DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

mrs_harvey

Just about to start DMP with cccs have had enough of the worry sleepless nights etc. Just couldnt go on any longer everyone suffered especially the kids. Glad to have made the move but scared as well hope we have made the right decision.Worried about sticking to the budget as obviously I hav'nt been good in the past! Would love to wave a magic wand but need to learn the lesson too, afraid of how creditors will react so no sleep for a while yet. I have read posts here and feel I need the support of you that have been there done that! Proud to be tackling my debt but very scared I could cry that I've got to this point. Cant keep borrowing of my mum its not right need to grow up and sort this mess out. Will keep lurking!

Grand_Benders

While we're on the tips wagon, here's one.

I read on Pinterest about making your own laundry detergent. It was an American site, but half the time I think in 'cups' anyway because I've been pilfering recipes for years online and bought measuring cups for this very reason.

Only three ingredients (plus water) required: Borax, Washing Soda and Household soap. Unfortunately none of these are really things that are easily picked up in a UK supermarket but I did a bit of web searching and discovered I could get all three ingredients on Amazon. Washing soda is essentially Sodium Bicarbonate, so that's easy. The recipe was recommending a US household/laundry soap called Fels-Naptha that you can only get here by importing, and it's round £5 a bar. Definitely NOT moneysaving! :eek: I found an alternative soap called Falcon Household soap (green) which was £3.20 for 4 bars.

Anyway, the whole order came to £17.17. The powdered ingredients I opted for bags of 1KG each, even though a 1 (US) gallon batch only needs half a cup. I also ordered 2 lots of 4 bars of soap. This is going to last a LONG time!

I didn't spend £17 though. I recently registered with TopCashBack and had £13.89 credit to be paid, but uplifted to £14.58 if I took it in amazon vouchers! I did, and my whole laundry ingredients order cost me £2.59.

Next weekend, I'm making my own laundry detergent. :T Sometime between now and then, I'll work out how much it's going to cost me per gallon, per wash, etc and report back (with link to recipe)

I'm rather geekily looking forward to it!

Hopelessly_Hopeful

mrs_harvey wrote: »

Just about to start DMP with cccs have had enough of the worry sleepless nights etc. Just couldnt go on any longer everyone suffered especially the kids. Glad to have made the move but scared as well hope we have made the right decision.Worried about sticking to the budget as obviously I hav'nt been good in the past! Would love to wave a magic wand but need to learn the lesson too, afraid of how creditors will react so no sleep for a while yet. I have read posts here and feel I need the support of you that have been there done that! Proud to be tackling my debt but very scared I could cry that I've got to this point. Cant keep borrowing of my mum its not right need to grow up and sort this mess out. Will keep lurking!

Welcome

Read read and read back pages, start at the beginning that way you can see the journey, it really does get better. Well done for getting to this stage.

Re budget management - Completing a spending log every single day will ensure you keep on track against planned expenditure.

If you have any concerns always best to post specifics then people can best help you with a range of options that may be suitable for you.

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Grand_Benders wrote: »

While we're on the tips wagon, here's one.

I read on Pinterest about making your own laundry detergent. It was an American site, but half the time I think in 'cups' anyway because I've been pilfering recipes for years online and bought measuring cups for this very reason.

Only three ingredients (plus water) required: Borax, Washing Soda and Household soap. Unfortunately none of these are really things that are easily picked up in a UK supermarket but I did a bit of web searching and discovered I could get all three ingredients on Amazon. Washing soda is essentially Sodium Bicarbonate, so that's easy. The recipe was recommending a US household/laundry soap called Fels-Naptha that you can only get here by importing, and it's round £5 a bar. Definitely NOT moneysaving! :eek: I found an alternative soap called Falcon Household soap (green) which was £3.20 for 4 bars.

Anyway, the whole order came to £17.17. The powdered ingredients I opted for bags of 1KG each, even though a 1 (US) gallon batch only needs half a cup. I also ordered 2 lots of 4 bars of soap. This is going to last a LONG time!

I didn't spend £17 though. I recently registered with TopCashBack and had £13.89 credit to be paid, but uplifted to £14.58 if I took it in amazon vouchers! I did, and my whole laundry ingredients order cost me £2.59.

Next weekend, I'm making my own laundry detergent. :T Sometime between now and then, I'll work out how much it's going to cost me per gallon, per wash, etc and report back (with link to recipe)

I'm rather geekily looking forward to it!

Morning

OMG this is proper MSE dedication! Am looking forward to hearing how you get on.

DMP land has got me not into hot water but into vinegar, bicarb and stardrops!

10 days to payday so am already looking forward to the next signature update. Also been playing with snowball calculator but worried about destabilising DMP.

HHx

D3P0

mrs_harvey wrote: »

Just about to start DMP with cccs have had enough of the worry sleepless nights etc. Just couldnt go on any longer everyone suffered especially the kids. Glad to have made the move but scared as well hope we have made the right decision.Worried about sticking to the budget as obviously I hav'nt been good in the past! Would love to wave a magic wand but need to learn the lesson too, afraid of how creditors will react so no sleep for a while yet. I have read posts here and feel I need the support of you that have been there done that! Proud to be tackling my debt but very scared I could cry that I've got to this point. Cant keep borrowing of my mum its not right need to grow up and sort this mess out. Will keep lurking!

Hi Mrs H,

Welcome. I think it's important with the DMP that you see this as a sort of "final chance". This is a final chance for you to get things right and pay people off in an agreed way.

I agree with others about budgeting but I have seen it as a sort of mindset if you will? This is my chance to get my head down. Nose clean and get rid of my debt forever.

Fingers crossed for you that you manage to get the DMP in place and stick to it as best you can. It really will be an excellent thing for you and your family.

Best of luck...

Time_to_face_the_music

Grand_Benders wrote: »

Only three ingredients (plus water) required: Borax, Washing Soda and Household soap. Unfortunately none of these are really things that are easily picked up in a UK supermarket but I did a bit of web searching and discovered I could get all three ingredients on Amazon. Washing soda is essentially Sodium Bicarbonate, so that's easy.

Chemistry head on for a second, washing soda (sodium carbonate) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are not the same. Washing soda is much more alkaline and hence a more effective cleaning agent. You can actually convert sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate by heating it and getting rid of the carbon dioxide but it's not worth the hassle because it's easily obtainable and probably cheaper than the sodium bicarbonate anyway. I buy mine in Home Bargains but I have seen it in Tesco for less than £1 per bag.

Am dying to know how you get on, we need whiteness tests and before and after photos

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Time_to_face_the_music wrote: »

Chemistry head on for a second, washing soda (sodium carbonate) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are not the same. Washing soda is much more alkaline and hence a more effective cleaning agent. You can actually convert sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate by heating it and getting rid of the carbon dioxide but it's not worth the hassle because it's easily obtainable and probably cheaper than the sodium bicarbonate anyway. I buy mine in Home Bargains but I have seen it in Tesco for less than £1 per bag.

Am dying to know how you get on, we need whiteness tests and before and after photos

Dear Geek T

You have no idea how much that made me smile

Good luck with CCCS

HHx

D3P0

Time_to_face_the_music wrote: »

Chemistry head on for a second, washing soda (sodium carbonate) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are not the same. Washing soda is much more alkaline and hence a more effective cleaning agent. You can actually convert sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate by heating it and getting rid of the carbon dioxide but it's not worth the hassle because it's easily obtainable and probably cheaper than the sodium bicarbonate anyway. I buy mine in Home Bargains but I have seen it in Tesco for less than £1 per bag.

Am dying to know how you get on, we need whiteness tests and before and after photos

... I keep an eye out on the news for a police raid after a suspect was found with a chemistry lab in their kitchen :beer:

Time_to_face_the_music

mrs_harvey wrote: »

Just about to start DMP with cccs have had enough of the worry sleepless nights etc. Just couldnt go on any longer everyone suffered especially the kids. Glad to have made the move but scared as well hope we have made the right decision.Worried about sticking to the budget as obviously I hav'nt been good in the past! Would love to wave a magic wand but need to learn the lesson too, afraid of how creditors will react so no sleep for a while yet. I have read posts here and feel I need the support of you that have been there done that! Proud to be tackling my debt but very scared I could cry that I've got to this point. Cant keep borrowing of my mum its not right need to grow up and sort this mess out. Will keep lurking!

Hi Mrs Harvey and welcome :hello:

The start up of a DMP can be very scary, it's a real emotional rollercoaster and I was all over the place at first. We struggled with the budget for a few weeks but realised if we could get all of our direct debits out of the way at the beginning of the month, then only use cash for everything, there were no nasty surprises when a forgotten debit came out of the account a few days later.

This forum is full of excellent advice, experience, help and support so please stick around and let us know how you are getting on

Well done on taking your first and most difficult steps towards a new debt free life :T

Hopelessly_Hopeful

D3P0 wrote: »

... I keep an eye out on the news for a police raid after a suspect was found with a chemistry lab in their kitchen :beer:

Can you see us all on News at Ten chanting 'free Grandbender, free Grandbender?!

HHx