Starting my DMP on 1st Feb... Anyone want to join me?

ljm23k

tedsd wrote: »

Aw ljm23k,

wish I'd had school days like that... I have been sending £1.00 and no one has bothered... re the education, I think it will be seen as a priority as you are educating at home, and, when I was looking at my budget with the CCCS they allowed money for music lessons....plus there was money in there for school trips...make sure you budget for everything to do with education...

Thanks, yes, I allowed for school trips too and public transport which I only use once a month for a home ed group.

ljm23k

tedsd wrote: »

ps. I also have money allocated for school dinners/packed lunches have you upped your food budget to cover this, albeit at home? Clothes will wear out quicker if they have no school uniform,... My two started cookery lessons at secondary school and that's £1.00 per week...(for some indescribable blob that comes home in a tin:rotfl:) It all adds up if you doing all this stuff at home... personally I don't think £50 per month is enough but don't know what the official line is...

My husband takes care of all the food/mortgage/car and general bills. My income is child benefit and tax credit only but my responsibilties out of that are the kids educational materials/trips, kids clothing and my own debts. I used to have a thing for mini boden clothing but we have switched to tesco and dunnes (an Irish shop where tshirts are 2.00 and last for ever) so we have saved tons already on clothing. I got my son a spring coat for 8.00 that would have been 30.00+ from boden. I did allow some of my budget for food, though, for days out even though we usually take a picnic which comes out of the household budget. 50.00 is more than enough for the curriculum, maths is about 15.00 per year per child plus teachers manual at 25.00 but you only need the teachers manual once. English is similar and we get most books from the library. Science/geography/history can be covered for free at this age and art and music is covered by our own home ed community. I know it will get more expensive as they get older but we will rebudget then.

ljm23k

tedsd wrote: »

Sounds like you've got it all covered... was only concerned about you not allowing enough on your DMP and then struggling but from what you've said £50 seems to be plenty...I am sure if people are allowed money for music lessons etc, then you would surely be allowed this for education... have you run it by the CCCS? Enjoy your day... how many postal orders do you need? The tills at our post office take ages to churn out just one...

The 50.00 was in my original budget with cccs online, it wasn't queried in the way some things come up as "CCCS recommends you spend between ... and ... on " In need 6 postal orders.

ljm23k

Got to go now, break is well and truely over

candypop

Morning all - having a bit of a wobbler today. Not sure why? Think it is because 2 of my cc's bills have arrived and I need to send token payments. Has anyone sent a cheque or is it all by postal order (I know the post office lady) will she realise what I'm doing? Checked on post office tracker and CCCS received my letter by recorded delivery yesterday. Wonder if it will start 1st April or May?

Professor_Pat_Pending

Have been sending 10% of min payment as a token, but taking on board what has been going on with you guys maybe £1 is the way forward?

candypop

Professor_Pat_Pending wrote: »

Have been sending 10% of min payment as a token, but taking on board what has been going on with you guys maybe £1 is the way forward?

Feel a bit cheeky sending a £1 but that seems to be the norm. Did you send it via postal order.

newbeginning_2

I only sent £1 minimum and I sent mine out as cheques and everything was fine

candypop

newbeginning wrote: »

I only sent £1 minimum and I sent mine out as cheques and everything was fine

Thanks very much for this. I would prefer to send cheques. I'm so glad I have found this forum. It's difficult having such a big problem and not having anyone to talk to about it.

Nanny25k

Hi, New on here, have been scanning through this thread - found a lot of helpful info!! Just started my DMP, first payment went in on 1st March. Phones not rung for 2 days!! Money in my purse and in my new bank account. I should have done this years ago, usual story - consolidated cards then used them again - vicious circle. Plucked up the courage to tell husband after having completed CCCS Debt Remedy. Now on DMP with them, 5 years and 3 months to go!! The rest of the family don't know, they think we have lots, have find an explanation as to why we can't get over to Germany to see daughter, son in law and grandchildren (they've just gone over on a 3 year posting).

I do feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, for weeks now I've had figures going around my head, sleepless nights hubby asking if everthing is okay etc. This feels like the first step to recovery!!

Now to get on with the rest of my holiday - back to work next week!