Thanks everyone :)

safeashouses

For all your support, it has been great!

We have decided not to enter the DMP just yet.

We are going to try 2 months on a very strict budget and then at the end if are debts are increasing we will enter the DMP. If they have stayed the same or decreased, then we will stick with it and see if we can start paying off.

The reason for this is:

a) I have applied for a couple of jobs which would make a difference
b) We reckon we can really cut back on food - my hubby is a chef and I am quite a good cook so we can make meals from not much
c) We hope we can get the bigger minimum payments down by trying to arrange repayment schemes directly ourselves
d) The kids all have some money in their accounts and have agreed to pay half their activity costs for the next 6 months
e) My hubby has a Birthday next month so will request money which will boost things in Feb for us

If things are getting worse then (at the mo we are not quite making minimum payments on everything) then we will enter a DMP

Thanks!

ShakerSonicBen

good luck to you. Hope everything works out for the best

taxi73

I think you've made the right decision as you say your DMP would've been 8 years...it's nice that the whole family are joining in and it really will be worth the effort...so when you get a job and hubby has his extra overtime..things wil really start coming together...good luck

moozie_2

Good luck safeashouses! Only you know what is the right decision for you!

Keep posting, we love to see how things are going

safeashouses

Thanks everyone - will keep you updated! Husband gets paid on the £25th so that is when the first proper month of living on a shoestring begins!

lynzpower

I am very optimistic about you and your family, and if things go the way I think they will go, you have the most perfect example of how snowballing can work at its best!

I'm really rooting for you

All the best with the job hunt, if you need any help at all, do give me a shout!

Love
lynz
xx

safeashouses

lynzpower wrote:

I am very optimistic about you and your family, and if things go the way I think they will go, you have the most perfect example of how snowballing can work at its best!

I'm really rooting for you

All the best with the job hunt, if you need any help at all, do give me a shout!

Love
lynz
xx

Thanks you soooooo much! I have applied for a job as a sessional worker for Barnados, and contacted my old boss at Social Services. I think sessional work might be best for now - In September, Matilda (my youngest) gets her free nursery place so childcare becomes much easier. However the preschool she will attend have offered to have her from now on an "as and when" basis if I get sessional work so that could be great! I need to investigate whether I might be able to do any other agency work or whatever.

The next two weeks will be hardest. We have £103 today and next Thursday to work with plus maybe some computer work for my husband might bring us up a bit.

So I am allowing £50 for food and every day living and putting the other £50 into debts (plus any extra earned wiill go on debts). Then on the 25th we can start in earnest!

Storm

Hi SafeasHouses

Good luck getting that snowball rolling - I think it's great that you're talking to your kids about it too as it means you're setting them a brilliant example of money management for the future.

Storm

safeashouses

Storm wrote:

Hi SafeasHouses

Good luck getting that snowball rolling - I think it's great that you're talking to your kids about it too as it means you're setting them a brilliant example of money management for the future.

Storm

Thanks Storm The kids have grown up with us always being skint I think !

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Good for you SAH !:T

Keep posting and maybe we can all review the situation in 2 or 3 months time / post a new SOA etc etc

The most important point is which ever path you go down you are now firmly taking control of the families finances and that will benefit you all :beer:

Best,

lynzpower

safeashouses wrote:

Thanks you soooooo much! I have applied for a job as a sessional worker for Barnados, and contacted my old boss at Social Services. I think sessional work might be best for now - In September, Matilda (my youngest) gets her free nursery place so childcare becomes much easier. However the preschool she will attend have offered to have her from now on an "as and when" basis if I get sessional work so that could be great! I need to investigate whether I might be able to do any other agency work or whatever.

The next two weeks will be hardest. We have £103 today and next Thursday to work with plus maybe some computer work for my husband might bring us up a bit.

So I am allowing £50 for food and every day living and putting the other £50 into debts (plus any extra earned wiill go on debts). Then on the 25th we can start in earnest!

Dont forget to literally eeeeeeke everything right out youve got in and try your damndest not to spend anything!

if youve any mystery things in the cupbards , ask over on the Old style board for ideas. ( mine were re lentils, pinto beans & pearl barley- what do I do with those) and make lovely new dishes out of them