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

Nintud

Moneywhizz said:

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. 

I need to add the ring security camera and Amazon to the SOA, I think it will all be accounted for then.  It’s definitely very stressful. You’re right about the phantom lodger. He’s an extra mouth to feed, more laundry, electricity and water.  He was here all summer and I was fine with that as he kept NEET company while I was away (longer than planned as my Dad got pneumonia and I had to stay an extra fortnight with him), however, he’s been here almost continually since September and showing no sign of returning to his Nan.  I’m worried he’ll end up homeless, and he’s no trouble when he’s here. I will give him until January and then have a talk about his future living arrangements.  As NEET no longer goes to his Dad alternate weeks and they are both here all the time, my bills are sky high, and I cannot continue to fund them both without some form of financial contribution. I can only stretch the food budget so far!

Nintud

Bluegreen143 said:

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?

It’s not through Apple and I need it for when I’m away. It’s an indoor security camera that I have facing the front door. I use it to keep track of who’s coming in when I’m away. NEET isn’t always as sensible as I’d like him to be, and the camera serves as a reminder not to throw wild parties!  I also use it to check he has walked the dogs and I can use the siren to remind him to take them out if I see them pacing by the front door. It only shows the door, so he’s not under constant surveillance, but it gives me peace of mind.  I just need to write the date the subscription payment is due on my calendar.

Nintud

Purplelady65 said:

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? 

I’ve paid for my January long weekend flight and hotel, the India hotel is 2/3rds paid for and I’m going to use Avión points for at least one of the flights, the hotel is all paid up for my September weekend, but I still need to buy the flight for that trip. I also need to set aside money for emergency flights to my Dad. He gives me the cash back for those, but I pay for them first.  £200 per month should cover it all, but there’s also the money I earn from marking exams. I haven’t included that in my income, it’s around £3k per year and in 2025 it’s purely for travel spending (including payments for my Big trips in 2026 and 2027).

Nintud

Three Vinted sales totalling £11 on Friday, and two on Thursday totalling £22.60. I’m paying £3 per day off the water bill, so may still pay the Vinted money off the Very debt when it reaches my account. Alternatively I will hold onto the Vinted money until the end of the month and see what state my finances are in before overpaying Very.

I've tweaked the Christmas groceries delivery to save a few quid. We’re having chicken with all the Christmas timings, no point paying for a Turkey that no-one really enjoys. The boys have a lot of chocolate from their older siblings, so we don’t need more in the big shop. I’ll bake cakes and cookies for Christmas Eve with ingredients that I already have in stock, so I’ve taken the treats out of the basket. We’ll have sandwiches, pizza and chicken nuggets on Christmas Eve when my grandchildren visit, they won’t miss the expensive supermarket party food.

 I’m on antibiotics, so no Christmas alcohol for me. Alcohol free Buck’s Fizz only!

I haven’t gone crazy on Christmas presents. I didn’t receive any for my birthday and I’m still smarting over it. Everyone is getting what they asked for, but I’ve not topped up with random bits and pieces. Stockings will be filled with needs (socks and toiletries plus a choccie treat or two) rather than silly bits and pieces.  I wasn’t in work to collect my secret Santa gift, so I’m fully prepared to have nothing to open on Christmas Day.  It sounds like a miserable Christmas, but we’ll watch a film with a tub of Heroes, play a board game and enjoy watching presents being opened, video call my Dad, and eat a nice dinner together wearing silly paper crowns and reading awful cracker jokes. The dogs will get an extra long walk and some chicken, so they’ll be happy too.

Moneywhizz

I'm sorry to hear that you haven't received any presents fro your birthday and not expecting any for Christmas. Maybe it is time to only buy presents for the grandchildren and your two sons who live at home with you. Surely, given all that you do for them, they could buy you even a small gift to open on Christmas Day. I would definitely be cutting out gifts to the adult children going forwards!

MFWannabe

Nintud said:

Three Vinted sales totalling £11 on Friday, and two on Thursday totalling £22.60. I’m paying £3 per day off the water bill, so may still pay the Vinted money off the Very debt when it reaches my account. Alternatively I will hold onto the Vinted money until the end of the month and see what state my finances are in before overpaying Very.

I've tweaked the Christmas groceries delivery to save a few quid. We’re having chicken with all the Christmas timings, no point paying for a Turkey that no-one really enjoys. The boys have a lot of chocolate from their older siblings, so we don’t need more in the big shop. I’ll bake cakes and cookies for Christmas Eve with ingredients that I already have in stock, so I’ve taken the treats out of the basket. We’ll have sandwiches, pizza and chicken nuggets on Christmas Eve when my grandchildren visit, they won’t miss the expensive supermarket party food.

 I’m on antibiotics, so no Christmas alcohol for me. Alcohol free Buck’s Fizz only!

I haven’t gone crazy on Christmas presents. I didn’t receive any for my birthday and I’m still smarting over it. Everyone is getting what they asked for, but I’ve not topped up with random bits and pieces. Stockings will be filled with needs (socks and toiletries plus a choccie treat or two) rather than silly bits and pieces.  I wasn’t in work to collect my secret Santa gift, so I’m fully prepared to have nothing to open on Christmas Day.  It sounds like a miserable Christmas, but we’ll watch a film with a tub of Heroes, play a board game and enjoy watching presents being opened, video call my Dad, and eat a nice dinner together wearing silly paper crowns and reading awful cracker jokes. The dogs will get an extra long walk and some chicken, so they’ll be happy too.

Your actual Christmas Day (meal etc) sounds lovely, what Christmas should be about 
I have to agree with Moneywhizz, cut back on who you buy presents for in future x 

biggerpickle

Christmas Day chez Nintud sounds more than enough to me! Mine will be similarly low key, breakfast, few presents for teenmonsters then we're off go family for a late lunch (allowing for travel time) and a couple of days away. Unless you are religious, this time of year really should be about family time and not consumerism.

Nintud

Re the birthday, I was gutted. Six children and not even a birthday card from any of them. I’ve taken my birthday into my own hands and booked trips away 2026 and 2027. I’ll find something for 2025, hopefully someone in the travel group will drop out on my birthday weekend. With booking trips so far in advance there’s usually a drop out or two closer to the time.

i know my grown up children are busy with work and young children, and I don’t make a fuss about missing my birthday, but it definitely hurts.  I couldn’t ignore their birthdays, I’ve reigned in the gifts, but I’m already working on gift hampers for 30th and 40th birthdays, even though they’re years off!

Enough moping!  I have eleven days off work, about 2 hours of work admin (mainly expenses and aligning calendars) and time to add to my Vinted wardrobe and declutter my flat. Very now stands at £451.60. The antibiotics are starting to work. I have two gorgeous dogs curled up next to me on the sofa, and my living room carpet is almost dry enough to put the rug down and Christmas tree up. I have blessings to count, and things to be grateful for. There are billions of people in the world that struggle much more than I do and I will be among a significant amount of other people not adding wrapping paper and cello tape to landfill on the 25th!

stymied

I'm horrified and saddened on your behalf by the lack of even a birthday card especially from the grandchildren 😢

Is the leasehold maintenance payment high enough to be worth challenging or is there a reason for the increase e.g. planned maintenance/ decorating this year?

Humdinger1

@Nintud when the Christmas frenzy has died down, is it worth raising the lack of acknowledgement given to your birthday with the children? I would be so sad.  You could do it in a low key way. Love Humdinger xx