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£32k in 23 months!

Here I go! 

I have been in some form of debt my entire adult life. I’m not in dire straights each month, but I am sick of taking payment holidays when I need some more room, managing interest rates and trying to be smart while all I’m actually doing is moving debt around for what feels like forever. 

I recently started a new job with a £18k salary increase, and I’m focused on using that and paying off my debts by December 2027. 

This will also be before my son starts school, so hopefully by the time he’s 5 we can start enjoying my money - go on holidays more often and save a little on the side so he never has to see us stress about money! 

I’ve just emptied my premium bond account to pay my overdraft, so now I have one credit card with a balance and two (large) loans, one for genuine reasons and the other was to clear a huge credit card balance. 

Posting here to keep myself accountable!

As well as expected (but not banking on) annual bonuses and salary increases - I think it’s doable! 

Credit card first, then Lloyds (higher interest rates) and finally John Lewis. 

Wish me luck!! 

Debt

Minimum monthly payment 

Balance Feb26 

Balance 

CC

£60

£2119

Lloyds Loan

£472

£16,187

John Lewis Loan

£352

£14,080

Comments

  • Rhyddid2026
    Rhyddid2026 Posts: 1,026 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper

    Good luck! And congratulations on the payrise!

    Debts                04/01/25       02/02/26  
    Natwest2           £6,509.97      £5,100 
    NatWest CC      £7,612.74       £6,535
    Lloyds CC          £6,112.60      £4,450
    1st Direct CC     £176.03         £3.53
    CC total             £20,411.34    £16,088.53
    TSB OD             £500              £0
    1st Direct OD     £600             £0
    Car loan             £4,000          £4,000
    1st Direct Loan  £10,684.44    £7,655
    Total                  £36,195.78    £27,743.53
    EF £1,100.13
    HF £101.43
  • Ms_Chocaholic
    Ms_Chocaholic Posts: 13,290 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper

    Wishing you all the luck in the world. Can you potentially transfer the credit card balance to a 0% card, just a thought to save you some interest.

    Thrifty Till 50 Then Spend Till the End
    You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time
  • CMB93
    CMB93 Posts: 29 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper

    Most of the balance is already on 0% , the part that isn’t is so small it won’t be worth it. Hopefully card will be paid off in 3/4 months anyway 😊

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