DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Mossop01 wrote: »

Hi all, had a bit of worrying news today, my OH job is in the balance and without his wage we really will be up the creek, dont really know what would happen to us if this is the case ....worried.com
Find out next week, so not much sleep going on in this house!

Sorry to hear this, family first debt second. Let's cross the bridge if it comes to it, be assured your debts will keep, any person judging it will see it is out of your hands etc and that you need to eat first. We will be here

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Beagles wrote: »

One of the things we have learnt over the course of our DMP (seven years in and only two more payments to go :j) is that there's almost nothing that can go wrong with a washing machine that can't be repaired for a few tens of pounds, and things like freezers and dishwashers can be found second hand very cheaply on eBay. Before our DMP we bought nothing second hand but we changed our attitude and now look on it not only as saving us money but as environmentally better as well so in fact I'm proud of it.

Wow, two more payments.... that's amazing. What's the plan after the DFD?

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Find_The_Real wrote: »

Hello all

Sorry to read about a few problems in the posts today, I guess that is something we all experience on the DMP journey and I do hope you all get them sorted out. Good luck also to those sorting out those people who we keep in employment with all the calls they make!

I'm beginning to wonder it my phone has stopped working as so far all has been quiet but it can only be a matter of days before they are onto me.

Happy birthday as well Julie, I hope you had a good day.

Glad you are enjoying the peace.

HHx

Julie67

Thanks for the Birthday wishes, and thanks TTFTM twice;)

I never thought I would say it but I'm actually waiting for the post at the moment. I realise we've had some positive responses so far and I'm sure they will not all be so straight forward but at least we are dealing with our debt and not pretending to live at a level we seriously cannot afford.
I'm so much happier really thinking about whether I actually need something and don't just want it. We have been so inventive, fixing things and selling things and reusing stuff. We would never have done this previously.
It's such a relief on Friday, as we do our weekly shop, knowing that we have a fixed amount in the bank to use for food, instead of panicking what can we afford and what will not get paid this week.
Although its early days, I am convinced this is the best way forward:D

Beagles

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Wow, two more payments.... that's amazing. What's the plan after the DFD?

HHx

All the money we currently pay to our DMP will go to a savings account instead. Over the course of each year we intend to use/enjoy half of it (family holiday, supporting kids at university) and put half towards mortgage over payments - which will take another ten years at least!

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Beagles wrote: »

All the money we currently pay to our DMP will go to a savings account instead. Over the course of each year we intend to use/enjoy half of it (family holiday, supporting kids at university) and put half towards mortgage over payments - which will take another ten years at least!

That sounds like a well balanced plan.

Congratulations and enjoy your DFD and life beyond

HHx

Alice_in_Welfareland

Quarry wrote: »

Hello again.
I've had my telephone interview with StepChange and my income is not sufficient for them to put in place a DMP. I'll still keep an eye on this forum but I'm obviously not in the same position as most members.
Does anyone know of any homeworking opportunities provided by honest organisations? I'm going to look at the various ways of making extra cash which have been posted on this website, however I really need regular work.
Thanks.
Q.:)

Step Change is not the only way. Try the on line search for My Money Steps or North East Derbyshire CAB and a DMP.

Quarry

Allypops wrote: »

You could try having a look on the National Debtline website to see if there is anything you can do yourself in terms of a self-managed DMP or making token payments for now.

As far as homeworking, I think you have to be careful as there are some rip-off merchants about. A good starting point might be to head over to the Up your Income thread. There might be some ideas for you there but of course you have to be wary of anything that might affect entitlement to any benefits etc you may be receiving.

Good luck with everything and I hope things pick up for you soon.

Thanks Allypops. I'll check out your suggestions. I don't qualify for benefits because I'm fotunate to have a small occupational pension. The downside of this is that it disqualifies me from benefits but leaves me worse off than if I could get benefits! The upside is that every penny earned is profit (after tax).
Another irony is that my mortgage is much lower than the cheapest rents in my area, which are amongst the lowest in the country. If my creditors take my house, no landlord is likely to let to me because my income is so low!
Moral - 1. Don't get into debt. 2. Don't get ill. 3. Don't get old.

What's interesting is that StepChange only really help the better off. If you can't afford a DMP you're on your own dealing with the creditors. The threats, the stress and the uncertainty are what will harm people's health. I'm a survivor and resourceful and I still have some choices so I'll battle on.
I think I'll post an SOA.
Thank you again and have a happy life.
Q

Quarry

catandy wrote: »

I had the same response from StepChange as you regarding income - did they not suggest you make nominal payments to your creditors until such time you are in position to put together a formal DMP? That was what they suggested for me and although the £1 per month to each of my creditors feels a paltry amount it has been enough for all but 2 of them freeze interest and give me a chance to get back on an even keel with a bit of an income coming in.

dont know if you're in the same situation but it worked for me so maybe worth speaking to stepchange again - first time I spoke to them their advice was to go bankrupt which I obviously didnt want to do.

anyway i hope it works out for you.

Hello catandy. I'm resisting the £1 route as long as I can but in the end a DMP isn't totally secure I suppose because people on DMPs could lose their jobs or become ill. StepChange suggested I sell my house but failed to understand that my mortgage is much lower than the cheapest rents, I wouldn't get housing benefit because I have a small occupational pension and would struggle to find a property to rent because of my low income.
I've got a bit of time left before I'm forced to stop paying my creditors and hope to find work I can do from home (I am unwell ) before I run out of options.

The best of luck to you.
Q.:)

Find_The_Real

Hello Quarry

I do hope you can find a solution to your problems, I would recommend making an appointment with CAB to see what they have to say and to advise on perhaps any benefits you may be entitled to even though you have a small pension, especially as you are now ill. They can also advise on your debts.

A SOA would be a good idea as it may be able to highlight savings that could be made to be able to consider a better payment plan towards your creditors, I am not sure SC help the better off but it is more likely to get accepted if you can show a certain level of payment rather than just offering the lowest amount possible (if that makes sense!)

As for the house it would be very rare for you to lose it from unsecured debts and I doubt very much a judge would throw you out the house because of that, they are very reasonable having just had my house repossessed. Generally it would mean probably at the worst a charging order which means when the house it sold for any reason the debts would need to be paid off from that.

Good luck with it all and I do hope you don't give up and keep seeking advice until you find the solution to help you the most.