How do you keep on top of your 0% end dates?

vezek

I've got a few cards and I'm finding the hardest part of stoozing isn't the maths, it's remembering when each 0% promo actually ends. They're all on different dates and missing one could get costly.

Right now I'm tracking it in a spreadsheet with a couple of calendar reminders, but it feels fragile. Curious how the more experienced stoozers here do it.

Altior

Spreadsheet yes, and arrange all the payment dates to be the same. Review the position monthly once the payments have been made. I do obvious stuff on the sheet, like listing the promo end dates and colour coding them eg brightest red is the next one finishing. I'm this way inclined anyway to be fair.

Runner_Duck

Excel spreadsheet that has Conditional formatting which shows up 28 days before the end date

kimwp

I set reminders in my phone calendar two weeks before the due date. Same as when annual insurance, boiler service etc is due. Worked so far.

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078850#Comment_82078850

Same here. Phone reminders but I set them a month in advance. Seems to work well. Had email reminders from various companies so it is remarkably difficult to miss a deadline.

kempiejon

Sure we all use spreadsheets and calendars or reminders. As I pay a fixed amount to each stoozed card I can automate a spreadsheet to update balances and I started the habit of going to my credit cards online servicing more regularly to double check those number. CC statements also give balances and expiry of 0%. It's easy to ignore them until towards end of term and I'm sure it's largely unnecessary but I can double check payments and balances.

WYSPECIAL

I use a spreadsheet and update the balance each month. The cell the month before repayment is due is highlighted so I can't miss it.

zagfles

I just use an old fashioned paper diary! I also maintain records of spending on cards I've got a BT/MT on so that I spend around the minimum payment so as to make full use of the BT/MT. But I'm only currently doing 2 cards so it's not a big deal.

vezek

This is really helpful, thanks all. Sounds like the consensus is spreadsheet + phone reminders.

Nasqueron

I have a spreadsheet that is basically the BT amount, the end date (normally just take the 1st of the month that it must be paid by to ensure it's paid the month before) and then a running sum down but personally I just pay the total/number of months so I pay the balance off before it ends as I am winding it down, occasionally using BT offers e.g. if a big car repair bill!

kempiejon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82082526#Comment_82082526

A while back I used this method, it does reduce the profit potentially but keeps a tight eye on your credit. I think it really depends how much you've got stoozed. At a max I had several multiples of my salary and paying off a twentieth (or whatever the months of the zero term) of that exceeded my wages.

Nowadays I pay a fixed amount, it allows me to build my spreadsheet with a reducing monthly amount and I know exactly how much and when I need to clear - this lets me optimise savings with some of the stoozed money into fixed interest or gilts but some in easy access so I service the debt from the borrowed money.