Newbie seeking some advice ...

[Deleted User]

Also, can you get a cheaper mobile phone contract? - there a several SIM only contracts available much less than what you're paying with free minutes and texts.

Jacobs_Crackers

Hi,
it sounds like you are doing really well with your money saving, it's a hard slog though.
Sorry to hear about your OH's work, hope it's okay. It is true though, it always pours & not just rains for me!
When you feel the right day has come to tell your OH, you can back yourself up by showing the dmp & him how hard you have been working at clearing the debt.
I do know what you mean when you say it's your mess & you want to sort it, I'm the same, I certainly don't want anyone to bail me out. Sometimes though, it is so nice to have a human being to talk to & get a response from, not just the computer (although that can be great too). I don't think now I would choose anyone else other my OH (who I hid my debts from for 18 months!) to talk to. (Plus, I think I am lucky in that my OH thinks a problem shared is a problem halved etc., although I didn't realise that when I was doing all my worrying!)
It took me a long time to get here though. I had lots of people trying to tell me what they think I should do. In the end, it got the stage where I was ready to implode! I had so many mixed up thoughts about the debt & everything surrounding it, but had nobody to talk to. Have a read of my thread 'I need all the help I can get right now - update' (sorry haven't mastered the art of posting a link!). I hope it helps a little.
Keep posting on how you're doing, support where possible is always here.
JC.
x

peanutsmuggler

Well, Ive had quite a good first week or so.

Last week I really ran down what was already in the cupboards and in the freezer (which made for some interesting if not exactly tasty combinations!). I went exploring at the weekend to a shopping centre I've never been to before where the shops are Poundland, Home Bargains, Aldi etc. There was also a fab market. What an eye opener! I spent less than £40 and got everything I need for at least a week. I was so pleased to pay only 99p for a shower gel I always use that costs around twice that where I usually buy it just to get advantage card points!!

Ive cancelled all the cards and am preparing for a bumpy ride for a while but am going to perservere.

Tixy

Good progress peanut. I know what you mean about toiletries stuff, the advantage points seem like a good idea but its often more than twice the price of places like Home Bargains.

Keep going!

Lucifer

Hi, well done on taking on ur debts head on. We r very similar. I told my husband last fri about the £23000 + debts I had accrued. It took me nearly 4 yrs to break it to him lol. I must say apart from tears fri night (I actually left him a note telling him how much I loved him, listing all debts and offering him a get out option) it was the best nights sleep for ages. Not the debt as I have been dealing with that since joining here but that he would leave me.