Getting FIREd up 😀

julicorn

I think it sounds really sensible, South Coast! There's really only so much interested you'd get in those few months, and when you don't know whether you'll be able to transfer it would just be too risky.

TallGirl

Once you get those balances down you might get offer of more credit but with it being so close to the limit you are deemed a risk even if you are not. Sounds like an excellent plan to me. 

South_coast

Thanks both 👍 The dream scenario is to qualify for either a big balance transfer or money transfer with a looooong 0% period so I can just forget about it and move on to other things, but being able to shuffle money back and forth between my existing cards would be a good second-best. Failing that, there should juuust about be enough money to settle both of those (and the Barclaycard, which is due in March) in full, but as that would mean draining the EF, the car fund, and putting nothing at all into the S&S until July, that really is the last resort - I didn't label that tab "Nuclear option" for nothing!

South_coast

In the meantime, £7.90 received from Prolific and paid off the April card. 

The struggle continues!

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

Is it wrong that I suddenly have an urge to express my 2025 goals as a Venn diagram 🤔?

I have a horrid feeling I will be using my baby but burgeoning software skills to do something clever with my 2025 goals - and that a Venn diagram would probably be the perfect solution insted

South_coast said:

P.S. I know it seems like madness to sacrifice 4.58% interest to pay down 0% interest debt, but if it means it doesn't bounce to 23%+ interest because I've not been able to re-finance it, hopefully it won't seem so counterintuitive!

I get it especially when  you state you are 'mildly freaking out' about it.. I wouldnt be sleeping all that well either with big CC debt - I think people have different levels of risk averseness. 
Hopefully paying down the cards will open up more 0% credit to you 

Nice bounce on the pensions .. mine were up just over £2000 on the month as well I also have about 11 plus years.. I have a db pension which kicks in in 5 years (no clue where the years have gone) but planning to delay that

South_coast

Thanks, LaPlan. I think I just feel like I've been over-thinking it, as I feel as though a) I really should be able to get credit; and b) they are still 0% for ages and ages, so I should just be able to forget about it. But unfortunately my brain doesn't work like that, and getting the "Sorry SC, we can't do anything for you" message after entering 0 mortgage, 0 dependents and a good income etc into the eligibility checkers is not doing much to help 😬 So on balance, I think it's best to try and do something about it now, while I've still got the chance to try and improve the situation

South_coast

Right, on to more important subjects 😀....

A very young Anna Maxwell Martin in Midsomer Murders:

South_coast

I must be the only person in England frustrated because their credit card bill hasn't been generated on time 🙄 C'mon Barclaycard, I want to pay you!

Baileys_Babe

South_coast said:

I must be the only person in England frustrated because their credit card bill hasn't been generated on time 🙄 C'mon Barclaycard, I want to pay you!

No, it causes frustration here as well, I just want to know what I owe so I can clear it and put the remaining money to work.

South_coast

It's annoying because it's not as though I can't work out what the amount will be, but if I send it now before they ask for it, it won't count as me making the minimum payment!