Cancel Beneden or Netflix/Audible etc

[Ruralbliss]

Am recently downsized and promoted just before I moved there was a delay of 6 months which had me reaching for my credit card for first time ever then my old trusty car died so I took a personal loan.

I now have an urgent focus to get rid of the debt ASAP then rebuild savings towards emergencies, kids' college funds and THEN start to pay off mortgage.

I'm prepared to do whatever I can to achieve these goals hence applying for the promotional role (net pay increase yet to be known but circa £400 pm but a huge jump in stress/workload/responsibilities) and about to call a house meeting with teens to assess how much misery quitting the streaming services might invoke (I rarely watch but do enjoy my audio books and podcasts whilst doing domestic chores)

I took out Beneden cover some years ago and pay about £40 a month. It has been useful in the past getting fast tracked investigative surgery scheduled.

Is cancelling it wise or stupid? It would take another 6 months of no treatments to rejoin.

My Benenden is around ten pounds per person do you have it for 4 of you? I just pay for me and DH...

Re audible - if you cancel, they normally give you the option of 3 months for £3.99 a month. Sometimes I'll get a load of books in the sale and the cancel for a few months but normally take advantage of this first. Your local library will probably do an audiobook app, but ours doesn't tend to have very good books on it.

I'm thinking about maybe cancelling Benenden as well and then just re-joining and waiting 6 months if needed it.

Probably end up needing it though- I agree it is good. Tricky.

Keep the Beneden for anyone over 40, dump the streaming services (for now). If the teens are that keen they can start dog walking/carwashing/whatever and fund it themselves. But another option for prompt treatment may well save you money in a time of need.

Regarding the debt you could pay it off over a while at low or zero interest perhaps. Don't leave yourself short especially now with the cost of everything rising etc.

Thanks all!

Yes I'm not keen on letting the Beneden go when it's been so useful in the past (for two 18 year olds who both developed different but serious conditions)

I think I'll call a house meeting about the streaming and see if the teens in receipt of benefits feels strongly enough about keeping to spend her cash on it. Might teach her to budget a bit instead of wasting it all on manicures and lip fillers 🙄

I'm not getting the audible time I used to since moving house and no longer doing 3 hour commutes.
I'll make a concerted effort to use on my daily walks and at the weekend doing chores and if I don't then I'll stand it down.

We've already committed to no eating our or takeaways as that was getting ridiculous and also stopped the pricey habit I started in Jan of having nails done with my daughter for a birthday treat, being MUCH more mindful when shopping and not going to shops unless it's Lidl with a list of ingredients needed for weekly meals (and not on an empty stomach).

We've got ten tonnes of unwanted clothes and household goods to sell now we've downshifted so maybe I'll keep the Beneden for now and see how things look in a couple of months.

Try BorrowBox instead of audible, it’s free with library membership.