When you're in a "Debt hole"..Stop Digging!

Chrisblue1962

Near end of calendar month, two weeks to payday and still magaging to stay within budget, which is a major achievement!!!!!

Have to take dog to vets tomorrow as his eye is sore , hope bill will be manageable. If not, pet insurance will kick into action.

Also phoning CCCS to see if they'll let me re-commence DMP as last one lapsed due to circumstances meaning I couldn't pay anything at all. Now OH is back at work, can afford modest amount until Gas / Electricity arrears (circa £800.00 :eek: ) paid off, then DMP can go up to realistic amount, say £120.00 per month.

Chrisblue1962

Well, just about one week to go until payday and erm...its not going too badly

Have managed to stay within budget and may even have a small surplus due to prudent spending and cost-cutting.

Just waiting now for something else to throw a spanner in the works

Chrisblue1962

I set up a second Co-op Bank SmartSaver account this afternoon - apparently you can have as many as you like according to the nice Co-op Bank lady I spoke to - this means I can "ringfence" my CCCS payment when I get paid (15th) and transfer it back into my Cashminder basic account the day before the DD operates (1st following month)

Thanks again DNW :A

Chrisblue1962

2nd Co-operative bank savings account now officially open so that I can "ringfence" my CCCS payment of £61.00 when I get paid and keep it safe until 1st of following month

Chrisblue1962

Well, payday is here and the coming month looks.....(Listen carefully,I will say this only once...)..erm...optimistic

Have done monthly budget and the bills and everything else is covered!

Will just have to "Keep Calm and Carry On", using my Spending Diary (well, it's sheets of A4 paper actually lol ),mu Budget Spreadsheet and my online banking to keep me on the straight and narrow.

Well, cetainly beats losing sleep worrying over money.

Chrisblue1962

Well payday is approaching but should just stay in credit until Friday. Even managed to pay an extra £4.00 off Vanquis CC, not much I know but it all helps

Chrisblue1962

Well Payday has arrived and i am quietly confident for the coming month as all bases are covered with a modest surplus for a night out and being able to put some away in my "Buffer" a/c.

My "Buffer account" is a savings account attached to my current account which will have upto £25.00 in it so that if any of my variable bills - phone / broadband and petrol - exceed my predictions, then they are covered.

I know purists will say I should clear more debt but my DMP is now up and running again and I say that modest savings act as a pragmatic cost-effective solution to "the unexpected" i.e. life .

My next challenge is to pay off Gas and Electricity arrears, circa £800, which should be paid by the end of the year end and then I can increase DMP amount from its current £61.00.

I am pleased I kept within budget so it's steady as we go....

Bye for now fellow DMP'ers :wave:

chevalier

Hi Chris
Nice one on getting back on the DMP wagon. Hope the dogs eye was ok.

I did ask you before what OH profession was that she had such little job security...but I guess you didn't want to share. No worries. But losing your job 4 times in 4 years, I would be thinking about up skilling or something. Even if it was just doing free courses online....like Vision2Learn.

I also noticed that you haven't posted up a SOA

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

There is one at the link above. It might help you focus on your expenses, or help focus your OH if that is still an issue.

Good luck with continueing on. Are you still looking for a second job?

Do either of you do online surveys or mystery shopping. Both can bring in some extra income...
chev

clippy_girl

hi chris, just read your diary and seems like you have had a v tough time, glad to see dmp seems to be working for you.

have you and your partner looked at ways of uping your income? if not i would suggest you look at mystery shopping. is much more flexible than an evening or weekend job as you can choose jobs when convenient. i do it in addition to my full time job and normally do aboutr 10-15 hrs a week. yes its knackering and i begrudge giving up evening/weekends but is worth it as means i can pay debt off quicker. one thing you may find useful is that some companies (esp retail eyes) do lots of high street restaurant visits. you dont get a fee but you get reimbursed up to an amount which usually covers a meal for two. if you dont have any money it is a nice way of going out for a treat with oh

the mystery shopping thread on here is useful- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3076534

Chrisblue1962

Firstly, big Thank You to Chevailier and Clippy Girl for posting - your comments and encourgement are most welcome.

Chevailier - OH has now settled into a job she really likes and is looking to stay there long term. They are also looking to get her formal NEBOSH H & S qualifications, which is great. I haven't posted an SoA as have done two CCCS dmp budgets and everything is pretty much trimmed back as much as possible...hence £61.00 being dmp amount until Gas and Elec arrears paid off.

Clippy Girl - Many Thanks for posting. Will look at thread and give it further thought.