Silly student debt diary

greensalad

Hey everyone,

I think I've attempted to keep a diary before but have never been very good at it. But this time hopefully it'll be different!

I was a silly student and have some silly debt, and not a lot to show for it. But I'm keen to tackle all the debt now so that I can start a fresh. I can't wait until the day that all the money that goes into my bank account is actually my money, and not just disappearing into my overdraft or credit card bills.

My debts:

Barclaycard No.1 £2575 (34.9% APR)
Barclaycard No.2 £800 (34.9% APR)
Barclays OD £500 (interest free)
Natwest OD £1800 (interest free)
SLC overpayment £1402 (interest free)

I'm currently focusing on paying off my credit cards as obviously they have high interest. Annoyingly I also have to pay out for a Student Loans MISTAKE where they overpaid me. So I have no choice on that one.

I've made progress already though

Over 16% paid off

Credit Card No. 1 £771/£2100
Credit Card No. 2 £150/£800
Overdraft £30/£2300
Student Loan £126/1402

My spreadsheets show me as debt free October 2017

After that I'm hoping to start saving for a deposit on a house, maybe £20k (I live in Surrey, groan).

My dream is that within the next 15 years I'll be able to afford a house of my own

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary
Keep posting!

monz

looking forward to see how you do x

Paintyourbox

Best of luck!

greensalad

Booked the Christmas food delivery in. I'm only making a few bits and pieces but am determined not to overdo it on the desserts as everyone is too full by then! Making a trifle and a tart and BF is making sausage rolls

Christmas Party on Thursday. Why why why do they have to do it in the middle of nowhere? I didn't buy a new outfit (using something old out of the wardrobe!) but I am going to have to pay for a taxi home unfortunately. Going to have to be a Cinderella and leave before midnight so I don't pay too much.

Best friend coming to stay this weekend. She's bringing the roast dinner bits. Will go to the market on Saturday to buy potatoes and parsnips. Also pre-recorded some Disney films for us to watch instead of buying new ones. And I've got a bottle of gin from my birthday in the cupboard

Left to buy before payday 23rd December:

Groceries for next few weeks £60
Christmas food shopping £40
Petrol for the hire car to get to family Christmas! £20
Petrol to get to OH's Mums for second Christmas! £30
More wrapping paper £5
Train ticket to London for Auntie's birthday £8

All shared with my partner so £81.50 to pay by me

Christmas Party taxi £12
Granny's birthday party (afternoon tea) £18
Granny's birthday/christmas present £10

That's another £40.

So £121.50 to spend before the 23rd. Annoying but it's such a stupidly expensive time of year. I wasn't expecting to end the Christmas period with anything left in the bank so I'm not too worried, and £320 went into debt repayment this month.

January's debt repayment:
£100 to CC no.1
£100 to CC no.2
£116 to SLC

Still debt free October 2017.

greensalad

Christmas party today! No new dress, Secret Santa cost £6. Not sure how much meal will cost, I am not drinking much, hoping to keep it quite cheap. Taxi looks to be about £12, wish there was another way home but I don't know what the people who live in my town are doing whether I can hitch a lift or not.

BF is home tomorrow, very excited he has been away since Sunday on business. I haven't bought any proper groceries all week which I guess is quite good (just a loaf of bread, some cheese, and soup for work).

Soup for lunch today is in the fridge. Cheap bread rolls ready to go.

This weekend is going to be about errands. I still have things to run. Need to post some orders (I make knitwear) and buy extra wrapping paper. Asda not as cheap as I hoped. I suck at wrapping, was going to get giftbags for some presents but think I will just have to go with wrapping paper as it's cheaper.

Planning to do some slow cooking for dinners next week. Will raid the freezer and ask on old style board.

greensalad

Just got an automated call from a debt collector (went to answerphone). Not sure what for but will wait until they write (not wasting my minutes calling them). I have a feeling it is the SLC, they said they were pursuing debt recovery but I then set up a payment plan with them which I have paid instalment one of. Concerned they have already passed it over and then not cancelled it once I set up a payment plan with them

Edit: just called. Apparently SLC have "lost" all record of me having a payment plan despite me having made one payment. They've referred me to a debt agency.

Ugh I hate this. Stupid people messed up the payment and gave me too much, now they've mucked up trying to pay them back! Idiots.

I feel like my other debts are manageable but this one feels like it's looming over me.

Just when I was feeling positive, now I'm back to feeling negative

monz

Dont give up explain to the debt agency that you set up a payment plan. Normally I keep recorded notes of when I spoke to them and who i spoke to. x

greensalad

monz wrote: »

Dont give up explain to the debt agency that you set up a payment plan. Normally I keep recorded notes of when I spoke to them and who i spoke to. x

Good idea, I should get a little diary to jot down communications. Problem is communication was made over the phone so I hope they haven't "lost" it.

I don't care who I pay as long as I'm working away at my debt. If they have transferred the debt I don't know why but should I start paying debt company instead of direct to SLC as I have been? At least while I try to find out from SLC why they moved away from payment plan. I don't want to end up paying two people, but I don't want to be paying NOBODY either.

greensalad

A bit of a positive and a negative day today!

Just realised on my banking spreadsheet that I had not increased my overdraft repayment once my first credit card is paid off.

Adjusting the numbers so that I am maintaining my required living expenses, means that I am actually nearly a year out. I'll be able to repay fully by December 2016!

greensalad

Christmas presents left to buy this weekend:

Shower gels and deodorant for BF's stocking
Hot chocolate and marshmallows x2 for Granny and MIL
Mustard and biscuits for Grandpa

Still need loads of gift bags. Don't know where to get them cheap?

Just did a nice bit of savvy shopping. Needed bits for BF's stocking, was going to go to Boots this weekend. Instead have ordered online via Quidco. Got 6% + 1% for paying with PayPal. Also did 3 for 2 offer and got nice posh brand bits (FCUK spray and shower gel, Ted Baker hair bits) for £14 all in. That's BF's stocking done! Items should have costed £18, with cashback deducted makes it saving of £4.98! Happy with that.

Left on the list is wrapping and gift bags, and hot chocolate making things for Granny and MIL and some foody bits for Grandpa Then I'm DONE. NO more christmas shopping. Woop!