Tidying up the mess

BabyStepper

Thanks Spendy Spenderson and enthusiasticsaver. Things do feel very much under control, great feeling.

And hello DrSpendLittle and thanks for dropping by. How coincidental you have just read my diary as I have also just read yours! Congratulations on your progress, almost £12k paid off in 17 months, well done! We're only 8 months in and have hit £5k paid off this month, massive progress for us, especially during the transition to self-employment. I haven't really had an experience of feeling 'rich' (although it sounds great). I know we are well off compared to some, and less so compared to others. Mostly I'm relieved that things are being managed to the best of my ability, nothing is being wasted and that is as much as I can do. I guess I'm going for a slow and steady approach, money management is for life, this is just the stage I'm at now, although constantly looking for ways to pay the debt off faster. I'll be following your progress and partying with you on (and I couldn't believe this) Brexit day! Hilarious! :rotfl:

Alleywoman

Hi Babystepper
Just read your diary and am posting this so i can continue to follow your journey.

[Deleted User]

Echoing those above, you're doing brilliantly! It's really motivating to see how your 'baby steps' are creating some pretty damn impressive progress

BabyStepper

Hi Alley Woman, good to meet you.

Hi BlackCoffee too and thanks for the encouragement. Appreciated. Now we're into February and the minimum payments are flying out of my account, I got to colour in another section of the thermometer of debt progress. It's really inspiring. Hope things are going well for you too.

enthusiasticsaver

I always think having a visual reminder of your progess is really motivating so kudos on debt thermometer. Will be great to see that third debt to BC2 paid off next month sometime. Then on to Santander CC.

BabyStepper

As we're into the new month, the £90 minimum payment has gone off BC2 and I have manually paid the £170 unused council tax cash. The BC2 total now is £167.12. The budget is tight but doable this month, due to me being off work until the 7th of January. I have a late invoice payer and if they manage to get their payment to me then BC2 will be paid off then. If they don't, it'll be the start of March.

All moving in the right direction.

BabyStepper

Now that the end is in sight for BC2 I thought I'd have a look over my Santander statements and see what it is I'll be paying off next.

Current balance £3120
0% until December 2019
Minimum payment 1% of balance/currently set to £35

I've had this card for a good long while and originally got it for a £1400-ish balance transfer. Soon after I went on a spending spree and bought £2,500 worth of things for the house. :eek: Then I put OH's birthday gifts, meal and day out on it. :eek: Then I got hit with 3 late payment charges before I even realised that my direct debit had been set up for the wrong day. :eek: And at some point I withdrew £60, got charged £3 for the privilege, and who even knows what that was for?

I must have had good intentions as I overpaid by quite a bit in the early days of having the card. Then it dwindled to the minimum payment and it's been ticking over there ever since.

With 10 months to pay it off it'd be nice to pay £300 a month. However, I need to move faster than this as the next 2 cards will be losing their promotional rates soon after this one runs out.

Unlike my other credit cards, Santander will reduce the fixed payment if you make overpayments. I need to watch out for this, wish they would just keep the fixed payment whatever else you do. But whatever the situation, I am very much looking forward to paying this one off as I also have my overdraft here and it's an awful lot to owe one bank.

This is quite exciting!!

Moneywhizz

Sounds like the anxiety you were feeling a few months ago has been replaced by a sense of achievement. You are doing so well paying off these cards. Dare I ask when the mortgage is up for renewal and if there has been any decision about what you are doing?

marcsshell

Just read your diary and you are doing so well, you can sense the anxiety levels drop.

So sorry to hear about OHs Aunt but glad she went at home on her own bed xx

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

Just read your diary and it's really inspiring. I am starting out on a similar journey, I go from being excited about the challenge to depressed about how hard this is going to be. Currently I am at the stage of wanting to log into my accounts every five minutes and thinking about all of this constantly.

I dont have anyone that I can really talk to about this, so being able to share on here really helps. Will be following the rest of your story.