DMP up & running - what now? I feel I should be doing/worrying about something!

SHELLSHOCK

Well our 1st DMP payment came out on the 1st March, I've sent all kinds of letters to our creditors, the post situation seems to have calmed down, my stress levels are slowly returning to normal - what now?

I seem to have run on adrenalin recently and have kept going purely through feeling I was "doing" something to help our situation - grabbing back the power. But now that I don't have things to send, letters to write etc what do I do?

I'm more in control of our budget and for the 1st time in years we actually have money left in our account after 3rd of the month! Yay! We can eat! I still have that feeling of "waiting for payday" but it is all looking so much better :beer:

I've started a savings tin, an emergency fund in a bank acct, a penny jar, a meal planner, an ebay fund, filled out questionnaires for money and gift vouchers, and set no spend days But what now??

What does everyone else do once the initial panic/fight/stress is over?

littlebigspender

:T
Well done, just enjoy the calm now!!! I waited for my first statement to come through from CCCS then had a very cheap meal with my DH and we talked about how the future then looked for us. Nearly 6 years later I'm planning on having another cheap meal out with DH come my debt fee date in Dec _party_
Good luck with your journey!!!

Mrs_Arcanum

SHELLSHOCK wrote: »

Well our 1st DMP payment came out on the 1st March, I've sent all kinds of letters to our creditors, the post situation seems to have calmed down, my stress levels are slowly returning to normal - what now?

I seem to have run on adrenalin recently and have kept going purely through feeling I was "doing" something to help our situation - grabbing back the power. But now that I don't have things to send, letters to write etc what do I do?

I'm more in control of our budget and for the 1st time in years we actually have money left in our account after 3rd of the month! Yay! We can eat! I still have that feeling of "waiting for payday" but it is all looking so much better :beer:

I've started a savings tin, an emergency fund in a bank acct, a penny jar, a meal planner, an ebay fund, filled out questionnaires for money and gift vouchers, and set no spend days But what now??

What does everyone else do once the initial panic/fight/stress is over?

The weight is now lifted but be prepared for some creditors not to accept the DMP (any bank/building society related to your mortgage may start further claims for example). If you get any Court paperwork check it very carefully and if you have an advisor refer back to them ASAP before you do anything else.

Good luck & things do get easier but you are in for the long haul.

SHELLSHOCK

Thats fantastic littlebigspender - well done!

Does the statement come through at the end of each month? I just feel a bit lost with no fight to fight if you see what I mean?

Its taking a while to relax and calm down!

Mrs Arcanum - I'm well aware that things will be a bit bumpy for a while, we haven't even heard from some creditors yet and I wrote to them in January! The immediate pressure of "who to pay this month" is off now though as we can pay everyone a fair portion.

GeorgieFTB

Well... I hate to point out the obvious but you should probably be getting on with your life... you know all the stuff that doesn't revolve around money... err, I'm sure there is more to life than MSE, just not sure I can remember what the other stuff is...

Am I gonna be kicked out of DFW now?

Gx

secretshopper75

Great news, lovely feeling isn't knowing you have money left the day after payday..

SHELLSHOCK

Thanks G, I'm not sure I can remember those things that don't revolve around money either!

Secretshopper - I'm not used to it at all and can't help getting that nagging feeling that I've forgotten to pay someone? Does that go away eventually??

Got to get it out of my mindset that just because I have money left doesn't mean we have to spend it!!!

dlb

Lol your post made me smile as i know just where you are coming from...i too felt the same, you are on hot bricks looking for something to do,someone to pay, postie to bring letters lol.
It does go away that feeling, you just need to sit back and relax now whilst the creitors start to play ball with your dmp company....but give yourself a pat of the back and try to not worry, the hard part is over.
I still 5 years on spend alot of days budgeting...re-writing weekly even daily budgets sometimes ( so far this year iv weekly budgeted up to Nov!!!!!lol) I now get alot of enjoyment from looking at remaining ballances, working out the figures and just general moneysaving projects.
Well done on joining the debt free journey....i know it will be the best thing you have even done..it was for me!

SHELLSHOCK

Thanks dlb! Your signature gives me great hope - you've paid off sooo much - well done!!

Its true, I am full of this nervous energy, just looking for constructive things to do or sort out! If I didn't have such a bad back at the moment I could use it all to spring clean!!

I hate to wish my life away but I can't wait to see the figures go down instead of up!

secretshopper75

Shellshovk, it hasn't for me, keep checking my bank accounts daily and going through my receipts book, all dd's are written down at the bank so I know what's going out each month and all other expenses are also written so I know exactly what I have to pay

littlebigspender

Hi Shellshock,

My payments go out the first of every month and my creditors are paid on 25th of every month. I used to get my monthly statement around the end of the month, but I've since changed and don't receive paper statements anymore, I check my balance every month online now. The statements were great for me to begin with, it made me really focus each month but now I just prefer doing everything online, I only speak to them once a year for my annual review.

It's a great feeling knowing it's all being dealt with monthly, as GeorgieFTB said time to get on with life now! I know it'll take a bit of getting used to but I'm sure you'll adapt