Drowning!!

Verbatim

Hi again,

How's this for an interesting way to cut down dog expenses. I read recently about a dog share! One household has the dog Monday to Friday and another (in the case I read about )with kids has him for the weekend. The kids love playing in the park with the dog and taking him for walks. In this case the owner paid all the expenses and sent food with the dog for the weekend but there's no reason why these couldn't be shared!!!

snickersgirl

Thanks Verbatim for you comments - I actually work most weekends and my dog goes back to her original owners and they feed her for the weekend (which are slight friends of mine - they had 3 dogs in all and the oldest which is the one which I've got didn't get on with their 2 younger dogs - so I look after her during the week - the upside of this is that they pay any vets bills too). Its taken my a while but she is on complete dog food now which is a lot cheaper than the food which she was used to getting and its better for her.

I'm now nervously waiting for my CCCS appointment this Thursday but hopefully they will be able to help me out.

Batgirl

In the first post you put that you wished you had stared all this before now and your debts wouldn't be so bad. I too felt this way when I began but I now think of it the other way round. I am so grateful to have found this site now because if we hadn't I hate to think where we would have been in 10 yrs time and this is how you should think. You can't change anything you have done in the past and stressing and regreting the past doesn't help anything, but being positive about the future can do so much. look what you have acheived already in a matter of weeks. i now find saivng money a hobbie and if I need a treat I go to the grab it while you can site look at the boots page and get some freebies from boots Fab!

Well good luck on thursday I look forward to hearing how you get on

Batgirl :grouphug:

snickersgirl

Hi everyone,

I'd originally stated in my SOA that my budget for food, petrol & expenses was £335.00 for the month - well so far I've been really cutting down and as at today have only spent £100.00 plus £50.00 bonus which was unexpected.

I've managed to cancel my HSBC Payment Protection which was around £37.00 a month, I've stopped paying my £25.00 pension and have managed to sell £43.95 worth of books within 2 weeks - its all good.

This site is great there is plenty of encouragement and advice being offered and when I feel inclined to spend - I come on and read through the forum. Many thanks.

sanfrancisco

well done. keep at it, you have made real progress.

Smiley_Mum

Take a look Black Saturn's menu planner for inspiration, £12 a week or perhaps a little more depending on where you shop. It's given me loads of ideas and also making soups etc, they will keep you going and cost little to make, just need a bit of veg, some stock and some pulses etc and you have nourishing nosh for a day or two. There is just so much information on MSE when you first arrive on here it's overwhelming as to where to start but as has been mentioned in the posts before me, you will get a lot of help and support on here. Good Luck with everything and remember that you aren't alone, you just need to come on here and there will always be someone around to offer a bit of advice/support etc. Well Done to you for facing up to things, don't beat yourself up about it. The main thing is that you are here now and you'll be knocking your debt down from now on. Good Luck to you. :-)

Black Saturn's menu planner

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=157526

Great ways to cut back

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=47180

Cheapest meals ever

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=130240&highlight=%A31.62

Staying warm during the cold weather

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=96311&highlight=%A31.62

Just a few threads that may help you get started. Good Luck. :-)

BTW, you aren't drowning anymore, you're most definitely treading water and heading for the shore.

aHullKingstonRover

Hi SnickersGirl,

Although it's a slog, you're undoubtedly going to reap the benefit of your actions come the end of the month - then you'll really be able to assess how much money you've saved and also how much additional income you've generated by selling goods and working extra shifts.

What do you intend to do with the spare cash, maybe completely pay-off a store card?

Is your mum still in possession of your bank and credit cards - has she made any presumptions regarding your situation?

snickersgirl

aHullKingstonRover wrote:

Hi SnickersGirl,

What do you intend to do with the spare cash, maybe completely pay-off a store card?

Is your mum still in possession of your bank and credit cards - has she made any presumptions regarding your situation?

Hi, yep any spare cash that I get at the moment is going straight off my debts. It's made easier because if I sell anything through Amazon it goes direct into my bank account and my mam still has all my cards so I don't actually get my sticky little mitts on the cash!! She is asking questions and presumes that I have some sort of debt problem but has no actual idea how bad it is and hopefully I can for a time keep her in the dark about it. She is just happy Im not spending any money and seem to be making an effort to do something about it - which thanks to you all I am :T

snickersgirl

Hi all, im just wondering if anyone has any further advice to offer. I have had my appointment with CCCS and they were very nice - basically I have got two choices go with them on a Debt Management Plan which will probably last for about 10 years or they will put me in touch with an IP who can guide me through a IVA which would take about 5 years. I really don't know which is the best choice for me - I currently have a mortgage with approximatly £10k/£15k equity (which I believe the creditors will want at the end of an IVA) (I really don't want to lose my house) - I understand that for an IVA to go through your creditors have to agree to it - my largest credits are with HSBC with whom I have a lone and then the next one is MBNA's credit card - has anyone got any experience as to whether these two companies would go for an IVA? I really want to get my debt sorted out but really dont know which of the two options to go for for the best - would greatly appreciate any comments or advise.

southernscouser

Hey snickers!

Just wanted to say well done for facing up to your debts! It's a hard slog but you taken the biggest step by waking up to your problems! Everyone is here for you when you need us!

Regarding the PPI on your loan, have a look at this thread. And definately cancel any payment protection you may have on your cards!