The Diary of a reformed Ostrich! (no more head in the sand!)

petrafyde

I think today is the day to pester petrafyde.

Just had another phonecall which my daughter answered, they then hung up. I don't really know what came over me, but I knew it was a debt company - my daughter is 7yrs old and shouldn't have to answer the phone to hang ups?

Anyway, I rang them back. It was Lowells in connection with Vanquis, so I've made a verbal agreement over the phone to pay them over 16months. Is it a good thing? I feel good because I know they won't be pestering us the way they were doing - but frightened also because if something were to happen and I missed one payment, they'd be on my back again. Its soooo distressing having this worry, I can't wait until its gone!!

eBay is looking quite promising. I've sold one of my Portland Vases so thats an extra few bob towards paying my inner demons from hell off.

My mind is a tangle of muddy weeds today.. so totally befuddled at whats happened! Its been so long since I faced upto things properly I've ended up reeling!

OK end of ramble...thanks for listening as usual

fizz190

Hiya, me again!

Just to say - it's great that you're dealing with these things as they come at the moment, but don't feel you are necessary tied into anything just yet.

When you figure out your proper financial plan and work out how many people you need to pay, you will apportion payments to all these companies according to what you owe them. Don't worry about the promises you are making now - I made several arrangements (and broke them all!) with companies before I made my official, pro rated, offers. They all accepted them despite all my chopping and changing.

Think of what you are doing now as just sticking a plaster on it until you can undertake the real treatment!

Keep it up
Fizz

petrafyde

Hey Fizz,

I like the plaster-sticking-on idea

I'm thinking about trying to pay off a debt every other month through using eBay and Amazon just selling stuff I have hoarded over the years? Just to reduce things like the most recent debts to allow me to concentrate on the older ones. I know they say to pay off the biggest first, but £769.56 is achievable whereas £8000 isn't lol.

Plus the guy on the phone did say that it would be marked as satisfied when paid and I feel strongly this would go a long way to reassuring and encouraging myself?

God, a psychiatrist would have a field day with me!!

fizz190

I think it's fantastic to try and earn more to pay things off ASAP, but what you don't want happening is a bad month to scupper all your plans!

I would do a proper plan based on the money you have regularly coming in (even if it's tiny) and make offers to everyone based on this. That way you have everyone on side. Then you can use any additional money to pay things off when you can (it's up to you to decide how to do this - if you need the psychological boost of doing it a certain way - go for it!)

Don't worry about how small the payment offers might be - I've been paying £6 a month on one of mine for a couple of years and they're happy enough with it!

You work it all out pro rata, so if you owe 1 company 3% of your total debt, you offer them 3% of the amount you have available to pay.

Does that make sense? As I said earlier, there are factsheets on NDL that explain it in more detail.

The sooner you do this, the sooner you can relax and just pay extra as and when you can

Hope that hasn't befuddled you further!!

Fizz

ClaireN75

Hi PF, I've just read through the whole of your thread, and the change in your "tone of voice" in just a few days is as amazing as your resolve and strength to solve your problems.

I'm really rooting for you, good luck

petrafyde

Hey Fizz,

No, not at all it makes perfect sense and I'll come back and refer to it when its time to pay things.

Thanks

petrafyde

Thanks Claire! The support I'm getting here is fantastic. Just wish I'd woken up a long time ago - would've saved so much heartache.

Naomim

Hi hun,

How's it going today? You are still doing well and Fizz makes great sense. I can see where you're coming from about clearing a small debt over a large one, and sometimes for some people this is better. You feel like you've got something out of the way. I managed to do it this month with my Barclaycard.

On another note.. what's easier not to buy, chocolate or make-up? I couldn't manage without a bit of choccy until Christmas :rotfl:

Naomi x

petrafyde

I'm tired out Naomi..

Couldn't sleep so logged on here - look at my sig!!

Some git has either reported it, or decided to remove it in a fit of pique. Goodness knows how many people struggle to find that http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html I only put it in to help others So I've lost all of my info on the challenge threads etc.

Really annoyed actually. Didn't receive a PM or anything!

Naomim

Oh poor you. I use my sig to keep track as well. I could understand removing your link if it was a website shouting "here's my own personal website, come and buy things from it" but this was one that was there to help others and is posted on the DFW board hundreds of times a day

Maybe you should have a day of rest from the DFW task? You have been getting stronger and stronger over the past couple of weeks and sometimes we need to stop for a breather. Just check on your ebay and amazon today and make sure anything you said you will pay today you do and then that's it. Sit down with a nice :coffee: put your feet up (if possible with a 3 year old) and watch some tv (even if it is Peppa Pig):rotfl:

Naomi x