To slow down on my clearing credit card debt quest?

[Onlyrainbows]

We've got just below £4k in credit card debt. Can't remember how much there was originally but I think it was around £7-8k at the start of this year. The debt is down to my husband overspending over the years and a few months of redundancy last year (my end). We now have a decent joint income and live a fairly comfortable life, however I'm always stressing out that I want to clear them before the 0% ends (one is first of January 2023 and the other one is in a year or so). However, I'm always stressing that they need to be cleared and get a tad annoyed that I never get to "enjoy" my money, because the priority is always to clear the cards.

I would be worried that he is getting the urge to splurge so strongly, just as you’re getting to see light at the end of the tunnel. I would take a long hard look at your individual relationships to money and spending.

That'll be the problem, then. He's ignoring how you feel, or you're not telling him how you feel. That's not a money issue.

He knows how I feel and acknowledges it. But apart from saying sorry for the millionth time I don't see how much else he can help

You own property worth half a million (not a lot?!?!) one of you earns 75k a year and yet you have no disposable income? Is the overseas property generating an income? If not, can you make it generate an income by letting it out?

Something isn't right there though. Are you absolutely sure you're getting the full story from dh? Are you certain he's stopped wasting money? If i were you I'd spend an evening going through your incomings and outgoings, general shopping as well to see exactly where all the money is going, do a budget spreadsheet. Do you have direct debits going out that you forgot about? Streaming services you can cut out? Anything you can cancel, transfer that much as a direct debit onto the credit card.

Against your 500k in property and what you earn alone, £4k really doesn't sound like a lot of debt so with focus it shouldnt take you long to get rid of. The resentment towards your husband, not so much.

What were you saying about mental load? Why is he leaving you feeling you're dealing with that? You said you were practical; 'mental load' isn't a practical issue, it's about each person in a couple feeling that the other is doing their share. He's leaving you feeling that this isn't the case.

'I'm sorry. Keep paying off my debt for me' isn't a very satisfying solution for you, but it really is for him.

He's definitely not keeping/ spending any money. I don't recent the money spent on the family it's more the over paying said credit cards! (This month I was able to save £500 on top, which means it's actually £3.5k or so from next week).

I can see why you are pissed off and resentful and tbh honest I would've bailed after I found all this out from dh. You need personal savings incase this relationship goes tits up. Because he's done it once he'll do it again. Sit down with him and say that he needs to take a second job if need be to help you .

Working extra hours in the end is not really an option, I'd have to take the slack in childcare terms and thanks but no thanks.

Hello

Just dropping in here to say that we’ve got a Q&A live in Money Matters about debt with debt charity Stepchange. No question is too stupid - so don’t hesitate to ask the experts about any aspect of debt or managing money worries.