Trying to take the stress out of the debt - little steps

Triggles

Oh, my god!!! What a great feeling!! Scary as anything :eek: - but good all the same! :j We've cancelled the direct debits for loans/credit cards, and changed the details for household accounts (phone, life insurance, water rates, and such) to my shiny new bank account with just my name on it. The DMP is just in DH's name, as the debt is just in his name. So finances are now officially separated, and I'm taking care of the household bills out of the new account, and the tax credits and child benefit as well as DH's income are paid into my account by direct deposit. We finally feel like there's a way through this - sooooo much less stress over paying rent and groceries (formula and nappies being the big concern!). And we decided that since the maternity allowance I'm receiving is strictly in my name (and almost done - just has a few months left), we're going to put that money straight into my savings account and use that as our "dire and drastic circumstances emergency fund," not to be touched.

Next is our letters to creditors and token payment. Our printer gave up the ghost today (as did our car - when it rains, you know!!), but we have a Kodak all in one printer and they seem to have a design flaw that the printer head sometimes overheats and then renders the printer useless. We've had it happen before and had to call Kodak and request they replace the printer head, so we'll most likely be doing that tomorrow. As soon as we get that back, the letters will go out. I'm spending the time waiting by putting the letters together and putting them in a file on the computer, then I'll print them all off and mail them with the token payment.

Then a call to cccs to discuss what they feel we need to do at that point.

I'm sitting here with freezing feet - even with thick socks on. We did put the heater on tonight for a bit, just to take the chill off - as baby was quite chilly and you can only bundle them up so much. I'm exploring knitting patterns and plan on trying my hand at knitting some nice slippers, like we had when we were kids.

We were planning on making cheesy potato soup for tea tonight, but it's been a long day, so we had cereals and are having the soup tomorrow instead. No problem. Just a slight adjustment on the menu plan.

Huge list of things to do tomorrow:
- call kodak ref the printer head replacement
- call mechanic and arrange car repair/regular service
- pay council tax
- check bank balance and verify monies in and out
- withdraw spare cash in old account and deposit it in new account
- start list of necessary stock ups for household
- look into o2 cashcards, possibly have one for DH to use

Lemon_Tree

ah you're well in control now, there will be challenges ahead but you have made good progress. Once you know what you're facing you can start to create coping mechanisms and try and plan ahead.
Don't know where my sister got them but she's bought OH some socks which are 2.3togs. My dad wears them as his circulation is terrible because of his health and they seem to help him. they may help your freezing feet (something which i always suffer with)

slm6002

you are definately getting somewhere and if times get tough just remember were all here to listen.
I am knitting slippers for quite a lot of people this xmas. I can give you the pattern that i was given. I have adapted it slightly purely because i dont understand all of the stitch abreviations. will message you tomorrow when i have typed it out if you like

Triggles

slm - that would be great thanks!

lemon tree - never heard of slippers with tog rating! lol I do think the reason we're feeling better is because we feel more in control of our lives, which we haven't in ages.

we've already been making some decisions differently, thinking them through more and being much more spend conscious, so there's progress!

Triggles

Ah, another day. Still waiting to hear from MIL ref the mechanic. It's her mechanic, and he's very trustworthy, so we're waiting for MIL to get home from a visit to call us with mechanic's details, so we can contact him. Sounds convoluted, doesn't it? LOL

DH went into town today, used a set amount of cash to shop for birthday present and Christmas present for me. We set a budget ahead of time, so he wouldn't get carried away and get something too expensive, and he stuck to it, so he was rather pleased with himself. Of course, he's now HIDDEN the presents - so I can't even snoop!!!

I called Kodak today and complained about a faulty printer head that they have already had to replace once. When the person on the phone noted that it was a year ago that the last printer head broke, he said "well a year's use that isn't really bad, is it?" I said "oh, are they disposable? are they only supposed to last a year?" :mad: (especially since we don't print that many things out!) He then admitted that Kodak did some research and has come up with an updated printer head to fix the problem and that they would send one to me. Well, good grief - if he knew this, then OBVIOUSLY there is a flaw with the printer head - why would he hassle me over replacing it?!?!?! Anyway, new updated printer head on the way in the post. Yay! At no expense to us! Then we can print out the letters for the token payments for the DMP.

We've cancelled all the direct debits on the bank account by online banking. We'll see if any companies try to reinstate them. Won't matter, I suppose as our overdraft will be maxed by the end of the week. *sigh* I wonder if it would be a good idea to add to the DMP creditor letters that they no longer have DH's authorisation to set up a direct debit. You'd think that would be sufficient to stop any funny business. At least we'd have it in writing if they tried. I imagine the bank will be closing the account or freezing it soon anyhow.

It's still a relief to know we have rent money and money for council tax and groceries and such available to us without worrying that direct debits for loans and credit cards will snatch it before we can get to it. I think we can deal with the debt situation as long as we know we'll have a roof over our heads and the basic necessities for our little ones covered. That's the most important thing right now.

We've got a few items on ebay selling, just waiting a few more days to see what they sell for. And that money will be added to the emergency fund we're going to build up slowly, so there's no need for any credit in future. I think DH feels a bit like "fish out of water" right now, as the new bank account is in my name only (also in a different bank), as the loans/credit cards are in his name. But he's getting used to it. Once we get the debts sorted into a more manageable level (unfortunately probably years from now), we'll add him to the account again. The overdraft is in both of our names, so I imagine they will come after me at some point for it. I will just have to make small payments towards it, explaining that I am a SAHM and don't have an income and therefore cannot make huge payments.

I'm going to unravel my green sweater tonight - hope it turns out alright with lots of nice wool to use!!

Well, I'm off to sneak into the kitchen and have a piece of pumpkin pie that I made the other day. Yummmmm

slm6002

i have just sent you a message on how to make the slippers.hope it helps

Triggles

Daily tasks all completed:
- council tax paid
- cheesy potato soup made for supper
- kids up, fed, dressed
- washing up done
- bottles washed, sterilised, made up for day
- steriliser fluid replaced
- one load of laundry (with a scary poo explosion all over DS3's sleeper:eek:)
- living room hoovered
- living room picked up (MIL coming over - gotta clean up! )


Car checked. The repairs are going to take a couple days and cost £550!!! :eek: We knew it was going to be ugly, as we suspected it was the water pump (correct) and the head gasket (correct again!). And then, a little extra to get two of the door locks fixed. Thank goodness we have money to cover it, due to making token payments this month! It just means we have less in savings immediately, but we need the car, so it's a necessary expense.

This weekend's grocery shop will need no meat or nappies, as we already have enough to last this next week. So that will be a savings as well. I think I will put the savings aside for any groceries later in November that might run a bit over, just in case.

MIL came over today to visit, and we took the little ones for a nice walk. Stopped and paid council tax (as this payment fell in the middle of our bank account changeover), and picked up a nice loaf of crusty bread to go with our cheesy potato soup for supper. Yummmmm:D Although I did tell DH that from now on, we will be making the crusty bread, instead of buying it. A little more money saving.

I feel like I'm in a laundry - clothes drying everywhere! It's a bit frustrating, but what can you do? Have to hang them somewhere!

Finally picked up all the ingredients for my Christmas cakes. We'll be making 2 of them. We usually do 3, and give 2 away to family, but I think I'm going to make one large cake (for the day), and a couple smaller ones to give as gifts instead. I was going to buy the dried fruit in separate bags, but Sains had one bag that had all the fruit already mixed together which actually worked out cheaper for what I needed, so I bought that instead. I bought the French Sains brandy - a small bottle - not the basics, just one level up from it. Reason for that was that the basics was a larger bottle than what I needed, so why pay £2 more for extra brandy we won't use. (We really only like it in the cake, not to drink)

Our eldest is 25 now, his birthday was yesterday. Hard to believe, really. Such a difference between him and the littlest one of 3 months! Speaking of the little one, he is now in 6months clothing sizes as he has such a long body and such long legs and arms! And our 3yo needs to be registered for school soon! *sigh* I hate the thought of it! He just seems too young!

Well, I'm off to go browse through the Tesco (as my DD gets a discount there) and the Sainsburys (as DH gets a discount there) sales ads for this weekend's grocery shop.

Triggles

Okay, feeling somewhat productive, even though I haven't done all my usual morning things yet.

- kids up, dressed, and fed
- DD doing laundry, so my laundry will have to wait til this evening
- went online to Sains and ordered Christmas presents for DSs and DGCs as all toys are half price right now. I could see stuff going out of stock while I was dithering around looking, so finished quickly and ordered. Between half price and DH's 15% discount, it was a good shop - approx £100 worth of toys for £42 after discount, and since (prior to discount) the cost was over £50, the delivery was free! :j And that's us done with the Christmas shopping for the kids (and most of the adults, TBH)!! I'll have to check my list, but I think we just have a bottle of wine to buy for a friend's (and his partner's) gift, and a scarf (for an elderly family friend), and a few small items for DS1 & his partner. Woohoooo! (hmmmm... is this too easy?? have we missed someone?? )

I need to get cracking on the Christmas cards and get them done and addressed. The ones to the states will need to be sent early, so those are the priority right now.

Alrighty... to do today:
- washing up
- wash, sterilise, and make up bottles for the day
- change steriliser fluid (tonight)
- call Mothercare and find out about our refund for our buggy board that was faulty (if they refuse the refund - which they shouldn't as it was faulty but snotty woman at counter implied we were lying - then demand replacement and will sell on ebay LOL)
- clean dining room, including sweep floor
- plus I'm sure there's more I'm missing

We need to put liners on our thin curtains that are over the sliding glass door in the kitchen - I'm thinking about pinning one of those inexpensive fleece throws from Asda on each curtain - very little cost and it will keep the warmth in more. Just have to get DH to agree - I'm sure he'll think I'm nuts! LOL

MIL brought over her pressure cooker (along with instructions and recipe book, bless her!!) for me to try, as I was waffling about trying to find an inexpensive one, but didn't want to spend the money if I wasn't going to use it or like it. So now I can try it before I decide!! Yay!!

Triggles

Brief notes today.
- mothercare hasn't figured out their problems yet. The buggy board we bought while I was pregnant turned out to be faulty. Of course, we bought it in April or May (when we had money to pay for it) and then didn't use it until the end of September, as during August and part of September after I had the baby, I had some health problems and wasn't able to go out with both children so was unable to use it. Then when we went to use it at end of September, we found out the wheel was faulty and didn't roll, just squeaked, when DS2 was standing on it (and he's a very slight build weight-wise). We took it back to mothercare (with the receipt) and they said that the company "doesn't make faulty products" and that they would have to send it back to their "testers" to see if it was faulty before they would consider a refund. :mad: The manager implied it wasn't a product fault but possibly "accidental damage" and implied that WE had damaged it, stating she thought it was odd that we bought it late spring and returned it in autumn. I asked her if anyone else ever bought stuff WHILE they were pregnant to use AFTER they had the baby........ well, only practically everyone!!! good grief!! so we wait.. and will probably have a fight on our hands.

And the car should be ready tomorrow - hopefully. And we'll be £550 poorer. It took up the remainder of our overdraft, and I'm reasonably certain that's not going to go over well with the bank when we do the DMP, but we HAVE to have a car, so what choice do we have?

Lemon_Tree

hi, i made a pair of curtains out of the supersoft fleece blankets which sit inside the window frame behind the proper curtains and they really help cut out the drafts.