DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 6)

Northstar68

In fact, I have finally finished all the 168 pages of the saving pennies thread!!!!! OMG I AM GOING TO PASS OUT!!!
It's taken me about 2 weeks.......a lot of the posts are repeated but the few things I have picked up are :

1. Cutting each kitchen towel in half or quarters in the hope it lasts longer!
2. Squidge up your loo roll which would hopefully then stop any waste.(another thing being wasted in my house)
3. Decant cheaper brand things in pump dispensers so you use less.
4. Decant shampoo/shower gel etc in pump dispensers so you use less.

These things caught my eye, there's loads of other info there if you are into gardening etc.
Hope it helps.

xxx

elsie52

Morning everyone,

I don't post very often these days, but I do read the majority of posts everyday. I have been on a DMP for 21 months....22 on the 3rd December, and as someone on here said, when you have been on a DMP for a while, things get into a routine and I don't feel the need to post so much. Things are going well, and I know I am a sad person,:o but I am so excited that when we pay our next months payment, we will at last be ........wait for it.......under £40k....:T:T...Now I realize that it is still a massive amount, but for us its a milestone to reach. We started out with £74k + :eek::eek:and that was so scary,:eek: but with help from Payplan, and the fact that we are both working (long may it continue) we have paid off £35k. :j

For all you newbies, things do settle down, and no matter how much you owe and how much you pay back each month, the debt will eventually lessen. This site has been a godsend to me,:A because we have kept this totally private. No one knows about our debt except OH and me, and we pride ourselves on the fact that in all this time not one family member or friend has realized. We still do things, go on holiday, treat our grandchildren, buy presents for birthdays and Christmas, and its all because we now BUDGET. God how I wish I had learned to do that years ago. I think I thought I was budgeting, when I still used a credit card, and said I would repay it at the end of the month when we got paid, but never did.!! There was always another month.!!:rolleyes:

So there is light at the end of the tunnel, admittedly ours is a blooming long tunnel, but we are almost half way there, and by this time next year, we will be at around the £21k mark, God willing. So if you are just starting out, keep going guys, it does get easier and you will sleep again, and laugh again, and be debt free, no matter how long it takes. You are definitely not alone on this journey.:wave:

Happy Christmas:xmastree::xmassign:

impetus

Morning Elsie,

Just got up this morning to check the thread and your post has really cheered me up. 4 out of 11 creditors have now accepted my DMP and the first months payments have all gone out so it's early days yet. Your post has certainly made me feel a lot better about what I am doing.....thanks! :T

bailey59

Morning everyone,

Hope you are all ok. Lovely and sunny here today so I am just going to take the dog out for a walk.

Well you will be pleased to know that I havent been made redundant. The partners have decided to give the business 3 months to try and turn it around. If it doesnt work then after 3 months I will be leaving so I am going to be working late for a bit (unpaid) in the hope that I can keep my job.

OH has finished working away so although his income has halved I am really happy to have him home. Now I can show him how to work the monthly budget out, how to check the bank account online etc. He has never had to do this before so now we are going to do it together so he can see where the money is going, what bills we have to pay and how much they are. I think he will be shocked but then at least he will understand when I tell him he can only have 1 pint when he goes to darts:rolleyes:.

4 out of 9 of my recorded delivery letters with the DMP notifications in havent been received which I sent on the 3rd Nov!! The post office say I have to wait 15 working days before the letter is classed as lost so I sent thoses creditors a letter with a copy of the DMP in on friday. I havent had ANY phone calls at all from the ones that have received their letters and I have only received 1 letter so far from one of them just to say try claiming on the PPI and that they will cancel the card for us.

So all in all its very quiet at the moment. I actually enjoy opening the post and answering the phone cos I just want to get this all sortedand the sooner I get the letters and phone calls the sooner I can sort it all out.

My best mate has been really good. She has gone through her cupboards for me and sent me a bag full of goodies for xmas the other day. Smellies and creams etc that she has never used so that I can put them in my hampers for people at xmas. I was amazed by how much stuff I had that I havent used that I can give other people and its not rubbish stuff either. She also keeps inviting me and hubby round to hers for tea so we dont have to cook. My mum also brings me rations round like tuna, pasta, rice and face wipes!! My MIL cooks sunday lunch every week for us and my Dad bless him offers moral support. So all in all I am really glad I have told my family and friends. They are being amazing and now they know I dont have to pretend everything is hunky dory.

As for Xmas I have gone round car boots, church fairs, charity shops etc to try and find things for people for gifts. I havent had any luck at the charity shops yet but I am perservering with that. I have bought my step daughter some cool wellington boots and I am filling them with little gifts like make-up, smellies, socks etc. Step-sons are a bit more tricky, one has just got a flat so he is having a joke type apron, cook book, smellies, vodka & red bull, other one doesnt know what he wants so if he leaves it too late he wont be geting anything :rolleyes: Then family get 5 quid each spent on them, we have done this for a few years now so they are all sorted. Luckily we wont be having a xmas party at work so no need for new clothes, drinking money etc and we are just going to have a nice quiet candles and romantic films sort of xmas. And weather permitting go for long walks with the dog. Perhaps we could budget and get matching knitted jumpers , maybe get the dog one too!!!

So I am feeling like I am quite on top of things at the moment all things considered. For everyone that is feeling the stress try and look at the positives - you are dealing with your debts, you are on the road to being debt free, you are in control (or you will be soon), you have people on here that are here for you night and day no matter what your personal circumstances are xx

blurayaddict

hi all currently going through the debt remedy on cccs website,i have me,partner and child over 18 and 3 children 16 and under living at home. i am thinking of going on a dmp but do not want to include my partner who has debts under 8000 but can afford to pay her own way,so is it ok to not include her on my debt remedy when it asks how many adults over 18 live at home--thanks hope someone can reply

ps-we have no joint debts only mortgage--thanks

saskia1

smcshane wrote: »

Hi Sas,

Just wanted to say, as long as you get your car serviced as it should be then a car should last more than 6 years. I too drive over 50 miles a day for work and have a 12 year old diesel which has nothing wrong with it, just passed MOT with flying colours.

I also had a Honda that was 16 years old and had done 180,000 miles and still nothing wrong with it, unfortunatley the body was starting to rust around the perfect engine. I did sell that to a mechanic who did it up and now takes it to car shows.

All I'm saying just give it a bit of tender loving care it may last longer than you think.;)

Sx

Hey Smcshane & twithead

you are soo right - showed my post to my hubby & he basically went a bit mad saying my car is great - it is serviced every 6 mnths & has also just passed mot with flying colours!!

it's just me - dreaming of owning a merc one day... but i think that day will be a long way ahead!!!!!!!!

hi to everyone else & hope having good w/ends. am in middle of cooking a roast dinner for 6 & needed a break!

sas

ps hello- to all the ''old timers'' great to hear things are ticking along, elsie52 - fab news. well done hun.

Northstar68

elsie52 wrote: »

Morning everyone,

I don't post very often these days, but I do read the majority of posts everyday. I have been on a DMP for 21 months....22 on the 3rd December, and as someone on here said, when you have been on a DMP for a while, things get into a routine and I don't feel the need to post so much. Things are going well, and I know I am a sad person,:o but I am so excited that when we pay our next months payment, we will at last be ........wait for it.......under £40k....:T:T...Now I realize that it is still a massive amount, but for us its a milestone to reach. We started out with £74k + :eek::eek:and that was so scary,:eek: but with help from Payplan, and the fact that we are both working (long may it continue) we have paid off £35k. :j

For all you newbies, things do settle down, and no matter how much you owe and how much you pay back each month, the debt will eventually lessen. This site has been a godsend to me,:A because we have kept this totally private. No one knows about our debt except OH and me, and we pride ourselves on the fact that in all this time not one family member or friend has realized. We still do things, go on holiday, treat our grandchildren, buy presents for birthdays and Christmas, and its all because we now BUDGET. God how I wish I had learned to do that years ago. I think I thought I was budgeting, when I still used a credit card, and said I would repay it at the end of the month when we got paid, but never did.!! There was always another month.!!:rolleyes:

So there is light at the end of the tunnel, admittedly ours is a blooming long tunnel, but we are almost half way there, and by this time next year, we will be at around the £21k mark, God willing. So if you are just starting out, keep going guys, it does get easier and you will sleep again, and laugh again, and be debt free, no matter how long it takes. You are definitely not alone on this journey.:wave:

Happy Christmas:xmastree::xmassign:

Thank you so very much Elsie, your post also helped me a great deal today!
We also are starting out with about 74K, scary stuff, and I am one of these people who want to see results straight away, impatient little soul I am
I am learning that this is a long slow process!
Of all the notification of DMP letters, 11 out of 13 have been received, 2 are still 'missing'. I havent heard anything from those 11 so I guess I should be relieved at that, perhaps they are waiting to hear from the CCCS first. Let's see. I wont have confirmation that our DMP is starting on the 1st until the end of this week at least so it's a bit of a wait again.

I am very much looking forward to seeing that chink of light at the end of the tunnel.
very well done to you Elsie for getting your debt down like that, fantastic, what an achievement!
Thank you so much again for the lovely post. I will reread it many times!
Happy Sunday to you and everyone!

xxxx

Northstar68

bailey59 wrote: »

Morning everyone,

Hope you are all ok. Lovely and sunny here today so I am just going to take the dog out for a walk.

Well you will be pleased to know that I havent been made redundant. The partners have decided to give the business 3 months to try and turn it around. If it doesnt work then after 3 months I will be leaving so I am going to be working late for a bit (unpaid) in the hope that I can keep my job.

OH has finished working away so although his income has halved I am really happy to have him home. Now I can show him how to work the monthly budget out, how to check the bank account online etc. He has never had to do this before so now we are going to do it together so he can see where the money is going, what bills we have to pay and how much they are. I think he will be shocked but then at least he will understand when I tell him he can only have 1 pint when he goes to darts:rolleyes:.

4 out of 9 of my recorded delivery letters with the DMP notifications in havent been received which I sent on the 3rd Nov!! The post office say I have to wait 15 working days before the letter is classed as lost so I sent thoses creditors a letter with a copy of the DMP in on friday. I havent had ANY phone calls at all from the ones that have received their letters and I have only received 1 letter so far from one of them just to say try claiming on the PPI and that they will cancel the card for us.

So all in all its very quiet at the moment. I actually enjoy opening the post and answering the phone cos I just want to get this all sortedand the sooner I get the letters and phone calls the sooner I can sort it all out.

My best mate has been really good. She has gone through her cupboards for me and sent me a bag full of goodies for xmas the other day. Smellies and creams etc that she has never used so that I can put them in my hampers for people at xmas. I was amazed by how much stuff I had that I havent used that I can give other people and its not rubbish stuff either. She also keeps inviting me and hubby round to hers for tea so we dont have to cook. My mum also brings me rations round like tuna, pasta, rice and face wipes!! My MIL cooks sunday lunch every week for us and my Dad bless him offers moral support. So all in all I am really glad I have told my family and friends. They are being amazing and now they know I dont have to pretend everything is hunky dory.

As for Xmas I have gone round car boots, church fairs, charity shops etc to try and find things for people for gifts. I havent had any luck at the charity shops yet but I am perservering with that. I have bought my step daughter some cool wellington boots and I am filling them with little gifts like make-up, smellies, socks etc. Step-sons are a bit more tricky, one has just got a flat so he is having a joke type apron, cook book, smellies, vodka & red bull, other one doesnt know what he wants so if he leaves it too late he wont be geting anything :rolleyes: Then family get 5 quid each spent on them, we have done this for a few years now so they are all sorted. Luckily we wont be having a xmas party at work so no need for new clothes, drinking money etc and we are just going to have a nice quiet candles and romantic films sort of xmas. And weather permitting go for long walks with the dog. Perhaps we could budget and get matching knitted jumpers , maybe get the dog one too!!!

So I am feeling like I am quite on top of things at the moment all things considered. For everyone that is feeling the stress try and look at the positives - you are dealing with your debts, you are on the road to being debt free, you are in control (or you will be soon), you have people on here that are here for you night and day no matter what your personal circumstances are xx

Hi ya Bailey!

Some fab things you got going on there with pressies and such! Great to hear (again that you have a job for a bit longer, just focus on that.
Soooo, 15 WORKING days eh. Mine were sent on the 29th Oct, I think I am just about there then for 15 working days, what a pain in the bum!
My OH cant understand me because I hated the post a few weeks back but now I want to see it because I just want this all sorted!

I think I had better also send another notification letter to those 2 creditors just in case. If I put a first class stamp on it I bet they get it Tuesday!

Still have to wait until the end of the week to hear about my council tax payment. Fingers crossed I can do it all on the phone on Thursday when I am off.

I forgot to say that on that saving pennies thread the other thing that someone posted was that for smaller dishwasher loads try cutting the tablet in half. Some disagreed with that there mind you. Each to their own I say. I had to cut mine this week as I was down to my last one and really cant get any more until they are on offer, so cut it and it worked fine. Back to handwashing now tho for a bit.

Anyway, PPI..........is it ok to go ahead and claim for that now while we are still waiting to hear about our DMP? I will visit the PPI thread later today and start to read that one too. This site is amazing. :A

Have a good Sunday, here's to us getting some results this week eh

xxxx

cazza63

Hello All,
This is my first post on here. I have just sent my letters of to my creditors and hopefully starting my plan with cccs on 1st December. It is all a bit scary, I have been left with £15,000 worth of debts after a relationship breakdown and it is going to take 6 years to become debt free again - still at least I have made a start.
Hope to speak to you all soon

Merecat_2

cazza63 wrote: »

Hello All,
This is my first post on here. I have just sent my letters of to my creditors and hopefully starting my plan with cccs on 1st December. It is all a bit scary, I have been left with £15,000 worth of debts after a relationship breakdown and it is going to take 6 years to become debt free again - still at least I have made a start.
Hope to speak to you all soon

Hi Cazza and welcome to the forum,

Sorry to hear about your relationship breakdown and the mess left behind. But, you have done the right thing by tackling it now instead of ignoring it. You will get loads of good advice on here as we are all in the same boat some of us are just on a short cruise others are on a round of the world trip lol. Well I think I am doing a double round the world!!!. If you need to know anything just ask, someone on here is bound to help you. It can be scary at first but it does go quiet after a while. Good luck xx

Speak soon xx