Paying off £37065 unsecured debt by July 2027 while continuing to travel this amazing world

backinbusiness

Hello - jumping on the bandwagon here to say it seems like the other party is trying to capitalise on the situation. I too would; insist on seeing the quotes; tell them you'll have to go through insurance after all (bluff if need be); arrange for an independent quote of your own and actually counter the accusation that your tiny bump could have caused the damage claimed. What a pain in the run up to Christmas too - but whatever you do - DON'T pay out . . . yet. BiB x 

Moneywhizz

I think that is right. The excess is if you make a claim. However it will probably affect your premiums when you renew.

Nintud

The other driver is happy to wait for the repair until after my January pay day. I have asked a friend for the details of a body shop he uses and will ask her to get a quote from there.

im being hit from every direction for money I haven’t budgeted for. The water board has finally read my water meter. I pay the bill twice a year. The latest bill is £165 more than the estimated bill I paid in June.  I’ve received my leasehold maintenance invoice for 2025. That is £290 more than 2024.  My ring camera annual subscription has been collected (I’d forgotten about it), so my bank account is down £49.99 that I hadn’t budgeted for.  In total I’ve had non DD bills of £2600 thrown at me in the past week.

I’ll chip away at the water bill with Vinted sales (Very over payment will have to wait). I’ve paid £96 of the £391 bill since I got it yesterday.

The ring camera bill will result in grocery cut backs, no Christmas stockings for teenagers (or juggling a few sweet treats for them), and petrol savings made over Christmas break.

The leasehold fee will have to start on monthly DD from January and the increase will reduce groceries all year. 

The car damage will be paid from my £150 EF plus the £50 budgeted for January EF contribution, the back pay from second job I’m hoping to get next month, work expenses and a carboot sale in the fffffreezing cold.

Another month of scraping by. Any more stress on my finances will be impossible to pay. I need to make it work until November. If needs be, I can access my private pension then. My car will be paid off next December and, provided nothing changes workwise, I’ll have a little breathing space.

vampirotoothus

Hi, phone the water company and ask to go on monthly DD, they should allow you to pay the arrears and towards ongoing costs on a monthly basis. Good luck V x

Nintud

vampirotoothus said:

Hi, phone the water company and ask to go on monthly DD, they should allow you to pay the arrears and towards ongoing costs on a monthly basis. Good luck V x

I’ve filled in an online form for a DD and payment plan. Should hear in five working days.

Sarahwithlove

I'd try and get as much as you can only monthly DD. Will your maintenance company not let you pay monthly either? 

Moneywhizz

It sounds like you are struggling a bit with the stress of living to such a tight budget. Would it be worth going through your SOA again and making sure you have everything listed so that there are fewer unbudgeted expenses likely to crop up all at once. Getting as much as you can onto monthly direct debits, and saving monthly for annual bills is really the only way to make sure everything is covered. Then your emergency fund is truly for emergencies (like the car incident) rather than making up known expenses. If you have listed  absolutely everything that comes up regularly then it will give you a more realistic monthly amount left over for other spending. I would look at what is left monthly and budget it too for things like holidays, gifts, pocket money, charities etc. That way you can see what exactly you can afford for these "extras". Living as you are, counting every penny,  especially towards the end of the month is so stressful for anyone. Having a proper budget is the only way to relieve that stress.  Also setting a date for the debt all to be gone could be making you pay more than you can afford to the debt. Your main goal for the debt is not how quickly you can pay it off but how to reduce the amount of interest you are paying, hopefully by being eligible for balance transfers in the future. I realise it is entirely your choice, but is having an extra teenager living with you something that you can realistically afford right now? Wishing you all the best with your choices. 

Bluegreen143

How was your ring camera subscription set up? If it was via Apple you can usually claim it back if you cancel within a day or two and ask for a refund because you didn't know it would renew. Obviously if it was directly through the company that may not work, but maybe worth at least asking?

Purplelady65

Sorry to hear about your unexpected outgoings. Re your SOA you have set aside £200 per month for holidays. Haven’t you got a long haul holiday and some shorter trips planned and booked for 2025? Will £200 a month be sufficient or have you already made some payments for these trips? 

Nintud

Sarahwithlove said:

I'd try and get as much as you can only monthly DD. Will your maintenance company not let you pay monthly either? 

I’m going to pay monthly in 2025.  I usually pay it twice a year, but not at that price!