fingers crossed.

MrJester

>12 Months

Right so just been paid. Got about £200 less in pay due to sick time last month, so will just be doing some eBay sales to make up for that.

This morning I've paid £105.84 back to my Halifax CC, because that was for purchases made on the card which would have began charging interest on the 24th.

Also got an update of when the balance transfers on that card's 0% ends:
£770 07/16
£620 04/15
£100 02/15

Changing my DD to my Barclaycard to a fixed £50 instead of the £100, but instead will consistently throw money at it when I have it spare.

Capital One BT card hasn't arrived yet, probably early next week, hoping I get a decent limit on it and can get rid of this Barclaycard as soon as possible. At least will be transferring an amount off it onto 0% very soon.

Thinking about the bike commute again, think I just need to buy a bike and go for it, start saving myself dosh.

MrJester

>12 Months

Got my login for my new capital one BT card, logged in online and they've given me a £1000 limit, so probably means I can do a BT off my barclaycard of around £900 this week. Result.

Going to drop me to the £1000 mark on the Bcard, making it manageable to pay off by next year.

Put stuff on eBay last night that I had like some stock ready to sell for hopefully profit again and will go straight to the Bcard. Having less pay cheque this month as opposed to having even more than normal last month is proving a worry. But just going to keep trying to make other income to make up for it.
Really need to try and secure myself some kind of freelance work perhaps that can be done at home.

System

Try Peopleperhour for freelance work.... I've ended up with regular clients outside the site by starting on there initially!