Every debt this debt will go down

NeverendingDMP

Exciting news. I have been allocated 150 pounds cold weather payment for gas and electricity. Not totally sure why but think it's because we qualified for the first cost of living payment. Dh was off sick so we had universal credit for a couple of months and got 326 cost of living. I'm assuming it's correct. I didn't apply for it so it must be all linked up somehow. Feel very lucky that on top of the 400 everyone is getting we have had just under another 500 this year towards the bill. It's really made it possible to eat AND Luke warm heat!

jwil

I hope you are feeling better now.

You've made loads of progress this year, and had emergencies like the roof, so don't beat yourself up about the debt not reducing as much as you want.

Well done on coming under expectations on your fuel bills.  Great news that you got the cost of living payment, and hope tax free childcare sorts itself out soon.

NeverendingDMP

Thanks Jwill, just feels like two steps forward ten steps back sometimes.doesnt it. And I think what could we do without having to pay a debt repayment each month. I'll keep plodding on. 

NeverendingDMP

Harder to Tilly tally at weekend as banks already rounded down ha ha.payment sent to penny a day challenge and I've paid 1% of my debts so mine are below the 8k mark again. Still feeling rough with headaches cough and cold but feeling much better and can function again

NeverendingDMP

Hello all. Eight days into my penny a day challenge. And did a bit of a card shuffle yesterday to eek out an extra few hundred pounds to interest free. 
Another 4 pounds to pay to break the 8k barrier but I'm afraid that has to wait till at least Friday. Slow and steady wins the race is what they say isn't it.

NeverendingDMP

Oh dear my finances are so chaotic. I shuffled some.money yesterday and then today have been offered another 0% card from my bank. So here goes. 
I now have a card with  400 at 29% and 250 at zero percent
I have a card at 2600 with interest. Got a new O% card with a 2200 limit to swap the bulk of this, leaving prob 600 accruing interest.
Then a card that's got 3000 owing but is interest free for another six months.
New card 2200 is empty at present but then interest free for 18 months

And  the last card is 1750 ish that's interest free for another 30 months.
.
I'll be glad to get rid of some of this debt just to reduce the flaming admin.  I presently have no idea what the minimum payment will be on each card until I get bills through. I will have moved 2.5 k ish to interest free so it's worth the confusion....

Plan is pay the 400 off then leave small amount to run off/Tilly tally it away, Then pay the 600, then try and swap the 3000. 

Then hopefully have a 6 month break where I just pay minimums and get some savings together again..I'm hoping to get to the take a break point by July.  I will need to re adjust my plans once I see all the minimums.
Phew that was complicated...

NeverendingDMP

Another day. Another Tilly tally.

I've also been messing around with a debt app which you can list payment/overpayments etc. Although my debt is still huge the end is in sight and I'm back in the frame of mind to actually want to achieve it being gone. 
Heating has been on loads but I have enough credit to get me till early Jan and it needs to be on with this cold snap. Just hope it's mild again from next week. Not much going on otherwise. I'm being strict with my spending but December is always expensive with school dress up, jumper days, raffles, etc etc. End of December is always a good time to reset the budget so I'll keep plodding till then

jwil

There's so much going on at the moment isn't there  I always find Jan a nice time to have a fresh start and get back on track.

Our heating is on a lot at the moment too. I dread to think what the bill will be like, but we have hundreds in credit, so hopefully we'll be ok.  I feel for those who are too scared/can't afford to put it on, it's so wrong in a country like this.

NeverendingDMP

So slight hiccup to the currently tight budget. New school items and a new coat needed for eldest. Original items conveniently fell apart first day of sub zero so needed replacement asap. That was earmarked as my hope I don't need it food and petrol money. Ah well. 
Had a lovely day out with the kids today though which was paid for a couple of months ago so aside from a drink each there was no money to find.
Done my first meter reading of the month. Going to do day 10, 20 and end of month I think. Spend really quite high but there's no option in this weather. Down to 400 pounds credit in octopus account, scary for next year but lucky that it's not a problem I have to worry about just yet. 
Jwil its such a mess isn't it. I spent most of summer holidays saying no to any expensive things to build up the credit but some people wouldn't have even had that option. And our current gas spend of anything up to a tenner a day to be luke warm is just not possible for a lot of people is it. 

jwil

It's just awful isn't it.

Annoying about the uniform too!  But glad you had a nice day out.