📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Is it better to clear a high-interest credit card first or a low fixed term loan?

Options
Chasing_cars
Chasing_cars Posts: 39 Forumite
edited 13 May 2015 at 5:53PM in Debt-free wannabe
I think I know the answer but my minimum balance on the credit card is below £20 at present (I pay £50pcm of a £750 balance) whereby my loan is £260pcm of £8,585.

I also have two bonuses this month and next in the £800-£1,000 range.

Any thoughts?

PS: This is the only major debt minus a student loan from 2006.

Comments

  • asparagus1968
    asparagus1968 Posts: 1,787 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    So these are the only interest charging debts you have?


    Do you mean the minimum payment is below £25 ?


    Are you allowed to make extra payments to your loan / pay it off early?


    If it were me I'd pay off the CC in full with the bonus and the usual £50s , close down the CC fully. Then ask loan company if paying a lump sum could be done.


    Someone cleverer than me will be along soon I expect, see what other ideas come about.
    LIVE SIMPLY * GIVE MORE * EXPECT LESS * BE THANKFUL

  • Chasing_cars
    Chasing_cars Posts: 39 Forumite
    edited 13 May 2015 at 8:38PM
    So these are the only interest charging debts you have?
    Yep the only debt and once all cleared will be looking into a mortgage again as on a good wage/good credit score.

    Do you mean the minimum payment is below £25 ?
    £16.31 is this months min payment.

    Are you allowed to make extra payments to your loan / pay it off early?
    No fee's incurred if I pay back any earlier, although if I continue to pay this year I might then look at taking a new loan with a lower interest rate?

    PS: Thanks for taking the time out to reply.
  • ellesbellesxxx
    ellesbellesxxx Posts: 1,105 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What is the interest rate on the card?
    :rotfl:
  • Chasing_cars
    Chasing_cars Posts: 39 Forumite
    What is the interest rate on the card?

    Last statement read: 1.937%

    Thoughts?
  • ellesbellesxxx
    ellesbellesxxx Posts: 1,105 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ok, so presumably you are getting charged about 15 pounds a month interest?Over the next year it will cost you about 170 pounds in interest ( I haven't got time to sit down and work out exact amounts but you are clearing about 35 a month after interest is paid)
    Surely, if you paid off this CCwith your bonus, you could then put that extra 50 a month towards the loan to pay that down?


    Other option is to switch thisCC to a 0% card and throw all extra moneys at the loan whilst you pay the CC down (although if you take this course, I would suggest you calculate you will clear the CC in this time)
    :rotfl:
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177K Life & Family
  • 257.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.