DMP and keeping on top of things?

Solstice_Twilight

I'm starting to feel that my DMP has a very odd idea of what a financial emergency is! I have one remaining debt with them (£830) but my partner has several still ongoing. We have an elderly car (1996) so I'm permitted £20 a month for "emergencies" and £40 a month for car repairs, MOT, servicing, etc.

Sods law seems to dictate that something has to go horribly wrong right on the heels of something else :mad: We had several things go wrong last autumn/winter, which took our savings almost right back to zero and we just managed to squeak our car through it's MOT in September with only a little work on it. After we got Christmas out of the way (and we're not big spenders at Xmas by any means, but we did decide to spend it with my mum as my grandmother passed away on Boxing day 2009, so we spent a lot on fuel driving down the country and back) I started saving my £60 a month again. In March, my kitten became very ill and had to be PTS, which I discovered wasn't covered on my insurance - and neither was the time that he was in the vets (almost 48 hours) and some of the drugs he'd been given, so my insurance excess and the uncovered costs almost cleaned us out . In June, the washing machine broke down literally two months out of warranty, which came in at almost £200 to repair. Then in July, we found out that the fuel pump on the car was leaking diesel (god knows how long I was driving around with the leak for :eek: I had been blaming the rising cost of fuel on my extortionate expenses for getting to work!), which cost us £75 including the parts and labour to replace it.

My car hasn't been quite right the last few weeks, so we booked it in for it's MOT and service as soon as we were able to. It failed the MOT quite spectacularly, including needing some welding, two new tyres, new brake discs and pads all round and various other bits and pieces. Ultimately, we've been left almost £300 short for the work that needs doing to pass the MOT. Because I can't do without it due to my mobility difficulties, in desperation I called the CCCS to ask if we could possibly make a part-payment this month so I could hang onto £300 of it to get the car sorted out. I got a real ear-bashing because we already have "such a high amount" permitted for car repairs, but realistically, £20 a month for emergencies doesn't really cut it, although I've been told that's the maximum I'm allowed. Before the debts, I used to try to put aside 10% of my income for stuff like household repairs, emergency vet bills and car problems, but this was eaten up in the black hole between my ex-husband walking out and accepting there was a real problem making ends meet and beginning the DMP.

I'm finding it a real problem trying to live without a financial buffer between me and the real world If it wasn't for the fact that my washing machine is only a few years old, and that my car is an unfortunate necessity, I would have tried to buy a second hand washer, and scrapped the car and done without by now! If we can get through a few months without something cropping up that we can't get away without paying, then yes, we'll be in a better position for emergencies, because the level of cash in savings will increase over time, but I'd love to hear how other people manage to keep on top of these little times of crisis that crop up every now and then while on a DMP? I've stressed myself silly today fretting about it, and after the telling off I got from the CCCS, I feel like phoning back to apologise and to tell them not to worry, I'll find a way to beg, borrow or steal the money instead

We do typically stick to our budget, and in a "normal" month, we get by without too many difficulties, but without the benefit of a crystal ball, I can't foresee when these things are going to crop up and how bad they're going to be

pure_dead_dopey

I think I would speak to CCCS again, life happens, and no matter how much CCCS object, its still going to happen. I would phone back and ask to speak to someone more senior and tell them, not ask, tell them you need a break this month and you have very good reasons for it. Outline your reasons and don't take no for an answer. CCCS are facilitors, they are supposed to help get your DMP completed, not make your life a misery. Good luck