Stop being a Wimp!... DMP Journey

Hi Steve,


I'm so glad that my diary has inspired you and helped you to make the decision to go for a DMP


For many years I was able to manage our credit cards and we had huge credit limits but I always set my own credit limit in my head and didn't go beyond that but circumstances in life make you do desperate things! As my OH's business suffered we piled more on the CC's and the panic that I felt inside each time I withdrew cash was horrible. We had never missed a payment on anything and were able to get pretty much anything that we wanted using credit but reality was that it wasn't our money!


Nearly 4 years on and although it is hard, we are making headway and I can now start to think about what we will do once the debt is repaid. One thing is for sure... I WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CREDIT CARD AGAIN!!!


We live a fairly normal life, no-one knows that we are on a DMP, we budget better, we save for the things we need (we have an emergency fund which, if you can do really helps), we don't live beyond our means and...WE SLEEP WELL!


I wish you the best of luck with your journey, if there is anything that you want to ask, then fire away. I don't have all the answers but I have the experiences and I'm happy to share those with you. For us the DMP was the best route and we are now over half way there.


I also found that putting my feelings down in my diary helped me cope as I was able to vent my feelings, frustrations (see my thoughts on OH lol!) and my innermost fears. I didn't have anyone to confide in and OH is more than useless (he runs away and clams up), this diary and the DFW forum has been my lifeline for advice, tips and friendship. Everyone is in the same boat and we all help each other.


Take care and do pop in from time to time with an update of your progress.


Ellie xx

I have a new job!!! I haven't been happy in my job for a while and decided to have a look around and I have been offered a great role with a company in...London!!!!!!


I am panicking whether it is the right thing to do but I feel that I have to give it a go. I won't always have to be in London, I can work from home (thinking I can save on the £30-£40 per week that I am currently spending on petrol as I can get a cheap off-peak train ticket for far less). I have family in London so can stay with them and it's more money.


Anyway, I have resigned (although they are trying to talk me out of it and I have had a wobble re: all of the above).


Lets hope that I have made the right decision - time will tell xx

Just updating my spreadsheets and checking back to when we started our DMP - I did a comparison on what things were costing us per month (mobiles, sky, insurances etc.) and in the time since we have nearly doubled our DMP payment but are still £265 better off a month!


It just shows that before we must have just accepted anything and never bothered to check if we could get better deals! I'm so glad we have learned to shop around and now budget for things better.


That's cheered me up


Ellie xx

Last working day in my old job, feeling quite emotional at the moment but I feel that I am doing the right, only time will tell.

Finally got some PPI back from MBNA, it's only £200 but originally they said we weren't entitled to anything so every little helps as they say.

Survived my last day in the old job, blubbed everywhere at leaving friends but we'll keep in touch. Received an unexpected leaving present of £50 in gift vouchers and some beautiful flowers, the gift vouchers will come in very handy as I will use them to buy a new outfit for my new job:T

Having a few days off before starting my new job, so catching up with family & friends and having a cheap day out at the seaside...walk along the prom and some fish & chips!

OH has enough work to keep him going for the next few weeks so that's a relief and things are not as tight as usual;)

Ellie xx