New Dmp Mutal Support Thread

yellowmonkey

Hi

Last post today I promise. Can I just mention that, although I am very new here, the advice I have received so far has been excellent and has been a great help to me in my situation. I cannot wait until I am an old hand here and can give valuable advice to anyone new who is in the same situation. I will help with anyone who has a query if I can offer assistance or advice although I am a novice on this site I have more than served my apprenticeship in debt problems

TTFN;)

smilealot

No probs IDAAS - any time!

yellowmonkey, here is what I'd suggest:

Am I right in saying that you are going with PayPlan? It works slightly different from CCCS (I've had experience of both).

Firstly, cancel your Direct Debits IMMEDIATELY. Don't worry if you get a letter in asking why you've contacted them. You need to do this now as it takes five days to be processed (so they say!). Otherwise they'll charge you for failed DDS.

Secondly, write a letter to all your creditors* (CCCS provide you with a standard one, but PayPlan don't - I'm happy to PM you the one I wrote). I would say pretty much what I did (see letter) apart from you may not have your reference number (might not get it tomorrow either). Include a cheque (if poss) for between £1-£5 (I had to pay mine online because had no money in my cheque book account) so you can tell they receive the letter because they banked the cheque.

* Thirdly - important bit!!!! DO NOT CONTACT THE BANK WHICH YOU PAY YOUR SALARY INTO. Even though you've opened your Halifax account, it will probably not be up and running in time to pay your salary into it this month. Do you have much to pay to satisfy the minimum payment this month? I gave token payments to all of my creditors but paid the minimum payment to my current bank because it saves the worry of them arresting your salary. Let me know if you can't do this and we can think of another way around it!

When your salary goes in to your old bank, withdraw it as soon as you can. Whether that be into your new account if it up and running or in cash. There is one problem here though, do you have any other standing order/DDs going out that are not to your creditors? If so, cancel the DD/SO and make a card payment on the phone THE DAY YOUR SALARY GOES IN. Explain that you are changing banks and will call in a few days to give new bank details. Remember not to fall behind on priority debts (e.g. Hire Purchase, Council Tax, Rent).

I've just realised that the PayPlan people will probably answer all these questions tomorrow, but at least you have an idea in advance.

Sorry if this all seems a bit muddled!

smilealot

smilealot

yellowmonkey - us old folks will be expecting to put our feet up and have a cuppa when you've passed your DFW apprenticeship :rotfl: Only kidding, I'm a fledging DFW too (I just talk a lot!).

Forgot to mention earlier... I felt really disappointed (but relieved too) at the end of my first PayPlan call. They leave you hanging and call you in three or so days to tell you the best options (even although it may seem obvious, like calculate you payments etc). It's after the second phone call that the ball starts rolling. I was really impatient because had been thinking about it for ages, but it's worth the wait.

Good luck!

P.S. I'm PMing that letter to you now, it might come in handy, but no worries if not.

yellowmonkey

Hi.

Smilealot Thanks once again for your help. I think what I will do is cancel my S/O with Argos and EGG.I will use your template to send to the aforementioned. I can manage the minimum payments to First direct as they are my Bank and will let you know how I get on tommorow.

Many thanks.

PS Thanks for the letter template:T

dlb

amani wrote: »

dlb: There is also 2 adults and 4 kids in my family. Thats fantastic getting your shopping down to £40 a week. I really struggle mine is about £95 that is everything including nappies and wipes.

Hiya amani, i have found it has taken me a while to get the shopping down to this amount, but the more i pay off my debts the more it makes me want to save money in everyway possible.:T
An example of what i spend in a week
1-egg chips beans
2-Sheperds pie,yorkshires and veg
3-sausage and mash and veg
4-Hm meatballs pasta and hm garlic bread
5-Toad in the hole and veg.
6-chicken dinner
7-chicken dinner

This comes in at about £20
chickens x 2=£5
Potatoes tescos large value-£1.79
Stuffing mix x 2 =80p
Flour=50p
Eggs=67p
beans x 2=35p
large pack of mince x 2=£2.30
24 sausage lidl frozen=£1.80
Large gravy=£1.60
bread x 4= £1 (cheapest)
sweetcorn x 2=40p
tinned garden peas=40p
milk x 8 pint=2.20
12 toilet rolls lidls=1.60

Then on top of this i allow £10 for pack up and baking for the kids packed lunches and for dh lunch at work. I make alot of cakes buns and fruit bars and in summer we always go and pick any free fruits that are in season. ( free food is always good!!:D )
That leaves me will another £10 for extra milk, juice ( which we only have with meals rest of the time it is only tea.coffee,hot choc or water)
Totally £40.
When you first start meal planning it may cost you slightly more to stock up the store cupboard with spices,yeast,flour ect but well worth it as it will save you money in the end.
I now have a 4 different weekly meal plans so we dont have the same food week in week out.And we got a breadmaker for free from freecycle which is great for making pizza ( better than take away is homemade pizza) and bread.

Sorry if iv gone on abit, but since going on the dmp i have found the biggest area i have cut back on is the shopping yet we eat better than we did before.
Every penny saved is another penny closer to that debt free date.;)
Take care everyone
donna

smilealot

Wow Donna, that's brilliant budgeting. Makes me thinkabout the £116 I've spent in a month - just on me!! (Including toiletries, cheap wine = social life etc). I've still been quite extravagant, so I'll hopefully get it below £100 next month :T

Thanks for the inspiration!

P.S. Something very exciting happened an hour ago... I had 95p left to my name (VERY careful budgeting, but it was 95p surplus - hoorah - that hasn't happened for years, I've always turned to credit cards!). Anyway, I was craving a can of Diet Coke (I'm working hard lesson planning so thought I deserved it). So jumped in the car, and found £1.02 on the car floor! I didn't spend though, he he!

teecee152

Afternoon everyone :wave:

idaas - I think hugs and chocolate are in order for you so here they are!!:EasterBun :grouphug:

smilealot - did really well at the car boot me and mum made about £70 pound each but yes i am shattered now!!

amani - I'm so sorry that it took a long time for you to get your questions answered but hope you feel better now. I totally agree with the advice given by smilealot and sea. I am with CCCS and it took about 4 weeks to get the paperwork sorted. If you are worried give them a ring the people there are fantastic!! Stay strong and hang in there it will get better.

Sea - Congrats on your 1000th post:T :T

Hi Donna - lovely to have you back, thanks for the tips!

HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY AND ALL THE MUMS ARE BEING SPOILT ROTTEN

teecee xx

teecee152

dlb wrote: »

1-egg chips beans
2-Sheperds pie,yorkshires and veg
3-sausage and mash and veg
4-Hm meatballs pasta and hm garlic bread
5-Toad in the hole and veg.
6-chicken dinner
7-chicken dinner

donna

Wow Donna,
can I come to your house for dinner?:rotfl:

teecee152

smilealot wrote: »

P.S. Something very exciting happened an hour ago... I had 95p left to my name (VERY careful budgeting, but it was 95p surplus - hoorah - that hasn't happened for years, I've always turned to credit cards!). Anyway, I was craving a can of Diet Coke (I'm working hard lesson planning so thought I deserved it). So jumped in the car, and found £1.02 on the car floor! I didn't spend though, he he!

:T :T good for you !!!

Joek_2

smilealot wrote: »

Morning Joek :hello:

Just realised you're the only person whose been on here this morning who I haven't said hello to. Sorry! Hope you are well.

smilealot :rolleyes2

P.S. Just realised the last four posts are all mine... can you tell I'm procrastinating! But what a fantastic way to do it :beer:

A quick post in the morning, then to work. Now back again!

Hope your day's been good. I'm now looking out a window in which the sky is very, very dark and I think it migh snow...

Aside from that, it's been a completely quiet day (that's the best).

Debt things though - I'm currently living with the folks (and considering I'm in so much debt, it might be a while - bless 'em). The good thing is that when I was younger (yup, I'm a sad old !!!!!! who lives at home:rolleyes: ), I had a mail order business and needed a second phone line for stuff. I've been using it for years.

Well, it seems just plain daft, so I'm going to be shutting it down (saving about £40 a quarter, and transfer over the internet service to the parents line...even better, they're with Sky+, so I should be able to wangle Sky BB for about a £5-er a month.

Saves me about £12 a month!

£304 a year savings!

Can't be bad!

Hope everyone else has had a good 'un!