DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 6)

munkiemunkie81

Hi All,

I'm a newbie Sad to say it!
After many foolish years with money and a marriage break up i'm forced to take up a DMP thats going to leave me happier but probably struggling.

Can I ask what amounts people have allowed for entertainment? Its me and my 2.5yr boy. At first i filled out the plan thinking self punishment (blame the hubby for that!) and i dont deserve to have entertainment but now - two weeks into separation and full time care for my boy i'm thinking that was possibly foolish ? or has someone managed it, is it reasonable to allow yourself some oney for fun, i thought not given that its my own stupid fault for continually bailing my husband out of trouble??

I need to change my budget anyway as my £440 childcare bill is now £487 and my darling husband is refusing to help with that too.

I'm hoping to have my DMP started in October just in the middle of trying to sort out a new bank account and get all this months D/D's paid etc before i tell my current bank about the DMP

If you could all also kindly send my husband thoughts of flea infested armpits that would be great!

I'm sure i'll be back pronto when i get my first scary letter!

munkie

pinkpower

Despite receiving a default notice from Egg - after speaking to them last week, they have been phoning non-stop so I will have to talk to them, and hopefully make them go away. I was away at the weekend, and they called at 8am Sat - 'can we speak to PP? - no sh'e away until Tuesday'. They then called at 10am Sat, and 9am and 10am on Sunday - getting the same message each time. Still nothing from any other creditors though, so one out of 9 isn't bad (actually they count as two).
Hi to all the new names - hope the next few weeks go smoothly for you!

Well I decided to be brave and call Egg - I explained that I had spoken to them a week ago, & given my CCCS details etc, but they kept calling me. They agreed they had this info, and would take me off the dial up list. 'Could they help me with anything else'? they asked - well apart from wipe out my debts I thought probably not:) We'll see if the calls stop though!

ianmak

Evening all, two more numbers!

londonfraggle 346
Brussell Sprout 347

scouselad1974

Hi Everyone

I have nothing to report at the moment as my DMP seems to be going well, I have just made my 3rd payment. Receiving no mail or telephone calls does take quite a while to get used to and I have to say I love it. My life has really improved, tbh I don't know how I managed for so long befor my LBM.

This forum is an absolute god send, I have read so many posts from people who are in a much worse situation than me, it really is an eye opener. Good luck to everyone who is trying to tackle their debts.

Ellieseleven

I have been working my way through all the good advice on these threads and I know that I have to do something about our situation but I have a couple of questions and would be grateful for any advice:o

In order to do a DMP what's the minimum amount after the priority debts have been paid? My OH is self employed and at the moment hasn't got any work at all which means that we don't have anything left over but this can change week by week.

Also, if we move our current account to a different bank, do we also have to move our business account (I think that this might be difficult to do)?

scouselad1974

Ellieseleven wrote: »

I have been working my way through all the good advice on these threads and I know that I have to do something about our situation but I have a couple of questions and would be grateful for any advice:o

In order to do a DMP what's the minimum amount after the priority debts have been paid? My OH is self employed and at the moment hasn't got any work at all which means that we don't have anything left over but this can change week by week.

Also, if we move our current account to a different bank, do we also have to move our business account (I think that this might be difficult to do)?

Hi

If you sign up for a DMP with National Debtline you will need a minimum of £100 a month.

If the business account is with the same bank as your current account or a bank that is linked to a creditor of yours, I'm afraid you will have to switch, to prevent the bank from taking cash from your business to pay off your debts.

Ellieseleven

Thanks Scouse Lad, I thought that might be the case... back to the drawing board;)

JillyOJolly

bigmommamuppet wrote: »

Afternoon Peeps,

Needing a bit of advice please... Don't know if I've had my proper LBM moment yet or whether old habits are creeping back in to my life. But basically we’ve had a major set back this morning. DH went to put petrol in the car and his card was refused (we still have a debit card but no O/D facility). We only have a balance of £21.35 therefore his transaction of £39.51 was refused, so had to borrow cash from petty cash at work and go back to the petrol station to pay his dues. V. V. embarrassing, DH not good with this sort of situation at the best of times so he'll be in some mood when he gets home. :rolleyes:

I do have some money coming to us so it’s only a cash flow problem this week. But I was planning to use the extra money for my emergency fund (which is sitting at 0) but yet again I need it to live on. Therefore in theory we’ve overspent again this month (3 in a row). Can’t seem to keep control of the spends and I’m scared that we’ll slipping back into the deep hole of not having enough to live on.

Already have 2 accounts, 1 for bills, 1 for spends, but it’s not making much difference. I keep a spending diary which to be honest doesn’t help me curb the spending either. I have also tried splitting my budget up into chunks i.e. X amount for petrol, food etc. but again I overspend on nearly everything each month.

Main areas of overspending are food (we spend approx £350pm for 4, and entertainment/ going out- haven’t told anyone we’re on a DMP so trying to carry on with life as normal… which I think is the main problem, for example friends want to go out for dinner on Saturday, babysitters, taxis etc, will cost best part of £200:eek::eek::eek: if not more, but stupidly we said yep no probes…..defo have to cancel this..)

Therefore any budgeting advice would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks

Becks

Budgeting is never easy as you never know what lies around the corner. I never had to feed a family of 4 so by all means tell me to wind my neck in :rotfl:or roll it in

I am sure when that money comes in every month or week (however you are paid) you feel like a millionaire after struggling the month before and your brain automatically switches to the here and now of what you need and thats when you overspend and need to target your curbing and at that time you are less likely to be tight with your money. Splitting up your money is a great idea, but you need to consider that the month is a whole 28-31 days long one and you dont want to feel the way you did the month before, but that buzz of having money overrides it. I know, I been there.

I would suggest telling social pals about yout DMP, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You might even find some in the same boat and you can find an alternative, cheaper going out arrangements (instead of going with the flow and panicking you wont have enough) or pooling children with one babysitter and have dinner at a friends where you all bring a dish and the booze is cheaper than if you go out?

Small little thing, but is there a better deal petrol station not so far away that is a more competitive? a fresh fruit and veg farm place where you can shop as they are normally cheaper and instead of buying a whole bag of something at supermarkets and you can get exactly what you need and is better for you? I did find that if I made the effort to shop that way I was more reluctant to want to waste it and the veg piled the plate.

PLease dont be embarressed about having debts, we are all, or have been, there on here and I am sure some really good ideas will come your way.

I wish you well.

JOJ

2spicy

pinkpower wrote: »

Despite receiving a default notice from Egg - after speaking to them last week, they have been phoning non-stop so I will have to talk to them, and hopefully make them go away. I was away at the weekend, and they called at 8am Sat - 'can we speak to PP? - no sh'e away until Tuesday'. They then called at 10am Sat, and 9am and 10am on Sunday - getting the same message each time. Still nothing from any other creditors though, so one out of 9 isn't bad (actually they count as two).
Hi to all the new names - hope the next few weeks go smoothly for you!

Well I decided to be brave and call Egg - I explained that I had spoken to them a week ago, & given my CCCS details etc, but they kept calling me. They agreed they had this info, and would take me off the dial up list. 'Could they help me with anything else'? they asked - well apart from wipe out my debts I thought probably not:) We'll see if the calls stop though!

Chin up .. its not that bad.
We had the endless calls and dispite telling them the same infomation time and time again, it only really stopped when the DMP kicked in or we complained.
Have you had the "can we have an interim payment of £XXX.XX" ?
We used to have them ... telling they could stop the calls for a week fi they could have a payment. We stayed strong and just told them no, try next week....

Good luck were all here for support

newlywed

Hi all.

I'm so happy - I'm finally going to get a default on my First Direct debt - after two and a half years on the DMP!!!

No-one except you guys could understand how the fact that they have messed about, put the interest up from 1% to 6%, tried to get me to sign loan agreements promising to pay it all off in a year, could make this good news!

But finally they say they are issuing a final demand because I didn't sign and return the last loan agreement and from 1 October it will be passed to a Debt Collector!!:T:j:T:j:T :j:T

I did ask them to default it before but they made out they were doing me a HUGE favour by not marking my credit file with any black marks (when I already had two defaults, an "arrangement to pay" and a "DMP" note on there! :rotfl:

That will save me about £30 a month being put onto my debt