DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

Growurown

katy_ann wrote: »

HSBC have started sending me horrible letters oh well its to be expected i guess! x

Yep, don't worry about it, it is all part of the great DMP journey.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

katy_ann wrote: »

HSBC have started sending me horrible letters oh well its to be expected i guess! x

Use the back of them to write your slow cooker recipes on. At least they will then mean something?

Keep in there

HHx

Tigsmom

lizzy23 wrote: »

Slow cooked Brisket today, will let you all know tomorrow how it was.

Wages definately going in to new account tomorrow and the last of the DD done last night, i feel happy but scared at what the future holds, i've certainly slept better the last few days, i had to remind DOH last night that up to around 7years ago we never lived on credit, we used to go on exotic hols, but we never, never credit carded them, we always saved up for them so we have done it before , so can do it again

You've got the right attitude Lizzy. I'm only just approaching my 3rd payment to CCCS but it's amazing what a change it has made to my family. We are much more relaxed now that we are clearing the debts and also have a bit of flexability in the budget to allow the odd treat. Before we were still watching the budget and eating frugally but every penny disappeared in payments to the creditors. The phone calls have stopped and so have the letters. Sometimes I wish they would send more letters because I feel as though they are keeping me in the dark, or just taking forever to answer my letters (we are still 'negotiating interest rates' with a couple of them). We also feel in a better position if any nasty surprises turn up like appliance breakdown, change in circumstances etc as we can just adjust the budget ans cccs payment accordingly. I just got a letter last week saying my sons preschool fees are going up in January and again in April. A few months ago I would have had to cut his hours but now I can just change the budget if we're struggling. It's such a relief. Trust me, the future is going to be better than the past

Growurown

Tigsmom wrote: »

You've got the right attitude Lizzy. I'm only just approaching my 3rd payment to CCCS but it's amazing what a change it has made to my family. We are much more relaxed now that we are clearing the debts and also have a bit of flexability in the budget to allow the odd treat. Before we were still watching the budget and eating frugally but every penny disappeared in payments to the creditors. The phone calls have stopped and so have the letters. Sometimes I wish they would send more letters because I feel as though they are keeping me in the dark, or just taking forever to answer my letters (we are still 'negotiating interest rates' with a couple of them). We also feel in a better position if any nasty surprises turn up like appliance breakdown, change in circumstances etc as we can just adjust the budget ans cccs payment accordingly. I just got a letter last week saying my sons preschool fees are going up in January and again in April. A few months ago I would have had to cut his hours but now I can just change the budget if we're struggling. It's such a relief. Trust me, the future is going to be better than the past

Great post Tigsmom. I think a lot of us feel this way too.

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

I have three different sizes of slow cooker. Love em!

HHx

HH any advice on which slow cooker to buy? Is bigger better?

lizzy23

Tigsmom wrote: »

You've got the right attitude Lizzy. I'm only just approaching my 3rd payment to CCCS but it's amazing what a change it has made to my family. We are much more relaxed now that we are clearing the debts and also have a bit of flexability in the budget to allow the odd treat. Before we were still watching the budget and eating frugally but every penny disappeared in payments to the creditors. The phone calls have stopped and so have the letters. Sometimes I wish they would send more letters because I feel as though they are keeping me in the dark, or just taking forever to answer my letters (we are still 'negotiating interest rates' with a couple of them). We also feel in a better position if any nasty surprises turn up like appliance breakdown, change in circumstances etc as we can just adjust the budget ans cccs payment accordingly. I just got a letter last week saying my sons preschool fees are going up in January and again in April. A few months ago I would have had to cut his hours but now I can just change the budget if we're struggling. It's such a relief. Trust me, the future is going to be better than the past

thanks, at the moment its only Marbles that are playing at being silly B's although i have a feeling that the bank will when my salary doesn't go in on Friday, Marbles attitude was we're not accepting the DMP becasue you've used the card in the last 3 months, which yes i did, i was in financial difficulty i needed to use the card to live:eek::eek: .

Anyway it doesn't matter they can do what they want, because i haven't got anymore to pay them, although its funny i haven't had anything from them to say they don't accept it, just a conversation with a spotty brat.

Personally i don't care how long it takes to pay it all back as long as its paid, what i do care about is i now can't get anymore credit, so can't get in to anymore debt, and i have a realistic budget that allows me to live not exist:j:j:j:j and for that i'm gratefull.:D:D

PS the Briskett was melt in the mouth

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Growurown wrote: »

Great post Tigsmom. I think a lot of us feel this way too.




HH any advice on which slow cooker to buy? Is bigger better?

I've got 1.5l (argos £9.99) which I use for condensed milk to caramel, porridge, on the very rare occasion I cook meat in a very small quantity or small rice pud

3.5l ( Aldi £14.99)which I use most often, will cook a full chicken, and everything else

6.5 (Tesco £17.99) for very large joints or when I'm doing meat dishes for the freezer, chilli's bolognese.

I dont think slow cookers are things you have to pay out lots of money for.

Let us know what you end up with.


HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

More slow cooker stuff.... sorry for the bore, but very MSE and has got me through DMP ths far
.
One of the challenges is it makes meat so tender it falls apart or melts in your mouth depending on your view point. I find an electric knife is helpful for keeping meat sliced shapes. When I'm doing meat pieces I often throw pulses and beans in as they are cheap nutritious and great carriers of the meat flavour and juices. I keep stocked up with 'take away' style plastic containers from Wilkinson, 5 for 99p. They stack really well in the freezer and no scratting about finding which lid fits which container.

The freezer /slow cooker combination has significantly improved my life and saved me tons of cash against the shopping bill. A real example of more for less.

Ok I will stop!

Have a good day all

HHx

Time_to_face_the_music

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

When I'm doing meat pieces I often throw pulses and beans in as they are cheap nutritious and great carriers of the meat flavour and juices.

Chilli made with small pieces of stewing steak rather than mince is a good one for the slow cooker or recently tried a joint of beef with all the other chilli ingredients then flaked the meat into the resulting sauce.

For any fans of Indian food, dhals alone or with small amounts of meat are great and so cheap. Channa is our favourite but any pulses work.

Have got a fantastic recipe for chicken cooked on top of red cabbage, apples, onions and juniper berries and am going to try that one in the slow cooker next week.

BlushingRose

I've never quite got my head round the slow cooker thing. How is it different from having stuff in the oven for a few hours?

lizzy23

Time_to_face_the_music wrote: »

Chilli made with small pieces of stewing steak rather than mince is a good one for the slow cooker or recently tried a joint of beef with all the other chilli ingredients then flaked the meat into the resulting sauce.

For any fans of Indian food, dhals alone or with small amounts of meat are great and so cheap. Channa is our favourite but any pulses work.

Have got a fantastic recipe for chicken cooked on top of red cabbage, apples, onions and juniper berries and am going to try that one in the slow cooker next week.

Is there anywhere on the web where i can find recipes specifically for slow cookers??