Deep breath, close eyes and jump in.. Diary of my journey

Cat-astrophe_2

Ok peeps... here goes!

Hello,

I've been around these boards, picking up tips and taking advice. After getting advice from CCCS and people on here, I decided to self-manage a DMP. That was a couple of weeks ago.

I finally got the nerve to post the letters and cheques yesterday. Now I'm panicking :eek:

I have £300 to service the DMP - that was the total I used to service my 2 loans with, never mind the cc payments as well... I am anticipating that not all creditors will be happy with their offers...

I have turned to a DMP as, due to a chronic illness, I have had to reduce my working hours.. and no overtime either!!

I've applied for DLA, but as I can do things (eventually) on my own, then I do not qualify - so no help from any other sources :think:

So basically, I'll be using this diary to keep a track of how things go, and to ask for support when things get tough with the creditors asking me for more money (which I really haven't got).

All of my credit cards are cut up.. and I'm meant to be going to Brighton for 5 days with my sister... £120 for hotel and £45 for parking for the 5 days (this is my half). I managed to raise £106 from eBay and then my car needed 2 tyres to pass the MOT (and the service is this Weds... here's hoping nothing else needs doing).. so the tyres were £99 (from Britannia, with the NHS discount, but wheels needed balancing as well... and this was cheaper than Listers had quoted)... so £7 left towards the holiday!

Looks like I'll be back on eBay!

Also got the paperwork through from text-chat company - just need to get my nerve up to do that and hopefully get more money to throw at the debt!

Am having a particularly painful day today - still in my jim-jams

I'll keep going on here, as it will be a good place to record my journey and I can see how far I've (hopefully) come.

I'll get the first round :beer:

Cat-astrophe_2

Just had a thought - on the DMP, I have a Tesco loan and cc.... will I still be able to get their clubcard points and vouchers? Anyone had any experience of this?
I know it's a bit random, but I average £15 when they send the vouchers, which is a big help towards the weekly shop!
Oh, and does anyone know if/how I can change my name? I just worry that someone might recognise me (no-one knows that I am in this mess)?!?

Cat-astrophe_2

Well I've spent the last 2 days at home - not ventured out once!

Regarding spends I gave my sister £30 yesterday for concert tickets (Bullet For My Valentine in Dec). Nothing else spent.

Today... NSD :j
I've spent the day moving stuff into my 'dressing room' (box room with my clothes and stuff in... loads of toiletries in the drawers, as well as cards and wrapping paper - don't need to buy any of those for a while now).

Anyway, found a couple of things to bung on eBay, as well as some CDs when I've got the inclination to put them all on - I'm trying to raise money for my Brighton holiday spends (21st June) so have motivation there!

Am getting nervous now, as posted DMP letters on Saturday - just waiting for their responses now... I'm off work on Weds (due to my reduced hours) so am hoping to field the calls then!

Have started a spending diary - am recording incomings and outgoings.

Have also sorted the paperwork for the Text chat thing - They say that they do not pressure you into the amount of work you do, so if I find that I don't like doing it, I can always stop. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained

I also have another job in the pipeline, but requires travel to Ireland - need to renew passport, so will raise funds for that as well. However, if I'm not successful with the new job, it's a good form of ID!!

Am now looking at life differently - if the day is rubbish and you can't face anymore, just look for the one positive thing that has happened... Even if it was just seeing a beautiful flower... the world isn't all bad.:whistle:

whatatwit

Hi Djdonz, good luck with your DMP and debt free journey.


I've no idea about the tesco points sorry.

Cat-astrophe_2

Thanks Whatatwit for dropping in and for the luck - think I'll need it! I'll break open the biscuits now I have a visitor _party_

Am just putting the CDs on Ebay now.. fingers crossed for bidders

Moneytroubles_2

Hiya, just wanted to say welcome to the boards and good luck with you debt free journey xxxx

Cat-astrophe_2

Thank you!

I'm working my way through the CDs - not even halfway there yet! Ah well, it should hopefully be worth it in the end... I made £106 last month on eBay.. here's hoping for more of the same. But whatever I get, it's money in my bank, rather than sitting collecting dust.

Right... who's for tea and who's for coffee? (Nescafe and PG Tips are on offer at the mo, so don't mind what you have :rotfl:)

whatatwit

Tea please, milk no sugar
I'll bring the biccies.

Cat-astrophe_2

Oohh.. lovely biccies :T

Sorry I've been away - had migraine yesterday.. think it might have been stress-induced :think:!

Good in a way tho, as haven't spent anything since Sunday (so 2 NSDs)! However, car gone for MOT (which is free - VW gave me an MOT for free card which lasts as long as I keep the car) and service (which I don't pay for today - I pay £10.90 per month which pays for a service a year for the next 2 years now). Just hoping that no work needs doing .

Am going to do a grocery shop today tho, so no NSD for me... but now I have my spending diary, I'll be uber-careful as to what goes in my trolley! BTW - any requests for biccies?

Have listed 14 things on eBay... still have more to go on, although it's ***Free listing on Sunday 6th June*** so might wait til then, so all my listings are free

Still waiting for calls from DMP creditors - scarily quiet! I just want to get it all over and done with, so I know where I stand and don't panic when the phone goes . However, I did put in the DMP letters that I would prefer to communicate by letter or email, as my condition is affected by stress and that the Financial Ombudsman deems it 'unfair' to communicate by telephone when requested not to..... Do you really think that they have heeded this? I can only hope....

Ah well, I have a 'meeting' of sorts on Friday about this possible new job - however, I have to be there for 7.30am to help unload the equipment... I might not sleep the night before :rotfl:..

Right then... I'll go put kettle on :wave:

Cat-astrophe_2

Oh jeezy-creezy!

Just had a phone call from a number I didn't know (01922 420057)....

Turned out (after googling it) that it was Homeserve (I have a policy with them - used it recently for a plumbing emergency).

Phew... was sweating it there

Right.. time for another cuppa and some biscuits (tell 'em Vinnie sent ya) :rotfl:

Cat-astrophe_2

Hello and hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine!

Well, still no peep from creditors on DMP - no calls, letters.. nothing! I know I shouldn't complain, but I don't like ominous silence. I just want to get it all sorted and then I know where I stand and who is getting what each month... Bah!

Ah well, off to eBay to see what's happening to my lovely items for sale