We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

0% Balance transfer and add to ISA

Options
So, I've got 8k on a credit card at 0%. I could either:

a) pay off the 8k or
b) balance transfer to another card for a 2% fee for 20 months (I think works out at about 1.3% APR) and then use the 8k in an ISA earning ~5%.

My parents would say pay off the debt before saving (and I can hear Martin saying it too), but to me it would seem more logical to earn 5% and pay 1.3%?

Thoughts?

Comments

  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 20,458 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Do you have the funds to carry on paying the min amount till balance is due on 0% card?


    Life in the slow lane
  • Phoenix72
    Phoenix72 Posts: 425 Forumite
    100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 7 August 2024 at 3:30PM
    So, are you saying you have the £8k in cash available to pay off the card just now? Otherwise I'm confused how you are paying £8k into an ISA.
  • Nasqueron
    Nasqueron Posts: 10,688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    If you can BT the whole £8k and have the money to pay the minimum every month + know you will never need the £8k for emergency use, then it makes sense 

    If the 8k might be used for an emergency etc then it's not worth the risk

    Sam Vimes' Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness: 

    People are rich because they spend less money. A poor man buys $10 boots that last a season or two before he's walking in wet shoes and has to buy another pair. A rich man buys $50 boots that are made better and give him 10 years of dry feet. The poor man has spent $100 over those 10 years and still has wet feet.

Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.