DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Morning Digital Scooby

I am sorry to hear you have hit a glum spot. It's normal and good that we share it as well as the ups and the practical advice.

I think we are about the same stage I'm just about to make my 33rd payment and hope to be done by the 48th at the latest. I can go through every emotion in one day, hate that the debt controls my life, dominating thoughts etc. However, what I like is how many valuable lessons I have learnt and I am very grateful I will not be a slave to credit for the rest of my life, it has made me revisit my values and plan for the future beyond the DMP. I felt the same about racking up the debt, what a waste, in particular the disproportionate even if legal interest charges. One of enlightening things of DMP land is the allowances we are 'forced' to live on which is a great leveller, someone likened it to living in the war together! I also know I should be grateful I intervened when I did that will keep the duration to 4 years, no way would I have been able to or wanted to take a consolidation loan in just four years, so perversley I should thank the preditors for that. Being on good salaries (at least for now) means we will have a significant amount of disposable income post DMP. Many are not so fortunate. So a big motivator for me has been about planning for the future, looking at what frugality lessons I will keep and what I want emotionally and materially to secure a happy future.

Smiling at the PO reference, I went to two different post offices for my 12, asked them leave them blank to spare me the embarrassment but they must have known anyway!!!

Well done on paying off so much and sticking to it. You might actually be the first of us here to be finishing you know!! If NRAM come through with a refund in my hand rather than off the mortgage I am going to be done Dec/Jan otherwise will be around May 2014.

In essence am trying to say it's ok to feel glum but I hope you feel up really soon and able to celebrate your achievement and look forward to going down that home straight.

HHx

Newchapter

We all have off days Digitalscooby, dont be harsh on yourself. You have achieved so much, paid a massive amount off your debt, keep going, you'll get there and never under-estimate the impact that your story can have on the rest of us - well me, for instance.

We have all made errors of judgement, or buried our heads in the sand, thats why we are here, but much more importantly than that, we are all trying to do something about the position we're in. Have a glass of wine, or a evening with mates, or wallow in a film - whatever is your poison to cheer yourself up or even just take your mind off it, tomorrow's another day,and remember how inspirational you are! :j

Digitalscooby wrote: »

All of a sudden I feel totally fed up. On a DMP with Stepchange and just coming up to completing our 3rd year.

I could cry when I look at how much debt we racked up.I honestly didnt have a clue at the beginning and my LB moment was a huge shock. It added up to over 100k with all the messing about and charges and interest added at the beginning. I am feeling a great amount of responsibility and regret for getting into the mess we were in especially when I compare our debt with the many posted on here. I know it's relative but I feel ashamed..

At least 2/3rds through the plan now and we have paid off over £60k (sixty thousand pounds!!) and have never missed a payment although sometimes it has been a big struggle.

I suppose it's a deep breath and keep our heads down and I know I should feel positive but for some reason I dont :-(

It's lovely to see the support give on this website - you guys and gals do a brilliant job. I cant help but look with envy at those coming to the end of their journey and soooo wish it was me :-)

DS

Alice_in_Welfareland

Digitalscooby wrote: »

All of a sudden I feel totally fed up. On a DMP with Stepchange and just coming up to completing our 3rd year.

I could cry when I look at how much debt we racked up.I honestly didnt have a clue at the beginning and my LB moment was a huge shock. It added up to over 100k with all the messing about and charges and interest added at the beginning. I am feeling a great amount of responsibility and regret for getting into the mess we were in especially when I compare our debt with the many posted on here. I know it's relative but I feel ashamed..

At least 2/3rds through the plan now and we have paid off over £60k (sixty thousand pounds!!) and have never missed a payment although sometimes it has been a big struggle.

I suppose it's a deep breath and keep our heads down and I know I should feel positive but for some reason I dont :-(

It's lovely to see the support give on this website - you guys and gals do a brilliant job. I cant help but look with envy at those coming to the end of their journey and soooo wish it was me :-)

DS

How long to go on your DMP? Do you have a calendar and mark the months as they pass? Can you permit yourself a small treat as you pass progress marks? Do you make plans for when it is all over and you have your money for you? I wish I was at the end of my journey too I am sure we all do but many here will not even recognise the amount you have paid having debts less than a years payment of yours. 60K in three years is wonderful you ought to be proud. I am proud of you and am certain the supporting crew on this forum are proud also.

Alice_in_Welfareland

Time_to_face_the_music wrote: »

Are these all from official sources? I actually spoke to CCCS or StepChange (I keep forgetting that) this week and they told me that the maximum housekeeping budget for a couple is £341.

How can there be such a discrepancy?

By the way, have you seen StepChanges TV advert? I haven't because I never watch adverts but am told it was directed by Ridley Scott :eek:

Standing in front of the firing range here and fully expecting backlash left, right and centre but I have to ask how much did this rebranding exercise cost? And why?

I have been told that people approach National Debtline and are given a budget to work to. They are then referred to Stepchange and expect to have this same budget and instead they are told everything must be cut back. This must be very demoralising and like you I do not understand the differences but since changing my DMP I have benefitted from the higher amounts and not had this questioned by my creditors.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Alice_in_Welfareland wrote: »

I have been told that people approach National Debtline and are given a budget to work to. They are then referred to Stepchange and expect to have this same budget and instead they are told everything must be cut back. This must be very demoralising and like you I do not understand the differences but since changing my DMP I have benefitted from the higher amounts and not had this questioned by my creditors.

Are you self managing Alice?

HHx

Alice_in_Welfareland

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Are you self managing Alice?

HHx

My new DMP is via My money steps which I have found very good but the site has changed and now I believe that the Northeast Derbyshire CAB is better. I read it has won awards. I would be completely self managed but one of my creditors refused to accept any thing with out a reference number so this is provided by the assisted self managed and this keeps them quiet. I do not think this is allowed but we do what we can to keep the wolves from the step.

CharliesAngel

Ironic as it sounds, the closer I become to being 'debt free' the more down I feel about things! Maybe it's the so close yet so far syndrome.. completely feeling your pain Digitalscooby and others who are suffering with the blues at the minute. It's hard to continuously strive and put all your effort into something that's not tangible in the short term... tiring exhausting and quite frankly a lonely and depressing journey. Whilst others have offered their sympathy and we've spoken to at least one other person about the toil we're going through I don't think those who have never been in debt, or those who haven't yet accepted they're in trouble, can imagine how difficult it can be.
But look at how far you've come.. how much you've paid off, how little you now owe compared to this time last year. Where would you be if you'd not gone on a DMP? How would that figure look then? I find taking some time out and reflecting on what I have i.e a house, a car, two cats, a decent job... and treating myself sometimes (not with a smartprice bar of chocolate lol) gets me through..
Keep smiling, it suits you...
CA x

DebtDonkey

I have a quick question I would like to ask before I come back in more detail later.

I am currently in the process of setting up a DMP with PayPlan, first payment should go through 17th February.

I do have 1 major concern and would appreciate anyone's advice.

I managed to amend my available funds on my DMP to include a payment for Amigo Loans, a loan that I have with a Guarantor, but it had to be included in the DMP.

I really do not want to have to default on this so that the guarantor is liable to make this payment, as I don't want his credit file to be damaged (although it probably has anyway). I should however have the funds available for the payment. options,

1) Make the payment through my new bank account?
Q - I assume Amigo would mark the payment as being made and therefore all the other creditors would be up in arms?

2) If I were to ask another friend to set up a standing order to Amigo and I send him the money the day before?
Q - I assume Amigo would mark the payment as being made (still under my name, despite my friend paying, and therefore all the other creditors would be up in arms?

Can anyone advise what the options are for me in this case please.

Thanks in advance.
DebtDonkey

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Alice_in_Welfareland wrote: »

My new DMP is via My money steps which I have found very good but the site has changed and now I believe that the Northeast Derbyshire CAB is better. I read it has won awards. I would be completely self managed but one of my creditors refused to accept any thing with out a reference number so this is provided by the assisted self managed and this keeps them quiet. I do not think this is allowed but we do what we can to keep the wolves from the step.

Hi Alice, were you self managed from the start or did you go self managed later?

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

DebtDonkey wrote: »

I have a quick question I would like to ask before I come back in more detail later.

I am currently in the process of setting up a DMP with PayPlan, first payment should go through 17th February.

I do have 1 major concern and would appreciate anyone's advice.

I managed to amend my available funds on my DMP to include a payment for Amigo Loans, a loan that I have with a Guarantor, but it had to be included in the DMP.

I really do not want to have to default on this so that the guarantor is liable to make this payment, as I don't want his credit file to be damaged (although it probably has anyway). I should however have the funds available for the payment. options,

1) Make the payment through my new bank account?
Q - I assume Amigo would mark the payment as being made and therefore all the other creditors would be up in arms?

2) If I were to ask another friend to set up a standing order to Amigo and I send him the money the day before?
Q - I assume Amigo would mark the payment as being made (still under my name, despite my friend paying, and therefore all the other creditors would be up in arms?

Can anyone advise what the options are for me in this case please.

Thanks in advance.
DebtDonkey

Hi and welcome

Tricky one this one isn't it. Can appreciate the tress it must be causing.

Have you told your guarantor about the situation?

What did the DMP advisor suggest?

If your friend insists on paying it then there's nothing you can do about it is there? If they insist for example to pay to Amigo and not to you etc, that may work.

Do you know the staus of the account, it may already be damaged.

Good luck with it. Let us know how you get on.

HHX