Positive Steps Challenge 2013

ScarlettMcCain

Thank you Scarlet and Fairy - I've had a look at the 'make £10 per day' thread and will be using some of the ideas - have a couple of bags of clothes for charity so think I'll be selling those instead! Other than that I shall be crossing my fingers that the Nationwide payment comes through ASAP so I won't be completely skint over the bank holiday. I've paid my rent for this month but now only have about £200 left to live on for food, petrol etc on the bright side it means I might be losing a bit of weight, less food to eat and I'll be going running a lot as opposed to spending money on zumba classes!

Fairy, do you know, I do remember that you said that but this letter seems quite nasty; it says:

'We would advise that if formal default notices have not already been issued, they may be issued in 14 days. If the situation remains unchanged by the expiry of the default notices, your client's case will be passed to the Bank's Credit Management Services department.

We would advise that we will be commencing action in 14 days to recover the outstanding sums owed, which may include passing your client's accounts to Solicitors or Debt Collecting Agents.'

I know I have made a mess of my finances and am in debt up to my eyeballs but at least I'm trying to do something about it..... it's particularly hurtful when I know a guy who owes at least as much on me on various credit cards but doesn't seem to care, he just doesn't acknowledge the debts or tell the companies where he lives, and gets round it that way!!

Eeeeek. The cooking calmed me down but now it's back to panic mode and sadness that some of my plans for this month will have to be cancelled, even though they were cheap as chips anyway

fairyclicks

I know Ruby, the letters are designed to scare the pants of you in my view that should be looked at by the ombudsman...but anyway those are the type of letters i got too - remember they are sent out automatically and do not take account of the fact you are trying to sort things out.

Believe it or not £200 is quite a lot to live on for a month - there are some really good threads - the frugal living one is brilliant! I was able to feed myself for £25 for 3 weeks using that thread - it wasn't the most exciting of food but i certainly didn't starve! I didn't think that was possible before i used that thread.

Try to remind yourself it will only be for a month or so - there are all sorts of ways to both increase your income and save on spends which will make things a lot easier. Sit down and think about any way you can to make some money - do you have any old bank accounts? have you checked in all your pockets/bags etc for money? what coupons can you use? its amazing how it all adds up!! can you walk to and from the local shops instead of driving? The one thing you will learn from the whole process is how much you have been spending when you don't need to - my life has changed dramatically since my Lightbulb Moment and re-learning how to manage my money - its a good thing, i promise xxxxx

fairyclicks

Well i finally went to bed at 4am and got up at 10 - feeling much more positive for some unknown reason lol!

STILL working on that ole list but getting through it slowly but surely have a few new things to add to it mind you:

Keep working on maxing out ebay accounts
pay car tax - finally done
tidy bedroom - started
change bed - done
clean bathrooms
contact friend
work on website
put a wash on - done
pack up ebay sales - done and posted!
swaggers - done
free bingo - done
blog updates - done
put recycling out - done
read some more of book
do some surveys - done

ScarlettMcCain

Hi Fairy,

Well it sounds like you've had a productive day, that's a champion to do list there!! Just be careful you don't tire yourself out too much!

I sent my letter on to CAP, gave them a call and left a voicemail saying I was worried, but haven't heard anything yet..... had a letter from HSBC demanding a payment too despite them previously agreeing my repayment plan. Does it just take time for the agreement to reach the different departments? Is it a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand's doing?!

Thank you for all your help on how to live cheaply :T I'm off to job no 2 tonight but will look into them when I get chance, having spent 0p today - very impressed with myself!! Been for a run, had dinner which I cooked yesterday and now off to do some work. I'm going into London tomorrow for work so have to buy a train ticket, but have worked out that I can save £6 on that by doing some walking, so will be taking my A-Z as I have no sense of direction......

Hope everyone has had a good Monday! xxx

fairyclicks

Thanks Ruby i'm just sitting pottering about the house doing things so not too tiring i still seem to be getting through a lot though which is fab

I think the main problem is a lot of letters are sent out automatically - they are computer generated usually when any account hits a trigger point - such as a late payment etc. Trust me you are likely to get more and eventually you realise its nothing to worry about (i think we have all been through the unsettling first few months when starting a DMP).

Well done on spending nothing today - i spent £3 which should see me through the rest of the week Nice job on figuring out the savings on your ticket - thats fab Its really amazing how much you can save just by checking things out - it becomes a bit of a game too and i am still doing all sorts even though my debts are almost cleared! Not sure i will ever go back to how i lived before the DMP! Its a big learning curve!

Scarlet1982

I feel a lot more positive today i read my CBT book last night and looked at the workbook for sleep problems. I think this is the first thing i need to work on if i get a decent nights sleep it sets me off to a good start.

I felt awful on Sunday after struggling to sleep sat night i felt worse this weekend than i did the week before with a hangover. So tonight i plan to start winding down about 8-9pm by having a bath, no TV, no coffee and listening to relaxing music while reading a book and going to bed by 11pm at the latest.

I'm so glad i manged to get on top of my debts before having to go down the DMP road. I've spent many a sleepless nights worrying about paying bills. It took a few months to get on top of them and for me to be able to see the positive side but i'm sure now that you've started the DMP Ruby you'll feel a lot more positive in a few weeks.

My plan for today is to
Put wash on
Free bingo
Postcode lottery / birthday bingo
Comps on Twitter
Sleep Diary (need to download from living life to the full website)
Dishes
Dinner
Bath

fairyclicks

Aw thats great Scarlet - so glad to hear you are feeling a bit better as well! You know sometimes i think just having made a plan to tackle a problem really helps to change your mood - it does for me most times anyway!

Big good luck for your sleepy plan!! Remember it might take a few times for it to work. Something else that worked well for me sleep wise was to give myself permission to sleep - i wrote about how to do it for Ruby before re worrying on holiday. In addition to taking control of my thoughts i used a meditation technique of focusing on my body part by part and consciously relaxing it. I used to start at my feet and work up my legs noticing how warm and comfy my bed was and imagined sinking each part into the bed. I rarely got past my belly If i did get to the top of my head and was still awake i just started again. Its good to notice what your sleeping position is too - i always turn over onto my right side for sleeping and its like telling my body its time to go to sleep when i do that.

You have reminded me about that book again - i must have a look for it - i think i might even have some amazon vouchers - will check that today

So my list for today then

check for amazon vouchers
look for CBT book - done -wow its expensive
keep working on maxing out ebay accounts - 1 maxed out
finish tidying bedroom
clean bathrooms
contact friend
work on website
go to psych appointment - done
print out my to do list for the year and my reviews (psych wants to see it) - done
sort a few craft things i've made to take as well - done
swaggers
do at least 1 survey - done
blog updates - done
free bingo - done

Scarlet1982

The book is pricey. I was going to buy a copy and decided to try the library not been there in years. I did a search online and found I was able to reserve. I've got the book for 3 weeks I'll just renew it a few times and maybe get the other book once I've finished with this one.

I've tried the relaxation technique in the past it was on a yoga DVD I had. I've bought some earplugs today to hopefully block the noise my neighbour has people calling all hours which doesn't help.

I've got everything done apart from the diary bath first then I'll have a look at it while I'm winding down.

fairyclicks

Hope you had a good sleep Scarlet

Well, after my psych appointment yesterday i feel a bit blaaaagh! I was exhausted after it and had a bit of a fitful sleep then didnt get up until about 11......

Am still trying to work through the list and managed a few more bits from it:

tidy bedroom - done
clean bathrooms - 2 done, 1 to go
check for amazon vouchers - done
contact friend
work on website
swaggers - done
free bingo - done
at least one survey - done
blog updates - done
parcel up ebay sales - done
go for a walk
do some financial planning for the rest of the month - done
put clean clothes away
plan dinner - done
wash dishes - done

MinnieMousesMummy

Good afternoon. I'm returning to positive steps after having a few days off following giving birth to my little boy on the 9th (mum and baby both doing fine).

My positive steps list for today

Sort through emails (800) - file, delete and deal with urgent ones:)
Pay the rent:)
Catch up with £10 challenge thread and update progress:)
Update income spreadsheet:)
Finish writing report 1 and submit:)
Finish writing report 2 and submit
Tidy the living room
Sort through box used for work and declutter
Sort through work emails and raise invoice
Read some of book
Make a start on planning for the book that I'm going to write:)
Deal with midwife appointment:)

I think that is enough to potter my way through for the rest of today.