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My journey to happy and debt free
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MoneySavingExpert
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My husband was saying this morning that his accounts don’t have as much money as he would like, my automatic response is to panic and think it’s my fault, but I managed to stay calm and we had a conversation as to why.
Turns out it’s renewal of memberships- AA breakdown , membership to a club for his cars( need that to get cheaper car insurance, into car shows etc)
So I suggested he /we get a separate online account like the one I have so we can start savings folders and put a bit into every month rather than pay all in one go.
How’s that for growth!!
I do feel bad as he is covering most of the household bills so I can throw most of my money towards my debt. But we both did feel it was better doing this and get rid of the debt in the next couple of years rather than it taking 5 years.
Was looking through some of the info on the mse homepage especially about 0% balance transfer cards and I thought what the hell I’ll see if I’m eligible for another. Honestly thought it would be a no, but I got myself a virgin 0% 0 fee transfer card for 18 months. So I’ve transferred the balance from my mbna card and I’m going to see how much I can transfer from my Santander card as well.
This feels like another weight lifted off me, and I am another step closer to becoming debt free.
Mbna £148. Apr 20%
Tesco £300. Apr 19.9%
Santander £1000. Apr 20.9%
PayPal £2400. Apr 19%
RBS £5916. Apr 0%
Virgin £4100. Apr 0%
Capital one £1230. Apr 0%
Total £15,094
So I’m going to be paying the min to the 0% cards and pay off Santander card next month.
Tesco and mbna will be paid off in September
And PayPal will be paid off in November.
I’ve got 6 months on capital one so will clear that in January.
Got 18months on virgin and 23months on rbs so will move my money to savings and pay these when the deal is up.
I am cancelling my cards as I clear them but will keep PayPal and use the interest free for larger payments.
So I still have a lot to pay off but the number doesn’t terrify me anymore and I can start conversations about money with my husband without having that feeling of fear and dread.
This month was hard, a five week month and our holiday month. But it’s not been that bad!
I have struggled with the guilt of only paying my minimum payments this month, worrying about letting myself down. This is habits of old creeping up again but this time I am aware of them and talking about it, rather than having it fester away.
I should have £300 left next week to go into paying my debt, so I’ve spent a lot less than I thought I would.
We had a great holiday but made more informed decisions about what we were going to do rather than the !!!! it we are on holiday attitude. And we didn’t feel like we missed out on anything.
I’m working this weekend and will be able to check my payslip so I know exactly how much I will be paid next week. Then I can fully plan next month
So I’m going to have to get my head into savings mode. I am expecting this to be a challenge but one that I’m up for.