Kezzy's debt journey 2024

Sarahwithlove

Yes I'd say so because even if you have to balance transfer again it will be less than the £700 you are saving and easier to make any overpayment. I prefer it to be on a card then a loan myself. 

kezzygirl

Transfers all done, but anxiety provoking to be having high balances on credit cards, but the debts have been reduced to three balances now:

Natwest 0% until March 2025 £6400 owed
Natwest 0% until September 2025 £7220 owed
Barclaycard 0% until May 2026 £8383 owed

I completed a money transfer to pay off novuna, which is now the barclaycard debt. I have the 8k sat in my account now, but I'm waiting until this month's payment has been taken for novuna on 25th (it will be 27th due to Bank Holiday!) And then il obtain a settlement figure online, which will avoid me overpaying and having to wait for refund. Quite nice seeing 8k in my account but it's not MY money, is it? Making me a bit jittery too having it sat there so role on 27th! 

It's payday tomorrow. I have 2 days overtime being paid in this wage and hubby had a bonus of £350 too. We had a good chat about finances and how we have been living excessively the last few years since moving, spending what we like etc. We've agreed we won't book another holiday yet, as it will be going on a credit card. This week we have been on leave and I managed to resist shoving an all inclusive on a card,which I'm proud of. Usually I have the attitude of 'I work hard and deserve it', but as I said above, not our money is it?! We do have a hol booked for my 40th in June which we are paying for monthly via tui. 

Starting to think of Christmas too. I always say we aren't going overboard, the adults in our life have everything they need or will buy whatever they fancy throughout the year. I've asked the kids what they would like and awaiting their response with baited breath! 

Finally, my car is in for its mot tomorrow...ekk. really hope it passes as I don't fancy dipping into our emergency fund. Tax is due also, but it's only 20quid. Insurance due also, along with our dogs pet insurance which has only gone up by 2 quid! I have the money in starling to cover that and a bit of money for mot and insurance for my car too. Il update tomorrow- still need to do a new soa, il get round to it I'm sure. 

kezzygirl

September update: well, my car failed the mot it needed a few suspension rubbers and bits and couldn't be done for a week due to garage capacity, so I ended up using our daughters car as she was on holiday! Total cost for mot £146 plus cost of actual mot test. So, not bad! I had the money saved ready in my starling pot so it's not eaten into our income for this month. 
I have started christmas shopping and getting bargains I have spotted. I'm really not going overboard and have bought sensible gifts for our nieces as they've just moved into their first homes (rugs discounted in argos: £17.50 and £25) for one niece, which is both her birthday and Xmas present. The other niece I got some reduced items from argos: duvet set, quilt cover, sheet and pillows for just shy of £40, so thats her done for Xmas too! Managed to get mum a trespass gilet, free delivery plus 15% off currently, and her partner a shirt reduced. Boots has their Xmas gifts out and I have bought some bits, all of the above from our Xmas savings pot. Feels so good to be able to have the cash there rather than having to make it up from wages. 
We have booked another holiday to thailand and paid the £630 deposit using money from our savings. We are going to be saving for the flights rather than putting them on a credit card next Yr. The hol isn't until early 2026 so we've plenty of time. 
Payday is coming soon and next month I am due backpay from the nhs payrise, last year half was taken in tax, ni pension and student loan and I suspect the same will happen this year. We plan to set an amount for the month which I would usually be paid and then pay half off the debt and half into savings.
Il update following next pay day and give a total of what is owed. 
Anyone else find they check the level of debt daily, sometimes 3 times a day? I'm obsessed!

kezzygirl

It's nearly payday. I seem to live for this time of the month, bank is running really low and we've overspent this month. Put a deposit down on a holiday from savings, plus the dog chewed our kitchen floor so we have paid for another one on the credit card, but I paid it straight off with savings. This means we have £1500 in savings now, but the debt hasn't grown apart from £160 comprising some ugg shoes (I was feeling stressed and peed off) and some fuel. I have the pet insurance annual payment due Monday and I have transfered the cash from starling to pay it. I think the things that's have messed us up this month have been £175 for hubby to join a winter fishing syndicate, the floor and the holiday deposit. We also have a possible leak under our shower causing damp and foul smelling drains. We replaced the shower tiles a few mth ago with panels, and the walls were soaked. I should've know then that something was going on in the tiled floor. So we've wasted the money on getting the panels done basically. I've had a plumber round Nd he is quoting to move the shower to a different corner, but our existing shower floor is tiled and has a step. I think the drain under it has failed. Feeling rather stressed and annoyed at these unexpected expenses and for sure we will need to pay for the bathroom via money transfer or loan. Coupled with my removing my gamstop ban and registering again with national lottery, spent £90 this week but won £80. Still a loss. I just hope I win big, especially when feeling stressed about money. Feeling thoroughly defeated at the min. We earn a good wage but every month its spent. Just don't know where I'm going wrong other than spend spend spend.

Aimingforthegoodlife

You have a lot going on and it is normal to feel defeated at times! Allow yourself a bit of time to feel annoyed/upset/frustrated and then focus on your plans. Such a shame about the bathroom, is it worth a second opinion where you can just fix up the current problem? Be careful with removing the gamstop, as much as winning big would be lovely, it is also minimal chances. Budgets need tweaking and adjusting, you are still working on it. I understand paying for holidays, they are very important to me too. Have you worked out how much you need to save for the holiday to be saved for in time? I like to do that, gives me a solid aim!

Hope the problems slow down and you get chance to get back on top!

kezzygirl

Aimingforthegoodlife said:

You have a lot going on and it is normal to feel defeated at times! Allow yourself a bit of time to feel annoyed/upset/frustrated and then focus on your plans. Such a shame about the bathroom, is it worth a second opinion where you can just fix up the current problem? Be careful with removing the gamstop, as much as winning big would be lovely, it is also minimal chances. Budgets need tweaking and adjusting, you are still working on it. I understand paying for holidays, they are very important to me too. Have you worked out how much you need to save for the holiday to be saved for in time? I like to do that, gives me a solid aim!

Hope the problems slow down and you get chance to get back on top!

Thanks for your response, I suspect the plumber is accurate as we have mould around the base of the shower and on the walls just outside of the shower. I'm going to save as much as we can before having the work completed, though the smell is awful from the damp.. we are toying with the idea of getting rid of the corner bath and placing a shower there and gutting the existing shower, which would leave about 1.5metre space for us to put the sink so that it isn't in the way when we open the door. We will also be able to have a bigger radiator as I got a small heated towel rail to fit in the space between the door and my sink unit (I got the unit from ikea-white with bamboo countertop and sink on top-i love it). But um battling with the idea of getting rid of the bath we replaced it immediately on moving in 2 years ago and paid £270 for it plus more for the taps, so the monetary loss will sting if we get rid. But, it would give us more space!! Decisions decisions.

In other news, I'm gutted to say that I was stupid enough to remove the gamstop and reregister with national lottery and virgin games. I've spent £270 on online gambling (more, if I include in store scratchcards) since 12th Sept. I've won probably £100 from those stakes, but again, still a loss. I'm going to add spending limits on both as I sit here and just impulsively think il have a quick game. I've not won over last few days, which kind of feeds into the idea that once I rejoined, they allowed me to win to draw me in. So bloody stupid. I do it out of partial boredom but also greed. 

I have been budgeting for the hol- we go to Rhodes in June for my 40th and this is being paid monthly to tui. We are putting away money for thailand-about £150 a month so we should have sufficient for the flights when it comes to booking them. 

Hubs and I have allocated an allowance each month for ourselves and in a very thoughtful manner he put some aside to pay for an anniversary lunch and flowers for me  

I work for the nhs so will receive backpay next month. I plan to keep my usual wage and then use whatever else as part debt payment, part savings. Or maybe towards the bathroom? I've not worked any overtime this month as my tax will be ridiculous in October so I don't fancy giving the taxman any more money. 

I also go to the top of my pay band from October, so my monthly basic will increase. I have just started the second year of my masters so will try to squeeze in some overtime from October alongside all of that! 

Debtwise we have: 
Barclaycard £8290
Natwest 1. £7820
Natwest 2. £3800
Very £400.
I returned my uggs and I am expecting a refund, which will be refunded to another card with only that as the balance. I saw the light and returned them! (Plus they didn't fit!)

Hope you are all adjusting to this autumnal weather, rather begrudgingly we have the heating on for short bursts but off overnight. Managed to fix with octopus for a year and I'm happy-ish with the unit price. We'll, its cheaper than their fix from September so I've saved some money there. Motorbike passed mot also, so no expense there. 

kezzygirl

Forgot to add, last week I applied for a chase account, which gives me 1.5%cashback. I've added the food allowance for the month -£450- and linked this directly to tesco online to pay for food, making it completely separate from our bank account so less likely to overspend, plus Il be earning a little cashback! Il also be able to see exactly how much we spend. 
I've taken cash out for the doggy groom and for my beauty appointments( £70 total) and put this in the cupboard for when they're due this month.
Finally, just realised that we are so close to being under 20k in debt!! £20,401 owed. Long time til payday 25th October but that'll be the date it goes below 20k- woohoo!

Sarahwithlove

Please put the gam stop back on and find something else to distract you. 

kezzygirl

Sarahwithlove said:

Please put the gam stop back on and find something else to distract you. 

Thanks, you reminded me. Just taken a break from virgin for a month and placed a £10 a week spend limit lon national lottery online (we have been playing lottery too and want to keep this). Had a chat with hubby tonight about the debt and what we owe and when it's due by, his response was 'we can't afford to pay off natwest by March can we?' And he's probably right unless we do some strict budgeting. He did suggest reducing holiday fund until natwest is cleared, which makes sense but I was hoping to save sufficient to pay the flights outright. We plan to book them in march, which is a year before we go. 

kezzygirl

Hi everyone who is reading this. Had a surprise email from barclaycard today, informing me my fixed direct debit amount of £277 will be taken on the 7th! I had forgotten that I set up a dd for a fixed amount (the amount we had been paying off the loan) last month on doing the money transfer. Grrr. So I've withdrawn £277 from holiday savings to pay this. Our daughter is due to make her final debt repayment tomorrow of £500, so I suggested to hubby instead of paying this off of the natwest, we could use some to pay the dd. His response was noooo and for the holiday savings to take the hit. Which I admit to feeling better about. 

Had a nsd yesterday as I was at work, I took some home made sweet and sour chicken out the freezer to take to work but realised I'd left it out for about 8hrs to defrost. Made me paranoid eating it but thankfully I'm not unwell. The other option was to try and make a concoction at work out of my microwave rice, philadelphia and some eggs I'd left there last week. Hubs suggested I just pop to the shop and get something substantial, but I was loathe to pay the money for a ready meal. I work 13hr shifts, so take my three meals for the day, hence the random ingredients I can be left with! Hubby made spaghetti bol last night and froze some for me, so thats another meal for next week. We did a butchers order that was delivered last week- its worked out much more cost effective and of course tastier. We still have meat remaining so I will make that last this next week and then place an order for the week after. Today I returned some draft excluder strips to amazon and got a refund of just under £6. Walked my doggies on the beach (free parking)and picked up some free toddler shoes for our granddaughter. 

This week, the shopping is coming in at £100 but that is with washing pods ( 2 lots at £10 each as tesco have an offer on). My mindset is shifting a bit and I'm focused on paying down rather than thinking its OK, I can balance transfer again. I'm sick of paying such large amounts of money on things we've already bought or spent. I'm even coming to terms with the fact that we will have only 1 holiday next Yr (I know that's a privilege) as we have a big one planned for March 26.

The bathroom is on hold for now as we just can't afford it, though It stinks of damp and the wall is getting a bit worse. Our plumber came back with a quote of just under 5k to install a new shower and enclosure where the bath is currently. This includes gutting the existing shower and switching the sink to the other side of the wall. It doesn't include plastering. Bit pricey in my opinion, given we already have the plumbing there for the shower. Il get some more quotes when the time comes but 5k is a lot imo. 

The pocket money we are giving ourselves is going well. I'm finding I am not counting the pennies constantly in the bank account as its not been touched due to dealing wirh cash. My nails and beauty treatments will come out of this cash and leave me with a bit for other things I may or may not buy!! 

Anyway, thats enough rambling from me. Catch up soon. 
Ps.refund from ugg was paid, mbna balance zero again and I'm asking hubby to close it