DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 7

antonic

Due to family reasons I spent it on my own (no problems with that as my dad had explained why I would be on my own about 2 months ago).

So I had a Mexican Sizzler pizza for Xmas dinner (it was lovely !) and my Xmas was alcohol free also :beer::beer:.
My treat to myself was to have a fried breakfast everyday (Sat - Tues) till I go back to work tomorrow - that was gorgeous !:A:A.

My highlight though was speaking to my dad, stepmum, sister & brother on Xmas Day who were spread throughout the UK.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Twit_Head wrote: »

‘Ho, ho, ho’ and season’s greetings to you all! :santa2:

Popping back over from the ‘far side’ to give you an update. It’s a very strange place over there. Can’t get used to the fact there is no direct debit going to CCCS every month

As regular readers may recall, my DMP monthly payment wasn’t huge, and I hadn’t updated on all the most recent rises in gas etc, so I have to say I’ve not been suddenly swamped with more money than I know what to do with! However, I have been able to increase my mortgage repayment slightly, and am about to open an ISA for small but regular savings amounts.

But the biggest thing for me and the greatest gift of all is being debt-free. Although life is still tough with a low income and a tight budget, it’s all paid for up front.
Gone forever is the never-never world of C/C’s etc with huge interest charges slapped on. I know it sounds stupid, but the most meaningful way for me of realising that money has to be paid back, was my DMP ‘car tax’ jar. The only bill not paid by D/D so every month after payday the correct budgeted amount was placed in the jar. If it was a ‘bad’ month I might have to dip in, and take some cash. BUT how difficult it was to replace! With every penny accounted for, that money had to be squeezed out of somewhere else! Lesson learned? - ‘Borrowed’ money is never free – there will be a penalty to pay somewhere. I think that lesson will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Greeting to all those newbies just setting up your DMPs. It’s not an easy or quick way out of debt but IS all about taking control of your finances. It might seem scary, frustrating, bl**dy hard work now, but it’s for the future you want for you and your family.

So finally, I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas, and a prosperous New Year (as in ‘it’s still worth crossing the road to save 3p on a loaf of bread!’ :snow_laug)


‘Twitty’ :rudolf:

Lovely post Twitty, wishing you every success on your new journey.

Happy Christmas everyone

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

maganan wrote: »

hello all,

havn't posted for a while (been feeling too low!) but I been dipping in and out.

Anyway I just wanted to share today's good news, I got home from work to a letter about a PPI claim offering me £2700!!!!! I know I wont actually see the cash but thats 4 1/2 monthly payments off my debt! I still need to ring them as the statement doesn't show anything before 2000 and I'd had the card since 1994 but what a fantastic Christmas present and it lessens to thought of work tomorrow too.

Hope all is going well for everyone, Twit Head your achievement is fantastic well done and enjoy, Jenjen hope your husband gets the job and there's always a way in end


:xmastree: MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your loved ones :xmastree:

Congratulations and quite right too!

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

sickasachip13 wrote: »

Hi-de-hi campers and a very merry christmas.

I don't know about all the other DMPers but I have really enjoyed this chrimbo - we've spent a lot less, cooked a lot more and just enjoyed family time than pre-dmp. We had just started our DMP last year but had a little bit of cash set aside and hadn't really felt the full impact of budgetting, so this is the first proper DMP christmas. Instead of worrying about how much I'd whacked on the cards and what the payments would go up to, everything's in control. Happy days.

By the way, I've also settled our two smallest creditors - OH's Cap One and my Ikea account. Both accepted around 46% of the original debt. I know it's not a huge saving like some people get but these debts were still with original creditors, Cap One had defaulted about seven months ago, Ikea had not defaulted. So we're happy with that. I did the initial negotiation based on some £ that our parents had given us 'for christmas' and then I ran it by CCCS, who were fine with it and so we went ahead.:T

We also asked Argos and Next - both useless, Argos would only knock off £15 and Next completely misunderstood the letter!

Anyhow, onwards and upwards everyone, towards a New Year where we'll all owe less than 2011 :j

That is heart warming and well done on the full and finals!

HHx

Twit_Head

maganan wrote: »

hello all,

havn't posted for a while (been feeling too low!) but I been dipping in and out.


:xmastree: MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your loved ones :xmastree:

Hi to you!
Just wanted to say to you (and others, who may be 'lurking') the title of this thread is the Debt Management Plan Mutual SUPPORT thread.
We all love to hear good news, and advice is invaluable but when you are having a 'black' moment where else can you go???
I know my time here is done, but in the past I've sometimes needed to sound off when it all got too much, and life chose to kick me when I was already down
And on the other foot (!) it's always been a place for a giggle and an escape from 'real life.'
If it gets too much don't suffer in silence.
And I'm really chuffed to hear your latest news!

'Twitty'

Twit_Head

sickasachip13 wrote: »

By the way, I've also settled our two smallest creditors - OH's Cap One and my Ikea account. Both accepted around 46% of the original debt.
Anyhow, onwards and upwards everyone, towards a New Year where we'll all owe less than 2011 :j

Bl**dy h*ell SAAC, CP1 took me for 52%!
As it's the festive season just call me Scrooge
Glad you've got a couple of creditors wriiten out of your DMP.

'Twitty'

secretshopper75

Where did Christmas go? I blinked and it's gone...at least I've no credit card bills to pay next month..woohoo

sickasachip13

Twit_Head wrote: »

Bl**dy h*ell SAAC, CP1 took me for 52%!
As it's the festive season just call me Scrooge
Glad you've got a couple of creditors wriiten out of your DMP.

'Twitty'

Hey Twitty - are you making a special guest appearance?! Lovely to see you petal :beer:
Anyhow, yes, I was happy with 46%:rotfl:

SAAC

Jenjen

Twit_Head wrote: »

Hi
Not going to be able to help much and probably just confuse you more
I can't find the info. now but I thought I'd seen somewhere that if a car is essential to your employment, it may be possible to include finance (but please don't take this as gospel!)
Would it be possible to lease? (You're not actually buying the vehicle)
Or maybe overbudget and use some of the car allowance to save and buy outright?
Think I'm just grasping at straws here! As I'm sure you realise any of these (if possible) will reduce the money going into your DMP.
If you're with CCCS your best option is to ring and get their excellent and expert advice. They wil give you a clear picture of your possible actions.
Wishing him (fingers crossed ) good luck with the job application!

'Twitty'

Thanks for replying. Its still playing on my mind but he has now found out that there may be an option to get a company car instead of the car allowance so we are now thinking that this may be the best option and would also mean we could sell his car giving us a couple of grand cash boost to either clear one of the debts or just give to CCCS to distribute.

Anyway, I need to stop worrying about it for now. He hasn't got the job yet.

ianmak

Standingtall wrote: »

Hi all. Hope you had a lovely day yesterday. I spent the day at my (elderly) parents as my dad had just come out of hospital and so did not want to travel to my house. It was lovely but...

They have a set of bathroom scales (I do not) and...

I am now heavier than I have ever been and my bmi indicates 'overwieight':mad:

So why post this on the DMP thread BECAUSE I WANT TO JOIN A GYM BUT CAN'T BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD IT!!!

Boo hoo:mad:

I know, stop feeling sorry for myself and take the dog out more instead :rotfl::rotfl:

The Gym is the classic post christmas/new year resolution, and tbh it's normally a fad! I lost two stone when I started the dmp, just by cutting down (learning to cook proper!), and getting rid of the car (I commute by train, and walk everywhere in the city).

Try getting a bike perhaps from freegle or freecycle (or one in the sales!), and get out into that lovely countryside!