Now that I'm in the process of moving back from Portugal to the U.K. I've got a few large expenditures coming up and I've opted to use a relatively cheap interest 'FREE' credit card transfers to manage my expenditure....
I've had a Barclaycard for years, well over a decade, but I never use it for purchases - I use another Credit Card for purchases and then transfer the debt over to the Barclaycard as they have frequent (most months of the year) transfer deals.
For the last couple of months they've offered a year's interest 'free' for a one off 2.5% charge when you transfer, hence why I say 'free' and as long as one pays off the amount transfered within a year, you don't get stung with their usual nearly 20% interest rate, which would be a disaster.
NB I'm quite good with sticking to the timings anyway, but in fairness to Barclaycard they are also pretty good with this - you get a reminder more than a month in advance of when your interest-free period is going to end and when you pay off any amount it comes off your oldest debt first.
So far example I transfered about £1000 over a few months back for a 2.5% fee, that switches back to their main interest rate in December - and the monthly payments I make until then (you have to keep these up!) come off that amount - it's all broken down on yer statements every month too.
Since then I've transfered over about another £1000 in two lots at the same rate which revert to their main interest rates in May and July 2023 respectively, but as long as I pay off £1000 (well, £1025) by December my total debt remains interest free.
So far I've just been putting the odd spend on the card - flights, the odd food shop, it all just helps as I'm a bit short on liquid funds ATM as not only am I moving but also August/ Sept are my low income months.
I need to re-import my car to the UK too, which is quite cheap, but I also need a UK MOT and I know the brakes need changing, probably the tyres too (just ordinary wear and tear on a car with 40K Miles on the clock) and UK lights fitting and I'll need insurance too - so it'll be at least £1000 all in - and yes, that's going on the card next month too, hopefully there will be a deal in September/ October to facilitate that!
In terms of paying off the debt - I've got the December payment ring-fenced in stables so that's easy and for the payments from May I also have some stables I could use but I'll probably have sold my land by then, so I'll use that to pay off the card.
I've used this system before and it works well, you just have to keep an eye on the pay-off deadlines, make sure you keep up monthly payments, and make sure you know where the funds are coming from to pay off the debt when the interest 'free' deadlines are coming up!
TBH I'd probably think twice if I didn't have some serious capital I know I'm selling, which makes me very relaxed about relying on credit-debt for a year or so.
There are actually quite a few better deals (UK) than Barclays on new cards - but personally I'd rather just stick with the two credit cards I've got.