Reworking Of The First Time Posters Thread

southernscouser

Anyone?

flowerofscotland

Hi SS - this is looking great.

Without wanting to seem like Lynne Truss you are missing an apostrophe:
OK let's get down to the nitty gritty so to speak.

And if I am being really picky - it's "commonplace" not common place and "a lot" not alot (sorry - I should have been a proof reader!)

I think a link to the budget planner should be included on the SOA thread - it makes it much easier to calculate non monthly outgoings and is a very comprehensive list. I would suggest that you preface your SOA with the link and say that the headings you have listed are only the most common and that any SOA should reflect the actual spending patterns of the individual or family.

Then I think you have a friendly and useful introductory post which will encourage newbies but doesn't try to answer all questions (which would be impossible).

My other suggestion would be one sticky with all the useful links - this could be amended as more useful sites are discovered. So as a starter the snowball calculator, the template letters, saynoto0870 link, entitledto website and the OS board are all suggestions that reoccur fairly frequently and I'm sure there are others.

Great job - your original post must have helped 100s of DFWs

plumduff-2

Someone else mentioned putting in something about other options...

Most people of DFW - are looking at reducing their expenditure to furnish their debts and this is highly commendable - I see SS has reduced his debt from £34k to £21k for example.. However some others for their own reasons, simply cannot do this... and should be pointed in the direction of Insolvency.. Whether an IVA, Bankruptcy or an Administration Order..

And I think (by reading various threads) that some people get frustrated at having to cut back to afford to pay debts back, especially as they sometimes see this as then having no standard of living... And thats why going down the insolvency route can be a better option... And quicker...

southernscouser

plumduff-2 wrote:

Someone else mentioned putting in something about other options...

Most people of DFW - are looking at reducing their expenditure to furnish their debts and this is highly commendable - I see SS has reduced his debt from £34k to £21k for example.. However some others for their own reasons, simply cannot do this... and should be pointed in the direction of Insolvency.. Whether an IVA, Bankruptcy or an Administration Order..

And I think (by reading various threads) that some people get frustrated at having to cut back to afford to pay debts back, especially as they sometimes see this as then having no standard of living... And thats why going down the insolvency route can be a better option... And quicker...

The thing is them posting their SOA isn't always about finding reductions. Yes that normally happens coz most people can cut back, but it's also there so we can give our opinions on whats the best route to take.

I'm sceptical of putting details of DMPs, IVA's, bankruptcy etc before we've even seen the figures. Some people just need to tighten their belts and carry on as normal so I wouldn't want someone to have preconceived ideas about going bankrupt when it might not be necessary if that makes sense.

Snaggles

Looking good SS (the thread, not you...although I'm sure you're looking as lovely as ever...;)).

ZTD

Fifteen thousand messages - sheesh...

southernscouser wrote:

The thing is them posting their SOA isn't always about finding reductions. Yes that normally happens coz most people can cut back, but it's also there so we can give our opinions on whats the best route to take.

The thing I like about them posting the SOAs is that they know (often for the first time) just how much trouble they have.

Often people come on here and say "I need X" or "I need Y" and they don't even know how much they owe, or what their expenses are. The SOA does that.

tryhard_2

looks good! link to budget planner would be a good idea. however the debt bit of the SOA with apr and amount owed hould be there too.

southernscouser

Ooops! I forgot about this!