We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Balance Transfer or Loan

Hello
Me & my husband have about £23000 on various credit cards that we constantly move around and pay more than the minimum amount on every month. The charges to move these around is getting more expensive. We currently pay around £750 a month paying these off. A bank is offering us a good deal on a fixed 5 year loan deal that would see this full amount being cleared off. ( we currently do not borrow any more)
I am confused as to whether we should take the loan option and pay this fixed amount to one place monthly or carry on as before. Can anyone advise me?

Thank you

Comments

  • lindens
    lindens Posts: 2,870 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    use the calculator whatsthecost.com and see what the numbers tell you. it's a snowball calculator
    You're not your * could have not of * Debt not dept *
  • MallyGirl
    MallyGirl Posts: 7,302 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    if you are still getting 0% BT deals, albeit with a fee, then I would stick with that. A loan will incur that interest every year, not as a one off. It would also allow you to take the foot off the gas a bit which is not great - you should be throwing everything at the cards while they are 0%
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Pensions, Annuities & Retirement Planning, Loans
    & Credit Cards boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • lindens wrote: »
    use the calculator whatsthecost.com and see what the numbers tell you. it's a snowball calculator
    Thank you - I will try that
  • MallyGirl wrote: »
    if you are still getting 0% BT deals, albeit with a fee, then I would stick with that. A loan will incur that interest every year, not as a one off. It would also allow you to take the foot off the gas a bit which is not great - you should be throwing everything at the cards while they are 0%
    Thank you; will bear this in mind. We are getting 0% deals and have a good credit score
  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 20,994 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Personal opinion and may not be the best deal.
    Take the loan and close all but one CC (always handy for big purchase protection)

    Reason is that you know what you will be paying for the next 5 years. Who knows how long you will keep getting 0% balance transfer offers. If they do dry up, what would you do then?
    Life in the slow lane
  • MallyGirl
    MallyGirl Posts: 7,302 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    then you get the loan for a smaller amount as you have been throwing everything at the cards on 0%
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Pensions, Annuities & Retirement Planning, Loans
    & Credit Cards boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Sharondesa wrote: »
    Thank you; will bear this in mind. We are getting 0% deals and have a good credit score

    Your score means nothing.

    You should be looking on cutting back and clearing the debt.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.