A determined mum has devised a plan to wipe out £12,000 of credit card debt in just four months, despite her husband’s doubts about its feasibility.
The debt accumulated from house renovations and a holiday – a break they felt was necessary after extensive home improvements and three years without a family getaway.
She explained that by tightening their spending habits, they could allocate around £3,200 each month toward debt repayment. This means making sacrifices, like cutting out coffee shop treats and takeaway meals for a short period.
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The Mumsnet user shared: “My husband and I have £12,000 in credit card debt. It comes from renovating our house and putting a holiday on the cards because we needed a break. Our son hadn’t been away in three years, either.
“So it’s not overspending; we know exactly where the debt came from.
“I want to clear this quickly — within three to four months. We have enough income to pay £3,200 monthly after covering all other bills.
“This plan requires four extremely tight months—no coffees out, no takeaways, nothing extra.
“I’ve budgeted £600 a month for food and essentials like laundry detergent.
“My husband thinks it’s impossible! We’re two adults and one very hungry boy.
“Who’s being unreasonable? Me or him?”
Responses from the community varied but mostly encouraged her plan. One comment pointed out, “Some people live on that kind of budget monthly, and £150 a week for food is quite generous.”
Another noted, “Daily coffees and weekly takeaways are luxuries many don’t budget for. Having around £4,000 left after bills for food and extras is fortunate.”
Other advice highlighted the importance of flexibility: “Aim for three to four months, but if it stretches to five or six, that’s okay. Setbacks happen. Keep occasional treats so you don’t get burnt out.”
Some suggested pacing the repayments with breaks — for instance, going hardcore for two months, relaxing during summer holidays, then resuming debt repayment, aiming to be debt-free by Christmas.
Many echoed the sentiment of doing their best without getting too rigid, focusing on progress rather than perfection.
For those struggling with debt, free confidential advice is available from organizations like National Debtline, reachable at 0808 808 4000.