Martin Lewis has shared a brilliant way people can clear their credit card debts if they are struggling to get on top of their outgoings and the amounts they need to pay back each month – by sticking a bowl of water in the fridge.
The money saving expert, speaking on the ITV1 and ITVX Martin Lewis Money Show Live, set out key advice on credit cards and debts including how to make balance transfers to 0 percent interest cards in order to buy breathing room to get debt-free.
But it was one very unusual piece of advice which caught people’s attention – and all you need is a fridge freezer, a bowl of water and your chosen credit card.
Martin urged his ITV1 and ITVX viewers to get a 0 percent credit card and transfer any outstanding debt to it using a balance transfer, and then focus on clearing the debt during the free interest period.
He warned that the average 0 percent period has come down in duration from 24 months to much shorter durations, but that they can still be a very useful tool to manage your debts.
First, he told his audience to try an eligibility calculator, which won’t affect your credit score, to see if you might be eligible for a 0 percent credit card to balance transfer to.
How it works is: the new card pays off your old debts, and then takes on the debt. So if you have two credit cards at 21% with £1,000 on each one, you then ‘balance transfer’ both to the new 0 percent card which will have £2,000 on it.
But the money expert says that once you’ve got the card, there’s more you need to do to make sure you clear the debt.
He urged people to always pay the minimum payment – otherwise you could lose the 0% – and make sure you pay it off in full before the end of the 0% period.
He warned: “Do not spend on these cards, do not withdraw cash on these cards, it’s usually not at the cheap rate.”
Martin said: “If you don’t have self discipline, get your card, get a bowl of water, put your card in the bowl of water, and put the bowl of water in the freezer.
“That way if you want to spend on this card you’re going to need a hammer to get it out of there and it’s a good way of imposing friction upon yourself to stop it.
“Finally, if you don’t transfer at application they’ll normally only give you 30 or 90 days so check how long you’ve got.”
Previously, Martin said that this particular piece of advice is because you absolutely should not spend on a 0 percent card and should focus on clearing debts.
Martin advised his viewers: “Clear your debts in highest interest order first, which for many will be the overdraft.
“Then you take all the spare cash you possibly have and you put it at clearing the highest interest rate debts. You only pay the minimum on the others. Then when the top one goes, you focus on clearing the next highest and so on. It’s called snowballing and it gets rid of your debts more quickly.
“If you have any savings use them to clear the debts. If you have an emergency you can always put it back on the card afterwards, you haven’t lost anything.
“If you’re struggling, tell people you’re in debt, tell people you can’t afford to buy a round. And everyone else, let’s not put pressure on people to spend when they don’t have the cash.”
