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"Lightbulb moment - 67k down. Need to execute a recovery plan"

edited 21 January 2021 at 5:55PM in Debt free diaries
107 replies 19.9K views
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  • BookmobileBadGirlBookmobileBadGirl Forumite
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    deed pending on what your children’s nursery is doing you may have a big saving in expenses there this month. Also with the lock down your petrol costs should plummet. 

    Put all the savings you make whilst shut down into an emergency fund until you have £1,000 and then start throwing the rest at your debts

    once things start going back to normal, really look at everything you spend. As £25 a month for entertainment for a family of four is very low, as is the idea that you do not spend anything on holidays.

    Currently (06/06/2023) £28,855 Mortgage - Shared Ownership 25% £75,300 December 2016Mortgage Free Date December 2051 December 2033
  • bamgbostbamgbost Forumite
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    made an attempt with the signature. Hope it turns up below.... That will be a reminder to hold me to account!

    Fair points you have all made, with rounding up figures or stating entertainment / holiday costs. These are not consistent hence why i left them. But yh i can relook at it.

    Thanks all. Will keep u posted as things change....
    365 Day 1p challenge - £371.49 / 667.95
    Emergency Fund   £425 / £1000
    DFW - £TBC
  • Mr87Mr87 Forumite
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    This might feel like nitpicking but a couple of things I noticed: do you need to spend £40 a month on haircuts (granted 4 people in household but could you wait for your hair to grow a little longer  ;) ) and a piece of advice on presents which I found really helpful on my own SOA - cut this down and just let people know you're not buying presents and don't expect anything either. I know this can be tricky but I honestly found people were really receptive/supportive when we did this. This will be especially true of the great friends you have who have lent you money, who will be super-appreciative once you've paid them back and know you keep your word.
  • bamgbostbamgbost Forumite
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    hey Mr87.... thanks. you are right will cut down on presents tbh. Besides for the next few months we nt going out anywhere.
    I have started with the friends payback..as stated in the SOA.

    What I am now wrestling with is... making any overpayments to clear debts quicker vs building up an emergency fund. Esp in this day and age. I am beginning to think the emergency fund is higher priority. So long as I make the minimum payments on the debts. Does that sound right?


    365 Day 1p challenge - £371.49 / 667.95
    Emergency Fund   £425 / £1000
    DFW - £TBC
  • EimearFEimearF Forumite
    203 Posts
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    bamgbost said:

    What I am now wrestling with is... making any overpayments to clear debts quicker vs building up an emergency fund. Esp in this day and age. I am beginning to think the emergency fund is higher priority. So long as I make the minimum payments on the debts. Does that sound right?


    Focus on emergency fund and make minimum payments on credit cards if there is any risk you will be out of a job. If nothing happens you can sue the pot of money to make a lump sum payment once all this is over. 
    Light Bulb Moment 13/09/17: Non- Mortgage Debt £42295; 01/04/19: £13645; 01/10/19: £9707; 01/11/19: £5525; 14/01/20: £883
    27/01/20: DEBT FREE!!!

    Mortgage Free Wannabee: £58595 to pay by August 2025
  • clairebethclairebeth Forumite
    299 Posts
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    Hi there,  just checking that your benefits are child benefit? It's just that, with your take home pay being £3100 a month,  does that not put you in the 'over £50k' bracket? You may find you need to pay some (but not all) of it back.  HMRC have a calculator on their site. 

    All the best!
  • bamgbostbamgbost Forumite
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    EimearF said:
    bamgbost said:

    What I am now wrestling with is... making any overpayments to clear debts quicker vs building up an emergency fund. Esp in this day and age. I am beginning to think the emergency fund is higher priority. So long as I make the minimum payments on the debts. Does that sound right?


    Focus on emergency fund and make minimum payments on credit cards if there is any risk you will be out of a job. If nothing happens you can sue the pot of money to make a lump sum payment once all this is over. 
    Exactly my thoughts. I am in a relatively new job... 3 months in. Not sure how safe it is... but regardless. An emergency fund is needed.

    Hi there,  just checking that your benefits are child benefit? It's just that, with your take home pay being £3100 a month,  does that not put you in the 'over £50k' bracket? You may find you need to pay some (but not all) of it back.  HMRC have a calculator on their site. 

    All the best!
    I believe I should be ok. due to employment deductions ( pensions, etc). I just about miss the repayment threshold. But good to bear in mind, if bonuses, etc crop along.
    365 Day 1p challenge - £371.49 / 667.95
    Emergency Fund   £425 / £1000
    DFW - £TBC
  • bamgbostbamgbost Forumite
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    Hi ALL
    So its been a good month Plus. From when I first posted. Seems this debt business is going to be painful. As I am unable to get a new 0% deal to at least reduce some of the interest.
    And I think perhaps I had not accurately written the figures down. They are actually...

    Name  Amount
       
    Overdraft 1500
    Paypal 1550
    Cap 1 CC 1000
    S  CC 960
    Cap 2 CC 2700
    M CC 2550
    B CC 3500
    H CC 4500
    A Loan 8000
    B  Loan 11000
    H Loan 14200
    RS  L 14000
    Friend 900
    (Rounded up).

    Seems A DMP is the only way to bring this down quick. However im due to remortgage in 3 months, so not something I would look to do yet.
    However in the few weeks since my last post. The total has come down by 2k ish. So thats something. But a long road ahead!
    365 Day 1p challenge - £371.49 / 667.95
    Emergency Fund   £425 / £1000
    DFW - £TBC
  • ThatKissThatKiss Forumite
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    Hi @bamghost,

    £2k over a couple of months is good going, and as time goes by you'll find things start to speed up with 0% balance transfers becoming available and as debts drop off freeing up more cash to throw at what's left. It is hard going, especially to start with,  but remain focused and you'll get there sooner than you think.

    I've had a read through your thread and one thing I would say in terms of the credit cards, is that it helps to set a standard monthly payment rather than the default minimum payment option. It makes budgeting easier as it's a set rather than variable amount, and what you're paying off the capital balance increases month-on-month rather than decreasing as a percentage-based minimum.
  • bamgbostbamgbost Forumite
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    i am really hoping for a 0% balance transfer offer to come for sure.
    @thatkiss , thanks for the advice on the credit card...i see how it would help with budgeting definitely.
    365 Day 1p challenge - £371.49 / 667.95
    Emergency Fund   £425 / £1000
    DFW - £TBC
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