Kezzy's debt journey 2024

Lonelygambler

Hi. I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I hope he’s doing ok. 

Family before money! 

NeverendingDMP

Goodness what an eventful holiday. Good that you started your debt free journey before hand and had wiggle room isn't it. I hope he is recovering well. 

Aimingforthegoodlife

I am glad that your husband got the treatment he needed and have everything crossed for a quick recovery. As you say, that money should be refunded, we just never know what life is about to throw at us. Thank goodness you had that credit card you could use, such a scary thought. 

Karonher

Glad your husband is OK. 

kezzygirl

Lonelygambler said:

Hi. I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I hope he’s doing ok. 

Family before money! 

Very true, good to be reminded of it

kezzygirl

Aimingforthegoodlife said:

I am glad that your husband got the treatment he needed and have everything crossed for a quick recovery. As you say, that money should be refunded, we just never know what life is about to throw at us. Thank goodness you had that credit card you could use, such a scary thought. 

Absolutely. I can't believe I almost didn't take it with us but on the day of the flight thought 'yeah, I will, just in case'. Thank god I did as they would have been waiting on the insurance to pay which would've delayed saving his life. 

peb

Hugs, I saw you posted on the overseas thread.  Glad you are all home safe.

kezzygirl

Morning, bit of an update. I'm taking a little time from work just to adjust to all that has happened. As a family we have had a lot of death (4) in the last six months and now my husband having his heart attack has just topped it off. I am a bit gutted that I am not mentally fit enough to be working to the standard I need to be at, but at the same time recognise I need to get myself right for my family and for patients. This means no overtime etc and basic pay, coupled with hubs now being on ssp while he is off. Just going to have to be careful and not splurge during this time.

It's our sons birthday today and we are going for a meal to a local seaside town, few arcades and fun, which is well needed.

On to money. The insurance paid out for costs incurred, which I am so grateful for. We decided to pay off sainsburys as it is due August, which will reduce the pressure over next couple of months, so this is now fully paid and I've closed the account! I have quite a few credit accounts with lots of available credit and so having a bit of a trim down! 

We have applied for a loan with novuna at a lower interest rate than what I am paying with mbna and a shorter term by a year, hubs is waiting to hear about whether he has been successful. 

Current situation as follows, in order of due date:
Barclaycard 0% 3rd Dec £6900 owed, we owe £4500 of this, daughter owes the rest.

Virgin 0% until 11 Jan 25 £3848 owed

Natwest 0% until March 25 £6700 owed

Mbna loan £9425 owed
Total 24, 473

Hubby is due some shares maturity with his company which will be paid 1st may-we think it is about 3k. I'm 'allowing' him to buy some bike leathers as a treat and not sure what to do with the remainder. Maybe put in savings? Pay a little off the debt? 

We currently have £580 in one savings account, £1650 in another and a few hundred in shares, which are doing dismally. Hubbies work offer a sharesave scheme which he is paying into at 50 a month for both. I'm going to increase this to 200 a month, which comes directly from his wages. The return on the shares is massive (he has paid a total of 1800 into the sharesave scheme and the return is just over 3k). 

Worth it I think? 

Have a good weekend all

kezzygirl

End of the month round up-payday tomorrow! . I have £2.61 in my account, which I have transferred to savings.

I've been doing some pottering today, cleaned the kitchen top to bottom, wiped the cupboards down,, hoovered upstairs, helped daughter tidy and clean her room. Nice to feel accomplished! 

I've also ordered a big shop to be delivered tomorrow, unfortunately totalling £136, but it does include laundry tabs and dishwasher tabs which were surprisingly cheap. 

Completed a few surveys and managed to withdraw just shy of £7, which I paid directly off of barclaycard. 

Positively, hubby was approved for a loan of 9k with novuna over 36months at 6.9%, we have used this to pay off my MBNA loan which was 8.9% over four years. The novuna is about £40 a month more, but ultimately we will be paying less interest and getting it paid in a shorter time  

The settlement figure for MBNA was £9600, so I added the 600 from our savings which hurt a little! 

Hubs is doing well, he has been seen by the gp and hospital referral is in- just have to wait. I'm feeling more settled and constructive/positive about things now, I think the initial shock from the holiday and returning is abating and I'm not feeling as stressed. My manager is so supportive too, so hopefully I can get back to work soon. 

Will update with figures in the coming days

kezzygirl

Payday has come and gone, as has the cash. Hubs was paid majority ssp this month and is chomping at the bit to get back to work because of this. Cardio nurse says light duties at work are fine, but his manager has organised a meeting with hr for this week to discuss, which is frustrating. His sick note is for six weeks, and he will require a medical because of the job he does, but there is no reason he couldn't return and perform light duties. Especially given he is on ssp, which, for a multinational company, is a disgrace. I'm attending the meeting with him and will ask them to refer to occupational health if needed. 

Feeling a bit fractious about finances currently. My pay will be basic this month as I'm off sick and have had annual leave. We do have £900 left of savings, owing to paying off the surplus to mbna to ensure it is cleared. We are expecting the shares from his sharesave scheme to mature 1st May and be paid five working days later. I'm hopeful that it should work out about 3k, but who knows. We are due another holiday abroad in June for my birthday, which I'm not particularly looking forward to, especially given the incident a few weeks ago which may have been caused by the flight. 

The holiday is self catering and is just for hubs and I, so can be as cheap or as expensive as we make it. I'm all for frugal, as is hubby- often these are the best holidays!! 

I have had radio silence from travel insurance since querying the payment they made and requesting non sterling transaction fees etc. I did call this week and the person 'escalated' it again, and said I should hear by Wednesday just gone (nothing), if not, wait until Monday which will be the escalation date for his escalation. Il call them tomorrow and then contact their complaints department if no luck. 

On to current debt round up. 
Barclaycard £6660 owed (2400 is daughters- she will make her payment next week)
Virgin £3956
Natwest £6630
Novuna £9000 plus whatever interest they've added. 
All in all, just shy of 25k

Discussed with hubs and he agrees we need a big concerted effort to reduce the debt. He said he didn't realise it was that much- that's because I manage the finances and he takes no interest. Think I will sit down with him tomorrow so he can see direct debits etc, which have all gone up. 

Wish we could have a lottery win or some sort of windfall, but that isn't gonna happen. Work work work it is then! 

Have a good week