To ask how much you owe on credit cards ?

[anxiousmotherof1]

Getting to the end of maternity leave and i just realized i owe quite a bit on credit cards ! Dont think is that much but my husband is of the opposite opinion !
So how much you currently owe ?

Less than £500, but that will be cleared next mth or so. Only because I put Christmas stuff on it because I wanted the guarantee thingy. Been there and done it before. I don't believe in running up cards. I have had increased limits, and am nowhere near them as it woild cause me sleepless nights!

I've never bought on credit - heard too many horror stories! Prefer to save up.

TrickyD

If you want a card with points, best to get one from the place you shop at most, Tesco is good if you shop at Tesco, I have a John Lewis one because I shop at Waitrose, or get one that does air miles if you fly a lot. The reason for this is that you usually accrue twice as many points at the shop of the particular credit card. So go for the one that benefits you the most with the type of shopping you do.

I also have a Halifax clarity card for holidays abroad as there are no charges for using it but I only use it abroad as it give no points

Nothing but I do use one . Have a direct debit set up to pay it off in full each month .

About £1000 (on 0%). Mostly arising from moving expenses. I’m able to pay it off slowly and use the full 0% interest period.

I don’t use it for general shopping or luxuries, it’s there for emergencies or large unavoidable expenses (such as moving!).

I got a credit card about 20 years ago when I was a student and used it once for a train ticket. And didn't pay it off and ended up with a collection agency after me - it was £90 initially and ended up as £250. It scared the shit out of me and I didn't want one ever again.

I got one a couple of months ago to take overseas for a holiday. I spent £185 on it and paid it off as soon as we got home. I hate the idea of debt and save up for things instead.

2/3 of the UK population has unsecured debt
MN posters are not representative of the general population.

For those reading and weeping about their debts,
please read this thread and use the Standing Order Trick on your repayments
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/1987219-SPREADSHEETS-for-Debt-Control-Budgeting-Mortgages-etc

10k but most is 0% and accrued this month (new bathroom) and will be paid off at the end of the month. We bought it all on credit card as it gives additional buyers protection and I get cashback so will actually make money on it. Also having a large debt and paying it off in full quickly helps your credit rating.

Zero

Currently £400 which will be paid off this month (plane tickets - you get more protection booking on a credit than debit card). In the past I have had tens of thousands so feeling quite good about it these days. For those in debt, keep plugging away, it can be done.

Just moved to 0% haven't used it for a year or more Abs never carry the card.

Used like others for holiday purchases due to protection

Will be paid off in 4 months

Peopel should try getting out the cash they need for the week perhapsd and not even using a debit card if money is particularly tight. it can be easier then to see how much is being used. Also if we all stop using cash it may be abolished which will give people fewer choices.

Iv e never had a credit card or an overdraft!

Having a credit card, used properly can be excellent. Making payments of at least the minimum improves your credit rating - this is checked when you apply for or change mortgage lenders.

Pick the right credit card, use it for all expenditure each month, pay off in full each month and collect air miles. We pay very little for our flights by using the points we earn so we save money on our holidays or visits to family ( my family are in Belgium and DH’s in Canada so we do lots of flights each year).

Zero. I don't have one and nor has dp. I had a couple years ago when I was a student and they took me ages to pay off. It was another expense every month and I ended up paying a lot more because of the interest. After that, I swore I'd never have one again. If I can't afford something, I just don't buy it or I save up. I don't have anything on hp either and no mortgage as we rent.

Nowt.

Don't even have one. Never have.

Thank you lightasthebreeze, I will investigate the Tesco card as we spend a lot there - and Lidl sadly don't do one!

About 5000.00 god knows what I spent it on

Zero I don't have one.

There are so many advantages to using a credit card, I don't understand how people manage without them, and it can make life quite a lot more expensive.

I make/save hundreds of pounds a year from credit cards due to cashback, exploiting interest free offers (currently have £12k on cards interest free that is offset by savings paying 3-5% and much cheaper foreign currency/spending. Very difficult and likely to be more expensive to hire a car without a credit card.

As a PP mentioned, sometimes you have to order different sizes/styles when internet shopping so you order on a credit card and get a refund before the bill is due. If I am buying something like bras or walking shoes, it's a few hundred quid, most of which gets refunded when the unsuitable items are returned.

Also got all our money back including the cost of more expensive flights when Monarch went bust 2 days before our holiday. Travel insurance, even if it covers airline failure, doesn't actually pay out unless you have already made the outward journey.

BarbaraofSevillle You are making the assumption that everyone spends/buys the same things as you.

I'm retired and disabled. I don't book flights, don't need foreign currency, don't need travel insurance, don't have a car, don't hire cars, don't buy clothes/shoes costing hundreds of pounds and the last time I bought anything expensive was when I bought white goods fifteen years ago after retiring and moving house.

I have absolutely no use for a CC and have savings to cover most emergencies which may occur.

i find it's better for me without and just to use the debit card.

430. More than I like, but I'll pay it off.

Nothing. I have an ethical objection to credit cards: they encourage people to live beyond their means and get into debt they can't afford.

I have never had any debt other than student loan (mostly paid off), and a small mortgage (cheaper than rent, so sensible)