About time I sorted myself out

db2016

just de lurking to say well done, and keep at it.



i don't think you have posted a SOA, which most do, and could help us, help you (ideas and such). just a thought.



Dan

poppytattoo

Hello everyone! (& thank you for the messages which I have missed)

I have been shockingly remiss at posting and haven't been back here for a long time (although I've still been using the MSE site for thrifty tips etc). Things got more than a bit hectic in the past few months - wedding planning, hen parties (my wonderful mum and bridesmaids arranged two weekends away for me), plus trying to get on top of university work and normal work so I could actually enjoy being off for the wedding.

I'm pleased to report it all went swimmingly, the strict wedding budgeting and saving for the past two years was well worth it, plus all the effort we'd put into DIY'ing cheap things that hopefully didn't look too cheap. We are both very happy.

Now, I want to focus on getting my finances even more in order. I'm bridesmaid at two weddings next year and we have our "big" honeymoon in Jan (which we have already paid off and is all inclusive, can't wait) but I do want to chip away even more at my debts. Apart from my overdraft, which I've slipped into by an extra few hundred unfortunately, the rest of my debts have still been going down, which is brilliant. Will try and update my signature soon.

I'm going to try and be on here a lot more as I feel it keeps me honest and on-track, and hopefully I'll find the time now the big wedding is out of the way! If I'm honest, I've missed it - I always feel better after posting.

Love from the new Mrs!

MoneysavingmadGem

Congratulations!

I had a thrifty wedding and thoroughly enjoyed the build up to it trying to fo it frugally!

All the best on your journey for debt freedom

twiggy86

Congratulations!!!

I've just read through your diary and think you've amazing to pay off so much,organize a wedding and pay off your honeymoon!

Siebrie

Congratulations on your marriage!


With regards to your credit cards, have you called the companies and asked them to lower your interest? It sometimes works.


Have you contacted the bank re the overdraft, to lower the limit? For instance, you can ask to lower the limit as soon as you have paid a bit off, or by 25 GBP each month, or by 250 GBP per year. I often think with overdrafts that just because it's there, we use it; we don't carefully look at alternatives. Overdrafts are very expensive, more even than people think, because the interest is often given in months rather than annual.

poppytattoo

I'm a bit annoyed because I spent ages typing out a long reply to each of your very kind comments, and my internet browser has crashed and I've lost it all, so please accept my thanks for the congratulations and support instead

Siebrie - thank you for the tips. I haven't rung the CC company (Virgin) and asked for a lower rate, I will try that. With regards to the overdraft, I would love to lower the limit. I am struggling to make it through the month with the available balance I have and it scares me to have less but I think the idea of £25 per month is a really good one as that way I can ensure I am inching out of it (and hopefully more if I can manage it! I get paid on the 29th so will do that every pay day.)

I have updated my signature so it reflects where I'm currently at - I've basically paid off £10,800 in just under two years. It's a slow process but I'm glad I'm going in the right direction and I am hoping to beat my yearly average in 2020!

I have had an offer for a 0% balance transfer card - mbna - which I am "pre-approved" for. This scares me a little bit - I have made such terrible financial decisions in the past that I really don't want to do something stupid and I am wary of any card that will pre-approve me given my credit score. However, the couple of years it would be interest free would help me chip away at the credit card debt a little bit quicker (I think I am currently paying around 19%APR, I tried to find out the other day but can't find it on any of the statements or documents I have and couldn't get through on the phone. I have emailed asking for confirmation)

Has anyone got any advice on this?

poppytattoo

Right, I've done it, gone for the mbna 0% balance transfer offer - this will give me 29 months interest free to try and chip away at the credit card whilst I focus my attention on the very expensive HSBC overdraft.

I was offered a money transfer to my current account and considered putting a couple of hundred from the new MBNA card to pay off a bit of the HSBC overdraft just to make a dint, but it felt too good to be true and I chickened out of that!

poppytattoo

Today is also a good day - husband brought me home a roast lamb dinner from one of his jobs last night so I have a proper gourmet packed lunch today, plus then I'm off to Cafe Nero for the free 02 hot chocolate...

[Deleted User]

Hi poppytattoo, just wanted to say a massive Congratulations on your wedding

I have been following your progress and you are doing amazing, keep going.

Hope lunch was nice?

Pmo2
xx

poppytattoo

Thank you Pmo2!Lunch was delicious, not every day you get a fancy roast at the office! Really hoping that now we don't have to pay any more towards a wedding I will be able to find more money to feed back into paying off the debts. I want to do a full Statement of Affairs soon, as I've seen from other people's diaries that it can be very helpful - going to hopefully find some time for it this weekend, although I have a busy weekend (a friend's big birthday party - fancy dress although I'm reusing an old costume plus visiting a lot of relatives).

This community really is wonderful isn't it.