We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

brizzledfw

hope next week is less frantic for you.. and that the cash stretches.

Have a great weekend x

Alice_in_Poorland

Thanks brizzle, so looking forward to the weekend.

Not sure if cricket will be on, due to the weather....that'll save £15;)

Meal plan done, OH went to sburys armed with a list.

We've had 3 NSDs so far this month.

Had car insurance renewal, quote £245 will still have a shop around.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Have done meter readings this morning, we are -£55.08. According to my calculations we have used £51 in 2weeks:eek: the only thing different we've done...that I can think of...is had the heated airer on last night.

Logged onto stepchange and got an update on our debt figure. We currently owe £19,994.83, we have paid £15,030.54......that doesn't include what we paid for the car finance as that wasn't included on the DMP. debt free date is now 09.12.2018:(

Still pondering about self managing our DMP but still not sure I'm ready for that.

Like I say had the heated airer on last night as the forecast was poor for today, and as I have hardly washed this week I must have near 6 loads to do, plus the bedding later on today. Typical it overcast but dry and windy this morning, could of pegged out for a bit after all.:o might sneak another load on.

As I'm typing the sun has come out.:T:rotfl:

Going to try and put at least another 3 bits on ebay. A few of the other items only made a couple of pounds but every bits helps.;)

Hope everybody has a good day.

Xx

Dolphin1

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

Still pondering about self managing our DMP but still not sure I'm ready for that.

Hi Alice, you seem to have been pondering this for a while.

The question is... would there be any benefit to self managing at this point?

Would you save any interest or is it already frozen?
Would you be able to change your payments when you have a bad month or is this something you can do with stepchange anyway?
Would you be able to pay extra or is this something you can do with stepchange anyway?
Would it change your debt free date at all?
Would it reduce or increase the administrative burden of your DMP if you self managed?

If there is no benefit to self managing then I can't see why you shouldn't save yourself the hassle of dealing with the creditors directly and stick with stepchange but of course it is your decision.

Dolphin1

Alice_in_Poorland

Hi dolphin, the answer is probably not.

I'm not in the right place to be doing it all myself, but I feel that I should be in a position too......if that makes sense. I'm just putting myself under added pressure.

On some of the debt has had the interest frozen...a couple of accounts haven't, mainly Bcard.

Currently we can reduce our monthly payment if there is an emergency, but we can't make adhoc over payments. I would like to try and put more money to the smaller debt (£295 paying £14 per month) to get rid of it.

It would significantly increase my work load if I did it all myself. At the moment the DD come out of the bank and I don't have to do anything, stepchange do it all.

Perhaps I should concentrate of building an emergency fund and then maybe a money pot where we could make overpayments?!?

Thanks for making me see sense dolphin.:)

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

I've pegged 3 loads out......fingers crossed the rain holds off.

Have sorted all the drawers in DS2 bedroom....how brave am I!!......no wonder he's always saying he can't find anything. I wrote post it notes of what was in each drawer.....but they won't stick. Maybe that was a little over the top.:rotfl:

Cleaned bathroom and shower room, dusted and vac'd upstairs.

Going to take DS3 to the park before he gets cabin fever.

Xx

Dolphin1

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

I'm just putting myself under added pressure.

Exactly so why bother?

Perhaps I should concentrate of building an emergency fund and then maybe a money pot where we could make overpayments?!?

You could try, an emergency fund would take a lot of pressure off you but as far as a money pot is concerned it sounds to me like you are doing as much as you can do already so why put yourself under even more added pressure?

Thanks for making me see sense dolphin.:)

Xx

You are welcome! Just remember that you have already done such an amazing job in a relatively short amount of time to get rid of £15k debt plus the car loan and the next 3.5 years to your debt free date will fly by.

Alice_in_Poorland

Dolphin1 wrote: »

You are welcome! Just remember that you have already done such an amazing job in a relatively short amount of time to get rid of £15k debt plus the car loan and the next 3.5 years to your debt free date will fly by.

Awww thank you Dolphin. When you put it as 3.5 years it doesn't seem that long. Sometimes I just can't see the wood for the trees.

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Yesterday we worked like little troopers in the morning, did the gardens, swept the drive and sorted behind the shed. Doesn't look too bad so I say so myself.

...and pegged 2 loads out.

In the afternoon OH and the kids went to the sports club, I stayed at home and did the ironing and then went over after that. We spent £6 on drinks but did have a lovely chilled out afternoon.

Still only had 3 NSDs. Only sold 1 item this week on ebay........I find it a real pain, thinking of holding out and doing a carboot instead.:(

I need to get petrol. We have £23 in bank account to last until Thursday.:eek:

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Got petrol yesterday, but today was NSD5.:)

Got a few spends coming up -

DSs prom -car/suit/ticket
OHs activity weekend
Football presentation nights
Relative special birthday -party & present
OH got a dentist appointment coming up
Half term holiday cover for DS3
Kids and OH haircuts

In June car mot is due.

The fridge and cupboards are starting to look a bit bare. I'm trying not to panic, there is food in the house to make meals and feed us all. We won't go hungry.....it's just me.:o

Xx