DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Sazzie23

Larac wrote: »

Hi Peeps

I had my nightmare Xmas last year when my gas oven gave up the ghost on you guessed it, Xmas day. I ended up having to buy a cooker, which really smashed the emergency fund.

It did make me realise that I was living on the edge whilst on a DMP and started on Xmas early by building up cash and incentives by doing a few 'selective' survey sites during year. So much so that it paid for my Xmas presents via vouchers and paypal this year. I also do other bits and pieces part time, which help the cause.

There is so many ideas on this site for creating other income during the year, that its worth having a peruse and may give you a less stress free Xmas next year as there is very little give in a DMP budget.

Hi Larac,

Thanks for that useful and inspiring post. Like Guo I'm not finding Christmas easy financially and have used rather more of my meager savings than I should. Have tried to be frugal, but it all adds up, faster than my adding up adds it up :eek:

Think the idea of doing extras to earn income me specifically for Christmas might work for me,

GUO I feel your pain, hope you can find extra ways of getting by for this month.

Growurown

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Hi Larac,

Thanks for that useful and inspiring post. Like Guo I'm not finding Christmas easy financially and have used rather more of my meager savings than I should. Have tried to be frugal, but it all adds up, faster than my adding up adds it up :eek:

Think the idea of doing extras to earn income me specifically for Christmas might work for me,

GUO I feel your pain, hope you can find extra ways of getting by for this month.

I had planned things out, but as we all know the best laid plans etc.! The car has thrown quite a few spanners in the works this year. It's 6 years old now and does a lot of miles and vital for work so no choice really but to keep it going.

I have my review with Step Change in the New Year so I am really going to look hard my budget and make sure it is realistic. I was lucky enough to get a new job in March with my company after they closed down my old place of work. It came with more money, but a lot more travelling so my petrol costs have gone up, my fuel bills have gone up and my rent goes up every year too.

It's hard to keep on top of everything even though we both work and get decent wages, but (even though it might sound like it) I am not complaining because we have the essentials of life and a few luxuries. I am grateful for that because so many people have to go without.

Murphy2011

Pleased to report that sometimes good things happen as well, I fell over at the weekend and have damaged my knee quite badly. (Obviously that's not the good news!) As I have had a lot of paid time off work with mental health issues this year these last few days will be unpaid and my husband has also had to take this week off to look after me and drive my daughter to work etc, again unpaid. I was saying goodbye to all of our emergency fund to cover it but had the fabulous news today that my employer has decided to give me a bonus for my efforts in getting back to 100% which will cover hubby's missing wages!!! Someone up there is hopefully keeping an eye on me still methinks!!!

Sazzie23

Murphy2011 wrote: »

Pleased to report that sometimes good things happen as well, I fell over at the weekend and have damaged my knee quite badly. (Obviously that's not the good news!) As I have had a lot of paid time off work with mental health issues this year these last few days will be unpaid and my husband has also had to take this week off to look after me and drive my daughter to work etc, again unpaid. I was saying goodbye to all of our emergency fund to cover it but had the fabulous news today that my employer has decided to give me a bonus for my efforts in getting back to 100% which will cover hubby's missing wages!!! Someone up there is hopefully keeping an eye on me still methinks!!!

Wow Murphy that IS good news, (hope the knee recovers soon though). Lovely when someone takes notice of your efforts, they must value you.


GUO good points, life could be worse and the review should give you the option to adjust where needed. You can bring it forward I think without too much trouble if you need to?

poohbear59

Murphy2011 wrote: »

Pleased to report that sometimes good things happen as well, I fell over at the weekend and have damaged my knee quite badly. (Obviously that's not the good news!) As I have had a lot of paid time off work with mental health issues this year these last few days will be unpaid and my husband has also had to take this week off to look after me and drive my daughter to work etc, again unpaid. I was saying goodbye to all of our emergency fund to cover it but had the fabulous news today that my employer has decided to give me a bonus for my efforts in getting back to 100% which will cover hubby's missing wages!!! Someone up there is hopefully keeping an eye on me still methinks!!!

Yay to the bonus :j:j:j:j great news.

Murphy2011

Thanks Sazzie & Poohbear! I have to confess that it did make me feel fantastic, nice to be appreciated as you say.

Pickle29

Hi
We have today received a letter from Santander saying they are taking legal proceedings and not accepting our DMP. When I rang them (feeling brave and stepchange had closed), Santander said it was because:
A because we are home owners
B because we are not making half of the Monthly payment!
They have said my options are
1 Sell the car (which we purchased with the fixed term loan via the garage) to pay off the loan
2 Surrender the car and they will sell at auction
3 nothing. - and they wil take legal action which could result in forcing us to sell our car, or putting a charge on the house
4 pay the arrears through a payment plan with them direct ( which would involve us paying less to the others in our DMP )

Our view is to do option 4, my hubby travels 70 miles a day to work, no public transport, shift worker and we need the car.

I just wondered if other people had dealt with one creditor outside the DMP, will stepchange liase with our other creditors? ( whilst we are paying off the arrears, this will be a reduction of £200 per month in total for 3 months, then £100 less than currently from April) for the remaining 6 creditors
What reaction will I get?

Any advice gratefully received. I really thought we had turned a corner, I knew Santander had not accepted the DMP but stepchange said not to worry and we would continue paying them, but today they terminated my agreement! I find them really aggressive and came off the phone and bawled my eyes out! I'm ringing stepchange tomorrow but just want to get them off my back.
Thank you

Puzzcat

Hi, sorry I don't know the answer but I'm sure sc will advise in the morning. I'm not sure they will agree to any of that as they like to play fair to all creditors, but wait till you speak to them. Sorry you are having a difficult time. X

Murphy2011

Hi Pickle29, I'm sorry that you are having such a problem with Santander, it must be so frustrating to have got under way with your DMP & have one very silly lender not play ball. I don't have the same experience but I am also a homeowner and am so far away from paying my monthly payments that we won't be debt free until 2021! I have had gr8 experiences with my lenders so far & they have all defaulted with no interest etc which I know makes me very lucky but hold on in there until tomorrow, I am completely convinced that SC WILL have a solution for you. I really can't see that a court would uphold Santander either putting you out on the streets or removing the means for you to earn a living when you are doing everything you can to repay your debts and I'm sure those with far more experience than me will agree. Keep your chin up, hang on in there and I'm sure everyone has fingers crossed for you

Pickle29

Thanks to both of you for kind words and reassurance. I'm being impatient because I really thought I was on my way with this. Christmas will be very quiet, budgeted to the penny! No spare cash anywhere! Then to get this today, it's really knocked me back! Thankfully I got paid today so if SC say I can pay them, I will tomorrow and reduce what I pay sc at the end of the month!

Fingers crossed I will update you tomorrow x