November.2015.here.we.come

Itsadogslife_2

I know what you mean, my MIL doesn't know the extent of things either. She would be horrified if she knew, and I think that they could probably pay it all off for us but I really think it would tarnish the relationship and the disappointment would be too much. Also pride and such. She knows we have debt, and has already said that we can stop paying £200 at Christmas which is 8/9 months earlier than it should be which will be a good extra chunk per month to put towards things. After having a bit of a whinge and moan to her the other day, she turned round and said that she wanted to stop it now, but I said no - I felt guilty and embarassed as if I had only been talking to her because I wanted something from her, and so I firmly said no, she firmly said yes (she is a stubborn thing) but I managed the upper hand and said that if she made me accept it, I wouldn't be able to confide in her again. Other family members take far too much advantage of their comfortable financial position and I refuse to be one of them.

My mum would also be absolutely horrified if she knew how much we owed but she doesn't really help us out financially. I don't expect her to, or MIL to - but it is a really big help that MIL buys most of DDs clothes, shoes, coats.

Fingers crossed for the new Statement of Affairs

mum2one

It sounds daft but as you say with clothes etc, mum and dad have always got DD's shoes, and they help out with uniform, whereas the other grandparents buy her clothes at xmas /birthday, but while they are nice, there posher clothes, and DD not a dress person, and its hard to say don't buy them, give her some money or something.

She did well today, after there "error" with the photos they sent her £20 to make it up to her, so she brought herself 2 tops from Next, she looked so grown up in them, and I brought a handbag, was £26, but I had a £18 gift card, as I'd had to take a bday present back, so only cost £8, even felt guilty spending that much, but DD was so funny, there was me iffing about it at the till, and she pipes only £30 you paid over £200 at the airport for 2 handbags... (they were bday money as I was 40 in March), so put like that £8 didn't seem to bad.

Hoping the SOA works, make me laugh when I rang earlier in the week to say look you haven't had full payments, yet they didn't want to know... not missed 3 calls and texts to ring them... urgently... they can wait till 2mor! xx

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi if i could just pipe up. My mil and fil and family dont now the extent of our debt either. Mil and fil are fab with ds and always buy him clothes and his school shoes. They do this as thet want to though and always have not because they think we are struggling. I AM VERY LUCKY AND VERY GRATEFUL!X

mum2one

We have some good news, that makes a change comeing from me, I rang some more of creditors, the one was a bit huffy, so I said I have 3 options,
1, go to a fee paying debt management company, who I can offer £200 pm, and they would take apr £50 pm,
2, Go for an IVA or even bankrupt, a I'm on benefits I wouldn't have to offer more than £1 per month
3. Yes there are debts, I've been a perfect payer, hit bad patch I have a soa completed, and whilst your minimum payment is £87, I can offer £27 inline with figures prepared for other creditors at 1/3 of what should be.

the phone goes quiet, then 30 secs later, complete change, oh would you mind if we took your 3rd option, and work with you!!

Whereas the 2nd company I rang, complete opposiate, absolutely bent over backwards from the start, asked what could they do for me, I explained, done soa etc, and spare works out about 1/3rd, and they've accepted 12 months, 1% interest, no charges, and once paid 12 months, if I don't catch up, would normally go to debt agency, but if I can keep to agreement, they suggested £10, but I offered £20, (only fair as I'd estimated £27), and provided 12 months ok, there keep it in house and review new plan. Getting there slowly.


Intend to speak to everyone over the next week, and hopefully as 3 down, the rest agree, and then manage my dmp.

Escaping down to Devon 2mor, DD looking forward to going swimming, very mse as its free, and from the caravan door to the pool 10 yards...

Got my dongle ready as don't like free wi-fi, (leaves you exposed), so £10 for the 2 weeks, unlimted use, then next 2 weeks no wifi - in middle of nowhere, only picks up orange! xx

mum2one

Normally start 1st of month with figures, but am doing mine today, as they say strike whilst the iron is hot, and it also keep me positive... as working through creditors one by one! (wish me luck), after today even more determined to self manage my dmp.

£25,397

But with 2 agreements at 1% apr, I know that the money will actually reduce the debt.

Tomorrow - £31 Open uni

taxi73

you're getting there sorting the plan out hopefully the others will agree

mum2one

another 2 bite the dust... all positive in my favour, got 1 at £10 for 3 months, only a small debt, so plzed with that, and Mr B, will give me a lifetime agreement of £30 pm, no charges, no interest... so getting there, just the loan is the main one to tackle...

Just remembered why I hated monopoly!! DD and I spent 3hrs tonight.... its chucking down, so luckly got my washing in through the caravan window (very dignified!!) and then the heavens opened.

Exiciting ngt 2mor its sooty show!! may give it a miss!!

On posiitive took DD our for dinner to our fav pub down here, and the bloke behind the bar gave us a free childs ticket for loacl zoo, so off there 2mor xx

mum2one

Hard to believe we've been away nearly 2 weeks, the 1st week went really slow, this week just flying by. Mum, dad and Bailey were due down Sat, but decided to surprise us and come down Fri... we weren't here we'd popped to Sainsburys, luckly they know them in the office so let them in with pass key.

Been really mse, and sounds daft but having a better time, guess putting more into the holiday rather than just taking everything for granted.

MSE ways-
Handwashed everything for the 1st week, (where normally done 2 washes + tumble drys (saved £12), since they came down, they've also been handwashing and only done 2 laundry washes...

Been swimming every day (free)

Went to Shaldon Zoo on free childs ticket (saved £5 + got return offer)

Done 2 small shops at Sainsburys (new store 1 mile away), £25 each time, whereas previously gone to Tesco couple times and wasted £50 on nothing.

Had a cook your own pizza from Sainsbury £2.50 (£7 for one from club)

50/50 of cooking main meals in van, whereas before eat main meal out every day.

Take 2 bottles juice out with us.

Spent couple of evening taking DD to 2p machines, £5 for all of us, whereas if we went to club everynight (me, dad, dd even cheap ngt, 2 pints each, £6 bingo between us, and 2 drinks for DD, - £30).

Return ticket for Shaldon Zoo, £1 entry for adult + child, so DD took dad he loved it.

DD played out on playpark, (10 yards from caravan, so been able to keep an eye out on her).

Shopping - we've bargain hunted, only brought what we needed DD had left shorts + tshirts home (hit sale rail £3 for 3 tshirts, 2 prs shorts £3, 5 prs trainer socks 50p, got 3 packs).

Anything we've brought really thought do we need that...

Had to join mobility scheme, yearly membership at £3, but as not local, the bloke extended my membership to end Dec 2012...

Paid dad remainder £31 of prague, so plzed with that.

DD saved her 2ps from her winnings and so far made £15...

We went to the club to watch an outside cabaret, which was brilliant, but whereas we would have pigged out on chips, etc, didn't!!

DD went to see the airshow, (free), but half the planes have been cancelled, hopefully be better for carnival 2mor ngt.

A couple more creditors bite the dust, they've agreed to repayments, just 2 to go, but got to send in income + expenditure, so hopefully be self managed dmp.

Negatives!!

£4 a pint at the club!!

Mum brought the post down... the letter has now gone through the system, and the court date is still on DD's birthday, and she has to be seen by cafcass the day before she goes back to school, (sods law we had the day planned!)

From the cafcass saga DD has started nightmares, shes in with me, and is a fidget, but at least there for her.

Dads exhaust broke, had a patch up job, but needs a new exhaust...

DD nearly set fire to my car... the cig lighter fell out! and she put it on the plastic ledge... so as I'm driving all can see is smoke out corner of my eye, luckly after bout 2 mins managed to pull in and sort it... bless her.

Bar that everything ok, looking forward to the break in the cottage, and got some mse day outs planned, and discount tickets from the tourist info centre.

Bailey getting spolit rotten...

Clotted cream on icecream is lush.... despite all this mse ways still need a treat or 2! xx

taxi73

Sounds like you're having a good time..everything will work out in the end.

Itsadogslife_2

It sounds like you had a lovely time and very MSE :money: