Biting the bullet

Mature-Student

Ok, assuming the dca are playing ball (post in Step Change's advice thread), then I plan to clear my and hubby's debts by Dec 16.

Loan balance £15k after £1k paid yesterday.
Credit cards x 5 total £22k

First two, smallest but highest interest, cards due to be cleared by August 15. Taking on a second job and having a declutter selling on Ebay. Have drafted a repayment plan and made plans to cut back spending.

Fingers crossed.

DawnW

Sounds as though you are determined to get it sorted!

Good luck

Mature-Student

Thanks Dawn.

Day 1. Decided I want to track our spending , and make sure my plans for repayment are realistic. Tried a few free and on trial finance packages, but none seemed to fit the bill. Then found Martin's Budget Brain. It at least confirmed I had included all spending with the result of a £93 underspend -supposedly.

This is my child benefit which I may have to pay some back depending on how much my second job pays and how much overtime continues to be available at work. So am putting this aside for now, and once my tax return is done next year any surplus will go to debt payments. Will need to transfer that info to a spreadsheet and updated from online banking to make sure I don't overspend each month and that all underspend is paid to the debts.

I then reviewed my repayment plan, and all seems on track for Dec 16 but if I can bring that forward I will. Have already recently halved my Sky cost while getting a package upgrade and new box for free (they offered me this after agreeing the reduction+upgrade!), and waiting to hear how much to cancel house insurance mid - year as I have quotes of £10+ pm saving for same cover.

Also looked at 0% cc's for dh to apply for one to reduce interest due on other cards. Even a 12 month one should save around £300 overall for a £5k transfer which would mean bringing the DF day forward by half a month.

Jobs for today are making the weekly Tesco order, and looking at the life insurance costs. I've just started online food shopping, I like the ability to checkout then review the next day to critically see what I can remove.

What an amazing world we live in compared to those who lived through The Great War just a century ago. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.