Budget with me one week at a time

DFB35

As the title suggest I’m back with more debt than I ever had before. House improvements, holidays and it all just crept back up over the years. 

The usual story of credit cars, then loans to pay the credit cards off and now both credit cards and loans. But also for the first time I’m being refused credit and refused 0% deals so I now also have about 3k on credit cards that I have to pay interest on. 

I need to sort myself out….. and to hold myself accountable which I am hoping to do on here. 

Will be back with more details later on. 

DFB35

Credit cards not on 0%:

American Express - £600 - I’m waiting for annual cash back of £276 which will reduce the balance to £324
First Direct - £790 
Halifax - £1,900

Credit cards on 0%:
Nationwide - £4,950 0% until 03/25
Sainsburys - £8,765 0% until 01/25
My husbands MBNA - £6,000 ish 0% until 08/24

Boiler - £132 0% finishes in December 23
EV charger - £952 0% finishes in July 24

Loans:
First Direct - £30,000 finishes 10/2030. We borrowed 30k but in the app the outstanding amount is -£37,554 
First Direct - £16,000 finishes 10/2030. We borrowed 16k but in the app the outstanding amount is - 15,622

Car PCP : husbands £274 a month 

Mortgage:
Barclays - £195,536 fixed at 4.3% until 10/28

These are some pretty hefty figures however both my husband and I are on good salaries and can afford repayments at the moment, which makes it even worse that we are in this situation!

However massive red flag is that I am unable to obtain anymore 0% deals, so if this is still the case by the time my Nationwide and Sainsburys deal comes to an end I can end up in very tricky situation. 

This is the alarm bells I need hopefully to motivate myself to clear the cards as much as I can before the 0% is done. And categorically STOP further spending. 

MorningcoffeeIV

You need to get accurate figures.

Some of the figures you quote, such as First Direct, are showing the full amount including interest if it goes full term. You need actual balances.

Equally,  a monthly PCP figure is of no use. You need to know what is owed.

You also need to find out APRs so you know what to pay off first.

DFB35

My first aim is not to add any additional borrowing and to clear these cards:

Credit cards not on 0%:

American Express - £600 - I’m waiting for annual cash back of £276 which will reduce the balance to £324
First Direct - £790 
Halifax - £1,900

Which brings me to a dilemma whether I should sell some designer items, when I’m being offered a lot less than what they are worth?? For example I have a bag worth 1.6k but I am only being offered £850 as a consignment sale? Or am I being a mug losing so much money on it. It’s in pristine condition but I actually really don’t like it, it’s the most unpractical bag ever…. I only wore it once when I realised how uncomfortable it is! (YSL medium Kate Chain bag if anyone is curious). 

MorningcoffeeIV

DFB35 said:

 For example I have a bag worth 1.6k but I am only being offered £850 as a consignment sale? Or am I being a mug losing so much money on it. 

You"ve already lost the £1600 you spent on something you don't like. 

You now have the choice of gaining £850 and some space in your wardrobe, or gaining nothing.

comeandgo

Why do you think a second hand designer bag is worth £1,600, who gave that value?  You don’t like it, what’s the point of keeping it, I’d take the cash, you need it more than a bag.

MFWannabe

You need to sell as much as possible and pay off the debts; especially the interest bearing credit cards 
That bag you don’t even like could clear the First Direct card; that’s a positive 🤷‍♀️that’s first one done 
My guess would be you’ll probably have quite a few things you can sell if you have a good declutter 

RelievedSheff

Have a good rummage around and find anything that you don't like or use that can be sold. Even smaller items of less value can go a long way towards paying off your debts.

It's only a few years ago that we were in a similar situation to yourself with debts here, there and everywhere and unable to secure new 0% deals. It took a bit of perseverance, but we are now down to one card on 0% and one loan and the end is in sight. Just over two years and we should be debt free barring any major emergencies.

Stick with it, make a plan and keep yourself accountable. 

DFB35

So the consensus is to sell the items even if I perceive it to be at a loss. I have been in this situation before and not learned anything

Really need to get a grip. I had a look again this morning and not eligible for further loans even though my salary is good and not missed payments. They do some sort of soft search nowadays. 

I don’t think I had my lightbulb moment as still trying to borrow myself out of it…. But I don’t want to reach rock bottom for that moment to come…. Need to deal with it now!

MFWannabe

Deep breath! You’ve done this before and can do it again! 

Do the  soa you’d have done before 
Write yourself a budget and stick to it
Concentrate on  paying off the interest cards first; I would guess you could probably do this fairly quickly if you have a good declutter and sell anything you don’t use: need 

MFWannabe

Another plus is the boiler payments finish next month which frees up that money to pay towards other debts 
do you have any emergency fund?