Really scared and tearful today :(

eyeopener2

you are doing the right thing. There isn't really an alternative unless you want to go down the bankruptcy route, which isn't necessary.

Your worried, understandable, but once you tell the creditors involved about the DMP, whether thats by letter or when they phone or whatever then things start getting better.

it may not look like at the moment but they will.

You will have money for food instead of borrowing more

The occasional treat will mean so much more than you ever imagined.

Free things like a walk in the park become precious to you

Your debt will reduce little by little each month

Your at the beggining of a life changing process and it's not easy but believe me it's worth it. I was in the same boat as you, as was in despair, my marriage was collapsing, i had moved out of my home but now...

We are happier than ever, still skint but we enjoy our lives so much more, and when the debts gone I can start saving for the first time, well, ever really.

Stick with it, you will be fine.

BlushingRose

Thanks so much - I think I need people constantly telling me this on an hourly basis!

MsDaisy

Blushingrose, I've been following your posts over the last few days. I just wanted you to know that you've inspired me to be honest with myself about my finances. I've been sticking my head in the sand for many a year and now it's crunch time. So thankyou, I know things are dire for me (as I know you think they are for you too) but with the help and support available on here I'm sure we'll get through it.

Chin up, doll. You can do it x

Tixy

Hi BlushingRose.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today. There will always be good and bad days, and finally facing up to things can be a bit of a shock, when you do the scary thing of counting the debt and contacting one of the debt charities. You are bound to have a lot of pent up emotion. But keep with it and keep posting. You'll get through this phase and move on - I know it.

sickasachip13

You know what, it does get easier, but there's bound to be bumps in the road. For many of us we've been avoiding thinking about the debt, the size of it etc etc and, let's face it, this debt didn't build overnight in our lives so it won't go away quickly either. So, facing up to the situation is horrid, and scary, and upsetting but, what you're doing now is brave, proactive and will be so much better in the long run.

All the best

SAAC

laidbackgjr

BlushingRose wrote: »

The mobile phone is PAYG and not used often, it's 7 years old so wouldn't bring any money in if it were to be sold.
We don't have a TV package, it's freeview.
I am looking for work, have been for a long time now but so far, nothing but the occasional interview.
*sigh* It just feels like it's getting worse and worse rather than better. I;d thought that contacting the CCCS would help and setting up a DMP would be the right thing to do, but I have a bad feeling about all of this now.

It is the right thing to do and things will get better, just the one thing I've not seen in your SOA is income for Job Seekers Allowance, are you entitled to this? Would help you out if you could.

Otherwise on days like this, I like to try and earn something or do somethign positive to try and earn a few extra pennies even if they take weeks to come through, it's the effort now for reward later. Have a look at the make £10 a day thread for ideas on websites for surveys / daily clicks / watching videos to earn money. I'm really liking Superpoints, pm if you'd like a quick guide and a referral code to join.

BlushingRose

MsDaisy wrote: »

Blushingrose, I've been following your posts over the last few days. I just wanted you to know that you've inspired me to be honest with myself about my finances. I've been sticking my head in the sand for many a year and now it's crunch time. So thankyou, I know things are dire for me (as I know you think they are for you too) but with the help and support available on here I'm sure we'll get through it.

Chin up, doll. You can do it x

Thanks so much for your post hon, it means such a lot to me.

It IS very difficult when you realise that you have to bite the bullet and do something to sort it, especially when that something is scary and, let's face it, unknown. I love all the help and advice I've been getting on here and if I can help or support even just one person through the same thing then I feel that posting as been worthwhile.

This too shall pass xx

BlushingRose

laidbackgjr wrote: »

It is the right thing to do and things will get better, just the one thing I've not seen in your SOA is income for Job Seekers Allowance, are you entitled to this? Would help you out if you could.

Yeah, it's not on the SOA because I'm not getting it. I have had a chat recently with a job centre advisor who said something along the lines that I wouldn't get any money as I hadn't earned enough/paid enough stamp in the last year (or something)

laidbackgjr wrote: »

Otherwise on days like this, I like to try and earn something or do somethign positive to try and earn a few extra pennies even if they take weeks to come through, it's the effort now for reward later. Have a look at the make £10 a day thread for ideas on websites for surveys / daily clicks / watching videos to earn money. I'm really liking Superpoints, pm if you'd like a quick guide and a referral code to join.

Yeah, I'll have to look at the online options as I'm here a lot!

FreshPrincess

BlushingRose, you should be able to get Jobseekers!! If scum can get it so can you! (that said, it's an awful system - alcoholics can get sick pay and so can people who are well enough to appear on X-Factor every week, but my mum who has M.E. coupled with a permanent neck fracture since she was in her 20's hasn't been able to claim a bean in the last 30 years and had to rely on my dad's low wage)

You won't be able to claim contributions-based Jobseekers, but you can certainly claim Income-based (means-tested). You have to have less than 'X' amount of savings, and no big means of other income like shares, which you clearly have not got!! Have you not tried this route??? If not do it now! Now!!

Chrisblue1962

Hi Blushing

I am on a DMP with CCCS, who have been great. Ive got ages to go yet - £18k at £61.00 / month :eek:. Ive been on the DMP since Summer 2009 but only cleared about £500 due to OH getting laid off twice

However, we are now starting to make very small inroads into the debt and only one creditor, Nationwide (or is that Nationsnide? :mad:) have given us grief.

Try to gain strength from "Little Victories" - a pound saved here, 50p there, etc. You will find that you can clear out things you don't need and boost your bank balance too - Ebay, Gumtree, Amazon, etc...don't forget Freecycle for free things too!

Good luck and keep winning those "Little Victories!!!"