Once and for all

affordmylife

Hi everyone

I'm absolutely sick and tired of always being broke so I'm finally going to tackle my personal debt once and for all.

I owe £4000 on a single credit card. At the beginning of the year it was £5,500 so I've made a good start. However I have had to recently drop my second job as I just couldn't cope so it will definitely be more diff to pay off so quickly now.

I also pay £200 a month on a payment agreement for a kitchen we had fitted which started in January and runs for two years.

My income is probably between £600 to £800 a month. I'm self employed so it's variable.

Any tips or suggestions would be gratefully received. Many thanks xx

MrsLWW

You best place to start would be an SOA (statement of affairs). Once you post that there will be lots of people willing to help. Well done for having you LBM (light bulb moment).

L

fatbelly

There's a calculator here

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Please format for mse

affordmylife

There isn't really much as my husband pays all the bills etc. So it's just me and the credit card lol.

I've just done a balance transfer so I'm hoping that will be approved x

fatbelly

That would seem to be the way forward then. If you can transfer the balance on to one or two of these cards and pay around £100 per month or more, you can get debt-free without defaults or interest.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/balance-transfer-credit-cards

Use the eligibility checkers before applying.

affordmylife

That's what I'm hoping. I'll track my progress here x

affordmylife

So I have two half freezers. Both are now completely full. Which means that I only need fresh stuff for the rest of the month at least.

I've cut the grass. Collected eggs from my chickens. And had the bathroom ripped out this morning ready for a beautiful brand new one.

Washing is blowing on the line and it's all good.

Have a no spend week coming up apart from a massage and hair cut. Massage is remedial not pleasure and I have hair cut twice a year. It just happens to be this week.

Will I make it to the end of the month money wise!!!! Who knows x

fatbelly

Are you registered with Quidco and topcashback?

Anything you can get through them, do so.

Tesco are offering £29 cashback on their 0% cards; similar deals from Post Office, Halifax, Lloyds, Barclaycard and AA!

affordmylife

I've just gone with Halifax as it was 41 months interest free and my bank anyway.

Today is a no spend day. Bath is being fitted which is great. Plasterer coming Friday. Be so good to get this done.

Preparing a pork joint for later with all the veggies. Looking forward to that later.

Started watching broadchurch last night. Beautiful scenery need to visit there. I could be Pauline Quirke.

Happy days xx

datlex

OP Two things stand out to me in this. The new kitchen and the new bath. I can appreciate that you would want these, however was it wise to get them? I think you need to sit yourself down and think about wants and needs. Then for needs look at specifics can you get it cheaper, can you make it last longer.

affordmylife

Thanks datlex. We are renovating our house. Additionally mortgage taken to cover costs. Husband pays mortgage. So thi does not effect my finances x