dottyanne's debt diary

doodledo_2

Merlot wrote: »

Morning Dotty,

Repost your SOA, and we will help you, you cannot get going like this, your health will suffer and you need to be fit as a fiddle to tackle these debts.

We are here to help you.

Merlot.x.

Brilliant advice.

I have pm'd you.:D

OberonSH

Nononononono I didn;t mean you weren't taking care of the family - you do a great job love. You're holding it together really well.

Step by step:

Sit down with Mr Dots preferably, and redo budget. Put it in the order house, council tax, basic bills like food etc, debt. If there's only £100 left over to pay them, then split it between them and offer that.

You're doing really well hun, take some time to yourself please! You need to see that you're doing a great job, and that stressing over the whole money thing will only add a hernia to your problems. I bet Mr Apex Man isn't lying awake at night. Is worrying and stressing going to help the situation any? No. so try to calm down. Live the life you have with the family - debts are why we're here, but not the be all and end all. Do you budget, make your offers then forget about it. It's out of your hands then.

Stay strong love, you're really doing great. Well done.

doodledo_2

I think its easy when on here and seeing others overpaying etc to get carried away and join in and before we know it we have paid a lump off a debt but forgotton about having enough money for petrol, food etc.

I think an SOA is the way to go to see exactly what you have spare each month so you know what can be thrown at debt.

Just remember even though you may not be throwing hundreds at your debt you aren't adding to it.

These pass few months have been tight with your holiday payment too so once thats finalised things will be much easier for you.

dottyanne

Hey all - thanks for the advise and support - need to do tax credit renewal then i know exaclty what ive got to budget with, as i was previously advised both me and OH work on basic plus comms and as business has been slow theres not been much commission made.

Fact of it is im overstretching us big time - even once all monthly bills/food are paid ive nowhere near enough to be paying the amounts im paying at the mo - will do a new SOA once i have confirmation of amount of tax credits due and base mine and OH income on the bare minimum we receive each month...then work from this.

dottyanne

morning all - well - back to work again lol - nice chilled weekend for a change...

Had a good old think about all that was said regarding debts and living aswell and also had a good chat with OH regarding this and ive come to the conclusion (as what Obi said) they cant have what i aint got!

Basically once i know how much or how little tax credits we will be on im going to do a full budget with proper provisions for day to day ie shopping, petrol etc - everything and all prioroty debts etc then whatevers left im going to send a copy of new budget/SOA to them and try to arrange repayments based on whats left...another thing we discussed was that as were paid on commission aswell as basic is that if we budget off the minimum we bring home and both have a good month commission wise we should bank that in savings enabling us to save and make full and final offers etc or pay chunks off the debts to clear sooner rather than later but still being able to live in the meantime.

Also..we have a sort of 10/12 year plan to pay off mortgage etc..well this is the timescale we want to work towards - obv do an acheiveable budget and live within our means, then once all debts clear over pay the mortgage - all sounds good in theory but i am determined - feels like a bretah of fresh air now as i see ive been putting undue pressure on myself once again ...

OberonSH

Go Dots! That sounds more like it. You've been pushing yourself too hard - yes it's great to blast the debt, but slow and steady still gets there. Think you're doing great.

How lng left til The Holiday? I'm so envious lol, I want a holiday too!!! Well, I will be, but not til 2010.....

dottyanne

LOl - thanks Obi - still a long way to go till all settled but im clear about what needs to be done and how to get there so thats all i can do..

About 7 weeks till hols - cant wait - but no savigns yet eeekkk!!

doodledo_2

Evening Dotty looks like I have missed you again.

Pleased to see you a bit more chipper today

Don't even get me started I am going in under 3 weeks and no savings lol

dottyanne

Hi doodle...am up and down to be honest - even tried to contact Payplan on a whim - but i think what im going to do is wait until i get tax credit confirmation and then do a realistic budget and whatever is left offer to all creditors. on good months put some in savings and then offer F 7 F if possible.

This months wages will be pants :-( dont know how were going to get money together for spends and the hols are nearly upon me :-( stress...stress...stress :-(

OberonSH

Setlle down love, there's still a bit of time. Any last minute ebaying you can do? Car boot? Remember, you'll have whatever you've budgeted for food, travel etc while you're away, (on an aside, try and keep a leash on it while you're waiting for the change in circumstances - no point going mad now and finding you're in a worse position)

Don't forget, a holiday needn't be really expensive. Are you going self catering? Where ae you going again? Post up as much info, and this week's challenge will be to give Dots & Doodle ideas for a low spend holiday.

In my own experience, a hotel with an inclusive all you can eat breakfast is a godsend. Fill up there, and make sure a few bananas etc 'fall' into your bag to keep you going through the day. Keep hydrated, as often you're not hungry, just thirsty. I never leave these shores without teabags, so if it's self catering it might be worth packing a few bits to get you going at least - checking what's okay to take first obviously! Don't want customs impounding your pasta bake sauce!