Anyone fancy a mutual support partner?

JoJo_Sparkly

Hello Everyone

Sorry I've been a little quiet over the weekend - been away with work. Sounds like we're all sitting twiddling our thumbs at the mo. Who's getting phone calls? I have started getting phone ringing but no one on the other end - (stalker?!) Think it's a computer generated thing but happening on a daily basis so getting a wee bit irritating. Might have nothing to do with this - paranoia setting in!!

I made my first DMP payment yesterday morning so the wheels are in motion. I've been looking at the payments that are being made to ccs and I'm just waiting to hear from CCCS if they are acceptable yet. Like many of you I think I shall be looking at those who seem tpo be sympathetic to my cause to attempt to pay off first. I think I have some saving ideas that mean I can put away another £50 a month which I shall keep in the saving s account to build up as a lump sum payment and try and get a couple of debts paid earlier.

Has anyone been reading the thread about Cumulative Accellerator Margins ? - its under debt to wealth or something similar - I've not heard of it before - just wondered what you all thought.

Anyone made any savings/additional earning this weeked. How did selling on the staff noticeboard go? and has anyone heard back from my referrals to surveys yet - just wanted to know that its working ok.

JOjo

loneranger

Just read a bit about CAM's but can't find out much about it, will be searching threads to find out. Sold four books on ebay this weekend so made some cash there but can't see me getting anything put into savings with christmas coming up so decided to just deal with debt for now and start saving in the new year. Will only have small amounts so where to save, building soc. account or ISA?

I_was_a_fool

Hi everybody!

Still trying to sort out the mess that my bank accounts are in :-)

Weekly budget has been much more successful than monthly, so will stick to that from now on. Have left a little cash aside out of the budget to allow for occasional purchases like washing powder & coffee & such like...

I have decided to come out of the closet a tiny tiny bit, by signing off with my real first name:

Sharon

JoJo_Sparkly

Hi Sharon -lovely to meet you !!! Think you're right about weekly budget - I'm trying to think in terms of that - although for the last 2 weeks I've spent more on groceries because I've got voucher to save £12 if I spend £60 - just too good an offr to pass up - so i'm tying to bulk buy bits (cat food nappies etc) to take me over the £60 and then save on them in later weeks . BUt it does mess up the budgetting !!

Had my first nasty call today - Morgan Stanley man rang me while I was at home working with a collegue - really embarrasing because he kept asking me questions that needed an explanation that I didn't like to give in front of someone else. Asked them to call back later and he was really abrupt - and then said "we are here trying to help you you know" and hung up - Charming!

Oh well, suppose I can expect trouble for the next few weeks till things get sorted .
Jojo

I_was_a_fool

Hi JoJo! Thats not good about the phone call! I have had to make some calls from work that have been pretty excruciating, its like trying to talk in code lol!

I have a feeling some of my workmates suspect! They were all going for lunch last week & I said no thanks & my boss said "I will pay for you" Arg...

Amazingly enough some of my creditors seem to have agreed to the offers with no contact with me at all (capital one & halifax). I only know this from my cc statements which state the offered amount as the minimum payment & no interest or fees being added.

Sharon

JoJo_Sparkly

Hey that's good - Hope Capital One do same for me - Just want it all sorted now.

I'm really in awkward position at work cos I'm the boss and it feels like there's an expectation on me to be seen to have money. I'm dreading Christmas bit - cos we all buy pressies and I'll be expected to be very generous - which in the past I always have. Really don't want to let them know that I'm struggling but its so tricky. Told them that new baby was really causing me financial difficulties and got a couple of "well you can afford it" type answers!


Jojo

I_was_a_fool

Hmmm tricky, you can always tell them or (email them) that you are giving a donation to charity instead and encourage them to do the same.

I emailed everyone & said I wasnt giving any cards this year (everyone gives everyone else a card & theres about 100 of us in the dept) & would donate to charity instead. I WILL donate too, but only what I can afford. My secret santa gift will be a bottle of wine (I still have several bottles left from the old non frugal days)

Theres a thought, you could suggest (or organise) a secret santa so each person only has to get 1 pressie.

Sharon

JoJo_Sparkly

We do Secret santa but then also get "friends" a separate pressie and then I need to buy for Secretary, cleaner and Office assistant - they will all get m something. I work in a school - yep am Headteacher (so really should know better!) I send all the children a Chrisse card too - luckily I bulk buy them in January so I have the 300 needed for that.


Got a friend who designs jewellery so I'm hoping I might be able to pick up few bits and pieces cheap from her.

I_was_a_fool

Lol, I guess people from every walk of life can get into this situation. OH is a manager & I work in IT. We both have good salaries & started off being really careful with money. As we got more comfortable, we got more careless. Then we were hit by illness & started to struggle. Instead of seeing the light then, we consolidated our debts and carried on as before! Only now can I look back & go "what was I thinking!". Trouble is everyone I know is living the way we used to & there is endless pressure to pay for stuff. One of the most consistent areas where I am asked for money is...........the kid's schools :rotfl:

I live in a fairly well off area and hardly a day goes by without the school looking for money. Cake & candy day, carol concert, panto, school disco, charity donations, pta, school trips, the school calendar (£7!!) and so on.

On the plus side, in many ways what has happened has been good for my kids. They were too blase about money, probably a bit spoiled. Now they are checking prices on stuff, saving their (much reduced) pocket money for the things they really want & are more appreciative of what they have...

So long as we do not lose the house, we are able to live with everything else...

Sharon

tinytot143

Hiya everyone. I am just dropping in to tell you that Halifax have given me the bank charges back as a good will gersture!!!!! all £3216.00 worth can you believe I only had to send one letter. Just waiting for the cheque in the post now and then on to the next claim.