Newbie with help needed

Stiffler_2

Spoke to SC and set my dmp up.
Changed bank accounts and dd. (need to change again as one of my debts are with an associated bank)
Lowered sky to the lowest package.
Changed energy providers.
Lowered monthly tariff on mobile (half price)
Returning one car to the finance company. (Needs fixed first but the wheels are in motion)
Every bill wrote down and prioritised.(know everything what's coming in and out)

Things to do this week.

Copy and send letters to creditors.(need stamps)
Return SC documents.
Open basic bank account. (Anybody recommend one?)
Sell iPad.
Any more???

LannieDuck

Stiffler wrote: »

Spoke to SC and set my dmp up.
Changed bank accounts and dd. (need to change again as one of my debts are with an associated bank)
Lowered sky to the lowest package.
Changed energy providers.
Lowered monthly tariff on mobile (half price)
Returning one car to the finance company. (Needs fixed first but the wheels are in motion)
Every bill wrote down and prioritised.(know everything what's coming in and out)

Things to do this week.

Copy and send letters to creditors.(need stamps)
Return SC documents.
Open basic bank account. (Anybody recommend one?)
Sell iPad.
Any more???

Stiffler, that's loads. Seriously. Go back and read the first couple of posts in this thread - you've come such a long way from there :T

Have you got anything else lying around the house you don't want and could sell? I made £400 on ebay in two months by clearing unwanted stuff out of two rooms of my house... any old (branded) clothes you don't wear anymore? Unopened aftershaves? Old computer games? (I made probably £100 by selling my OH's old computer games for about £10-£20 each.)

It would also be worth thinking about your grocery shopping. I know some people have made huge savings by being more careful about the food they buy... but it does depend on how much you spend on groceries atm.

Stiffler_2

Thanks for that yeah I've made a start which is the main thing. Ill go and have a sift through the house see if there is anything worth selling. As for grocery shopping I will be budgeting properly (still waiting for payday 15th living on about £15 until then but ill manage) could you recommend any basic bank accounts as ill need to go and do that this week?

LannieDuck

I'm not good at recommending accounts I'm afraid. Hopefully someone else will be along who can help...

If you can go 10 days living on £15, I don't think you'll be able to reduce your grocery shopping much more than that!

Thrifty_Pixie

Stiffler wrote: »

Spoke to SC and set my dmp up.
Changed bank accounts and dd. (need to change again as one of my debts are with an associated bank)
Lowered sky to the lowest package.
Changed energy providers.
Lowered monthly tariff on mobile (half price)
Returning one car to the finance company. (Needs fixed first but the wheels are in motion)
Every bill wrote down and prioritised.(know everything what's coming in and out)

Things to do this week.

Copy and send letters to creditors.(need stamps)
Return SC documents.
Open basic bank account. (Anybody recommend one?)
Sell iPad.
Any more???

you're doing great

one thing though. you really should cancel Sky completely if you're not legally tied into a contract. you don't need it - you can Freeview - and i suspect that it might not be considered a legitimate or necessary monthly expense when the dmp people look at your accounts.

keep your pecker up, and keep on keeping on! you'll get there eventually

Stiffler_2

I would of cancelled sky but I'm tied in for 12 months but I will when it comes around. I've also had an idea I might put to my ex partner (if she wants to work things out) before all this we were looking at moving near her parents things have now obviously changed but we could maybe rent my house out for 12mnths and move in with her mum (which is what we were planning on doing anyway) this would save us a fortune. I'm not going to mention it yet as its only been a week but if we start getting on it might be worth a mention?

laurel48

You are doing really well seeing so much has happened recently and certainly taking big steps in the right direction. I hope you are feeling more on top of things as you certainly should be looking at all you have done. Keeping everything crossed for you that your relationship can also start getting back on track.

With basic bank accounts it's probably worth popping over to the budgeting and bank account forum as they have a sticky and a number of threads about what people think. I went with the NatWest as I was already with the Co-op but generally on the whole having banked with them the Co-op are pretty good. It really depends on what area you are in and who you already have debts with as the Co-op can be a bit low on branches although you can use the post office for paying in and most ATM's for withdrawing money whereas the NatWest will only allow you to use theirs or RBS/Ulster Bank ATM's so could be something to consider.

Thrifty_Pixie

Stiffler wrote: »

I would of cancelled sky but I'm tied in for 12 months but I will when it comes around. I've also had an idea I might put to my ex partner (if she wants to work things out) before all this we were looking at moving near her parents things have now obviously changed but we could maybe rent my house out for 12mnths and move in with her mum (which is what we were planning on doing anyway) this would save us a fortune. I'm not going to mention it yet as its only been a week but if we start getting on it might be worth a mention?

nothing ventured and all that

if you decide to rent your place out don't forget to check with your mortgage advisor, as i believe with some (most?) mortgages you're not allowed to rent the property out.

Stiffler_2

Just spoke to the ex about renting out the house she's not keen at all so that's that :-/ sitting in the house alone at night is really getting to me.

alioops78

Sorry to read how the situation went and really hope that things get better for you.

Just an idea as to when you're at home, can you use the time to go through all that you have and decide whether you really do need it and if not have a look at where you can sell it. There's eb*y of course but if it's electricals, games, dvd's etc then you can always look at places like CEX, music magpie etc that will give you money. For unwanted clothing cash for clothes or also music magpie are taking branded clothing now.

It will keep you active and also help to reduce the debt as any payment is a good payment.

Good luck with everything will keep reading to see how you get on.

Alioops x