2009 diary - time to make changes!

Shoe_Gal

Hi everybody

Had quite a good day foodwise, no slip ups so far! Managed 1.5 litres of water and a sunbed too, which are on my list for this week. Still no exercise tho :mad:

Feeling relly down about money today. Had a long and pointless conversation with Capital One, they won't send out a new card. And no joy with Aqua either :rolleyes: Just really fed up with always being skint, just don't seem to be getting anywhere - and nothing to look forward to :sad:
I think I need a major re-think on the way to go but no idea what's best? Part of me thinks open a new bank account, divert my salary then look at a DMP :undecided - I've been trying to sort it on my own now for nearly 18 months and don't seem to have got anywhere! :wall::wall:Would just be nice to have a bit of cash sometimes - and have a bit of a life :rolleyes:

Only other options I can think of are much better paid job - unlikely in the current climate or moving somewhere cheaper. Could possibly find somewhere cheaper nearer to work - but apart from being worried about any potential credit check I would be moving away from my friends and family :think:

My head is spnning, don't know what to do :eek:

Hollyberry

Right - first things first.

1. Read your signature. Rinse. Repeat.

Now, that clarifies that you have definitely got somewhere. I can appreciate that it must seem a long hard journey with very little reward, but you are definitely making progress.

I always struggle with making well-meaning suggestions because I never know what someone may already have considered and rejected. But you can always tell me to slink away like the green ribbiting frogpaws that I am.

Would you feel happier with a DMP and a bit more certainty and freedom now? Are there any other options that might help you in the short term? Could you do some bar work a couple of nights a week? Have you got room for a lodger? None of this would be great longer term, but six months might give you a real financial boost in return for a short term slog. I'm sure you must have considered all this, but it may spark off some more ideas as to what could work for you.

Sorry to hear you so down, but pleased that you are thinking of all kinds of options to see what will work for you. Brainstorming services are available here if needed...

Shoe_Gal

Hollyberry wrote: »

Right - first things first.

1. Read your signature. Rinse. Repeat.

Now, that clarifies that you have definitely got somewhere. I can appreciate that it must seem a long hard journey with very little reward, but you are definitely making progress.

I always struggle with making well-meaning suggestions because I never know what someone may already have considered and rejected. But you can always tell me to slink away like the green ribbiting frogpaws that I am.

Would you feel happier with a DMP and a bit more certainty and freedom now? Are there any other options that might help you in the short term? Could you do some bar work a couple of nights a week? Have you got room for a lodger? None of this would be great longer term, but six months might give you a real financial boost in return for a short term slog. I'm sure you must have considered all this, but it may spark off some more ideas as to what could work for you.

Sorry to hear you so down, but pleased that you are thinking of all kinds of options to see what will work for you. Brainstorming services are available here if needed...

Thanks Hollyberry for a lovely post

A lodger is not really possible but maybe a 2nd job - if I could find one! I have an hours commute minimum each way to work and often work long hours too so not sure how practical it would be but certainly worth looking

Not really sure about a DMP? I have avoided it so far and have been dealing with creditors including a couple of DCA's directly - it's not really a hassle anymore as everything has settled down but I am still paying interest on lots of my debts - hence the feeling of not really getting anywhere! :mad: My biggest - and least helpful - creditor is Lloyds. I basically live in my Lloyds overdraft and make the minimum payment each month off my credit card. If I put those debts onto a DMP it would reduce my payments considerably but if they don't stop interest, which many threads on here indicate will be the case, I will never pay it off!! :eek:

4 days off at the weekend :j I need to sit down and sort through the options. Maybe if I can make a proper plan I will feel a bit better :rolleyes:

Hollyberry

A four day weekend sounds like the opportunity for a real plan of campaign. I had it in my head that you worked long hours, so I wasn't sure how viable a second job might be. But if you could find something which was reasonably flexible on your days off, it might be feasible. If you have long days and a commute as well, then doing anything on your working days is sounding difficult. There is no point in being sad, worried and totally cream-crackered on top, which will only make the other two even worse.

I have to say that I can really imagine you in a very select shoe shop, extolling the relative virtues of all the goods with total authority...but then maybe a staff discount would be a bad idea.

I hear what you say about the advantages of a DMP in stopping the motor running on the cards. Sounds as though it might be worth putting this in a box labelled "4 day weekend" and settling down with a vat of tea/coffee/water (or a medicinal glass of wine at a suitable hour) to work through the options.

The apprentice shoobeedoos will do their best to be of assistance if required. :cool:

Karen_30

Hi Shoegal,

I hope you don't mind me popping in, been reading the last couple of pages of your diary (will read the rest soon!) and just wanted to wish you luck! I think Hollyberry is right - look at your signature!!

You have made progress, sometimes it's hard though. As for the DMP - i'm on one and thinking of leaving and dealing with the creditors directly as I would prefer the contact, ability to negotiate with creditors/DCA's etc.

Just an idea but could you leave those that you are happy with and haven't bothered you in a while and concentrate on trying to get those that are causing you some problems to accept a lower pay/freeze interest etc? Just an idea. I know there is a thread on the main dfw thread about managing your own dmp so their may be some ideas for you.

The only plus side with dealing as you are now is that you can overpay where by if you are on a strict dmp you can't really as it's suppose to be fairly divded between creditors etc....i'm sure you know all this so will stop waffling on - sorry

I think like Hberry said - use this 4 day weekend to put a plan into action. I'm planning on making a few decisions myself, it's always best to have everything together and a little more time than normal to think about things.

Good luck

P.S - well done on the weightloss so far (from signature!) I'm hoping to start a little bit of weigh loss action myself, ready for summer :T

Lula-Hula

Shoe Gal,

sorry I cant think of anything more constructive than "you are F fabulous & being in debt sucks". You have done so well, as Hollyberry pointed out :A & I know how you feel about considering a DMP but from what I gather the interest is not necessarily frozen. Yes, the interest really sucks so maybe ask for a reduction in the rate ? I keep meaning to do this myself & I also often consider a DMP but then realise that it could take even longer to clear all debts ... so end up carrying on.

Tomorrow is a fresh new day & it may not seem so bleak then, until then hunny bunny have one of these :grouphug:

lula
xx

Shoe_Gal

Hollyberry wrote: »

There is no point in being sad, worried and totally cream-crackered on top, which will only make the other two even worse.

I have to say that I can really imagine you in a very select shoe shop, extolling the relative virtues of all the goods with total authority...but then maybe a staff discount would be a bad idea.

The apprentice shoobeedoos will do their best to be of assistance if required. :cool:

Thanks Holly

The 2nd job option has lts of downsides but might try looking for something I could do from home maybe?

You are definately right about the staff discount in a shoe shop but I love the idea

Thans for the support x

Shoe_Gal

Karen_30 wrote: »

The only plus side with dealing as you are now is that you can overpay where by if you are on a strict dmp you can't really as it's suppose to be fairly divded between creditors etc....

Thanks Karen

I think the control freak in me is probably better doing things myself Really need to decide what to do about Lloyds, they are my biggest creditor - and biggest problem! :mad:

Shoe_Gal

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Shoe Gal,

sorry I cant think of anything more constructive than "you are F fabulous & being in debt sucks". Tomorrow is a fresh new day & it may not seem so bleak then, until then hunny bunny have one of these :grouphug:

lula
xx

Aww Lula, you always say lovely things :A and make me smile

All the lovley people on here have made me feel better already - thank you all :A

Off to bed now with my book - nothing cultured I'm afraid , am defo in the mood for 'trash' lit tonight :rolleyes:

Thanks again everybody

SG x

sarahb123_3

Hi ShoeGal, apprentice shoobeedoo on call:D I think the 4 day planning weekend is a great idea, I have a few ideas but as Hollyberry says, I hope these are not ideas you have already thought of, it's so difficult to know how other people approach things. Anyway,

• definitely open a new account away from Lloyds if you can, then set up a dd, just for a small amount to start with while you tackle cc, to reduce and then clear overdraft.
• have you put up an SOA on the main board, the people there are fab and will have loads of suggestions you may not have thought of.
• part time weekend job, not forever, just to tide you over.
• have you done the payment a day thing? Lots of people on here are doing it, sometimes just £1 a day, it all helps to reduce interest
• ebaying?
• a spending diary?
• taking money out of the cashpoint to last the week and when it's gone its gone.
• remember you are fabulous:D

Hope some of this is useful, sorry if I am repeating anything you have already thought of. xxx