MissAnnersley I think a small emergency fund (I think mortgage free in three woman calls it 'a baby emergency fund') is really good, psychologically speaking, as it means that if there is a drama you don't need to use credit, which means you are never getting further into debt at any stage. I am intending to hammer everything into the credit card for the last 6 months of this year (i.e. when I return to work after maternity leave) but next year I will start a little £30 a month or so DD into an emergency fund. Better than nothing.
Puffy do you not lose the 0% rate if you spend on the cards? I think that is quite common.
Thebluedog I am completely with you on the frustration. I am fully aware that barring a miracle we are going to be significantly more in debt in 3 months time than we are now (maternity leave for me too, although I'm actually only taking 12 weeks off, and even then will be emailing etc - the joys of self employment!). Is it worth going back to work a week or two earlier to minimise the hit while on SMP?
Bumbolina we are very much of the joint debt opinion - I am probably slightly more of an over-spender than DH, but 90% of our issues are from paying living expenses when income didn't cover them, so it would be hard to make that someone's fault. DH came into the relationship with a lot of debt though, and even that very quickly became joint debt in my mind (we paid all of that off, so at least I know we can do it. Getting in the same state again has made me realise we cannot be trusted with any kind of credit - we just don't have the willpower to use it sensibly).
Themoneyone I am waiting for a couple of hundred quid of freelance work to be paid, will be nice when it drops in. Will just go towards living expenses, but will mean a couple of hundred quid that aren't being spent on CC this month.