Girlfriend in too much debt....

BeautyandtheBeast_3

yes mackrel or sardines!!

Charco_2

Maybe that's a bit harsh MrsTine, maybe it firm but fair/cruel to be kind!

(Thought my last post might have been a bit rambly so here'ssomething else about DMP)
A DMP offers you a chance to get some respite from your creditors while a professional company (and be careful to find a good one - this industry is not regulated so there are many cowboys too) deals with your finances, creditors and phonecalls. It is an INFORMAL arrangement and relies on the co-operation of your creditors which they can refuse. If this is a route you intend to go down, be sure to keep on top of your accounts to make sure that interest and charges are frozen because if they are not you may as well be p!55!ng into the wind! (Pardon me :A). Also because it is an INFORMAL arrangement your creditors or you can change your mind at any time... you creditors may get bored and decide to pursue you again. It depends on the amount of debt and and disposable income whether this is the right solution for you - some people use DMPs just to get the creditors off their backs for a while (statistically speaking DMPs run for 18months before people get bored and revert to bad habits) and a DMP does offer some respite from all the phonecalls and letters however it's up to you whether you see it as a long term solution to your debt problem... it could end up a Loooooooooong term solution!

g_attrill

Gottodothis wrote: »

Iam's is a complete food so cat doesn't need the pouches too?

That's what I thought too - so as well as saving money it would be more healthy for the cats to stick to the dried food only.

BeautyandtheBeast_3

TO OP
My signature is due to a consolidation loan and me not being ruthless with myself - easy to get out of control!!

euronorris

Your gf does seem to have very expensive taste. Has she had her lightbulb moment yet and really accepted that she needs to cut back? It may be difficult to help her if not and I would therefore suggest that perhaps you bring her on here to see the comments and realise how much she is overpaying for things.

Get her to look at finding a replacement tenant and talking to her landlord about this. I used to work in London but live in Kent. My rent was 550 and travel 160. In total, that's still 633 GBP cheaper per month than what she's currently paying.

Even if she was a little bit closer to London than I used to be, she could still easily make a saving of 400-600 GBP per month, and possibly have a bigger place.

With regards to food, I take it she doesn't work at weekends? So, one weekend, sit her down and discuss what she would like to eat over the next month, and then get some recipes. Fairly easy stuff to begin with if she's not a natural. Then, you can help her plan her shopping list, go shopping with her and then help her cook up some batches that she can freeze in individual portions.

The more involved she is in the above, the better. I think she needs to show herself that she can do this, rather than relying on expensive ready meals.

Also, if she's quite into her appearance, you could sell it to her on the basis that home made food will be healthier as she can limit the amount of fat, sugar, salt etc in it.

Oldernotwiser

She obviously must have a decent income but she seems to be structuring her life round this rather than her debts. She could move into shared accommodation for a while and cut enormous amounts off her food bill. Even if she lived on Waitrose ready meals it shouldn't cost her more than £150 per month for food!

lyndasharp

g_attrill wrote: »

That's what I thought too - so as well as saving money it would be more healthy for the cats to stick to the dried food only.

Just to say that's not always possible - my cat is on Iams but will only eat it if there's some wet food included, so gets half a pouch of Felix or Whiskas along with it. She'd been a stray for 2 years, you wouldn't have thought she'd be that fussy! Anyway, her food is probably about £10 a month by buying large bags of Iams, and the local pet shop sells the Felix for less than a supermarket.

I agree about her food budget though, we eat well on £150 a month for two of us, including a bottle of wine a week and a few treats.

digitalphase

I wouldn't feed the cats the cheapy tins of tuna either :eek: Can't be good for them.

Mine are on the complete dry food, the Whiskas pockets or Go Cat equivilant. They are perfectly healthy with a lovely coat shine.

Vets will always try and get you to spend more money when you don't necessarily need to.

learning_to_drive

Not entirely sure on the mobile, iPhone's are expensive (hence it being the top tariff) but she can ring 02 and ask for it to be reduced by £5 per month until it goes to the lowest cost tariff?

This is incremental though, so she can only do £5 per month, down to £40, £35 month after etc.

She would have had the contract 9 months I would have thought?

What is her credit rating like, with a strong income she should have a good chance of getting a 0% or two?

Also, how long has she been with BT for phone? I have had them nearly a year and I can shift it to Sky then, is this something she could do along with removing all her tariffs that they add on?

Basically switch over what you can, energy (via Quidco to get money back) does seem high as well. Are the meters being read or estimated? Is it a budget plan? etc!

BeautyandtheBeast_3

Cats like Heart and Liver which you can get cheaply from the butchers. Simply cu them into tiny pieces - will need to remove the valves etc from the heart and then fry it off - believe me - they LOVE it xx