DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Julie67

Happy Easter all,

Thanks for the good wishes growurown, I am on anti biotics for the tooth so hoping it will be ok. It's manageable but still sore.
RAC as GUO said it took ages for any of ours to respond but most did eventually, not HSBC but new they would be difficult.
I've just started fasting on two days a week so am hoping our food bill will reduce slightly:D
I have a set amount per week for food, so work out what your average weekly spend is x 52 divided by 12. I use my debit card usually but keep all my receipts and tot up so I know where I'm up to. If we overspend I know to transfer a bit more in from our other account where I keep my emergency fund.
It's now at zero as we too had extra expenses in March that I wasn't expecting. I'm hoping to get some money in there this month. Although I also have new glasses to lay for next month.
Ah well, not going to stress and its not a fasting day so going off to enjoy a big breakfast.
Have a lovely Easter x

Time_to_face_the_music

Growurown wrote: »

I find cash works best for us. We both shop and buy food depending on our work schedule so it is hard to keep track on what the other one is spending. With cash you can see exactly where you are. Some people divide their monthly food budget by five even if it is a four week month and put that money by for emergencies.

I'm another fan of cash for everything. It means we know exactly where we are with our bank account and the rule is, when it's gone, it's gone and no paying on the debit card!

I loved the 5 week month tip and we did this for a few months and paid the extra money off an interest charging debt. Sadly my pay has changed to a fixed date each month so there are no set 4 and 5 week months any more. Mr TTFTM gets paid a week before me so we try and pay money off all debts from his pay, then DDs and live for the month off mine.

Expensive month this month with granddaughter's birthday and a cracked windscreen. Here's hoping better for all of us next month

Mossop01

RAC0207 wrote: »

Hi everyone

Just a quick update to say that my DMP is starting on 1st April. So far out of 11 creditors MBNA are the only ones to acknowledge the DMP and accept the payment proposal and rduced interest to 0%. Have had a letter from HFC whom I have a personal loan with (who have not acknowledged the DMP or that I have written to them to explain my financial difficulties) stating that I am one payment in arrears and I have been charged for this. I am worried about my overdrafts too, I have not received any correspondence from my bank regarding the DMP and as I am charged £90 a month for these accounts I'm not sure what I should do. Do I just leave the accounts and allow the charges to increase the debit balance? Also looking for a bit of advice regarding budgetting. With regards to food bills etc what do the rest of you do to make sure you are not overspending. I know that most of you use spreadsheets which would probably be the best idea but with a new baby and a 5 year old I have very little time to sit down at the laptop and when I do I'm usually fast alseep within seconds! My budget for food is £412 so I'm thinking of dividing this into a weekly amount and then taking it out of the bank and putting it into a jar so that i can keep tabs on it - has anyone got any better advice? All in all this process is only just starting for me but I have to say it is the first time in years that I have actually felt reasonably in control of my finances and not worrying about whether I'm going to have enough to pay all the bills on time. Anyway 1 crediotor down, only 10 to go!!!

Hi i started my dmp on 1st march, i have 10 creditors and like you mbna were the first to respond, i chased the others up after a few weeks and they then responded, for some reason some if them dont choose to respond until asked to. All my creditors have now accepted plan and stopped interest until yearly review date.
As far as budgetting is concerned, i take weekly cash out for food and petrol and put in into separate envelopes, bit old school i know but i find it easier and also by using cash im more reluctant to part with my pennies. The rest i leave in bank account for emergencies.
It is a bit daunting at first and sone days at the beginning i worried was i doing the right thing, but now i just wish we had started this journey earlier!
Good luck!

Mossop01

Julie67 wrote: »

Happy Easter all,

Thanks for the good wishes growurown, I am on anti biotics for the tooth so hoping it will be ok. It's manageable but still sore.
RAC as GUO said it took ages for any of ours to respond but most did eventually, not HSBC but new they would be difficult.
I've just started fasting on two days a week so am hoping our food bill will reduce slightly:D
I have a set amount per week for food, so work out what your average weekly spend is x 52 divided by 12. I use my debit card usually but keep all my receipts and tot up so I know where I'm up to. If we overspend I know to transfer a bit more in from our other account where I keep my emergency fund.
It's now at zero as we too had extra expenses in March that I wasn't expecting. I'm hoping to get some money in there this month. Although I also have new glasses to lay for next month.
Ah well, not going to stress and its not a fasting day so going off to enjoy a big breakfast.
Have a lovely Easter x

Hi julie theres always something isnt there, weve had an unexpected bill this month too, normally i would have just put it on credit card, but this month i could actually pay it from emergency fund! How amazing is that! Emergency fund now empty tho.... So please god no more emergencies til next month haha
Hope the tooth is on the mend
Happy easter x

Mossop01

Hi all just thought id share my little win with u all, took my little boy to swim lessons on thurs, whilst watching i leant against some woodwork which was recently varnished, but with no " wet paint" to warn people. I got some varnish on my coat ( quite old coat) and informed the manager of this who apologised and gave me my little boys next term swimming fees for free!! Thats £79.50 next month i dont need to find! Woohooo
And the varnish has come out if my coat after careful scrubbing!! Result

Alice_in_Welfareland

It appears to be the good news for many persons here. Now please for the spring weather too as it is colder here than in my home land. I wish God Paaske or the Happy Easter to you all.

Alice

Growurown

Mossop01 wrote: »

Hi all just thought id share my little win with u all, took my little boy to swim lessons on thurs, whilst watching i leant against some woodwork which was recently varnished, but with no " wet paint" to warn people. I got some varnish on my coat ( quite old coat) and informed the manager of this who apologised and gave me my little boys next term swimming fees for free!! Thats £79.50 next month i dont need to find! Woohooo
And the varnish has come out if my coat after careful scrubbing!! Result

It's great when you get a win! I recently helped someone to move and they gave me a paddling pool, quite a large one. OH got very fed up 'more rubbish taking up space' blah, blah, blah.

In summer (if it ever arrives) he will be very grateful for that pool especially when his six small nieces and nephews arrive!

Find_The_Real

Hello all

Good see to most of us are having little breakthroughs. It is always nice to hear about the positives as well as when sometimes don't go quite so well.

It is strange but before my LBM I never realised that such small things could seem a moment of happiness like some bargain, freebie or additional saving and it really does make me appreciate things in life a lot more now. I also think how lucky I am to have such great family, friends and my fellow DMPers on here.

Yes I still have a bit of a wobble sometimes but I know as soon as I come on here, see what everyone else has been up to and just to share how we are coping with it all, that any negative point or rant can be dealt with and every success however small is celebrated.

Happy Easter everyone.

Julie67

mossop yay on the swimming lessons:j:j
grow it own own yay on the paddling pool:j:p
I found some baby wool stashed away yesterday that I though I would have to buy, we are expecting a new grandchild in October so am beginning a baby blanket.
Your right find the real, I really appreciate the little things I would have once taken for granted.
I was given a new leather bag yesterday, absolutely gorgeous but too heavy for my aunt to carry. I love it, am so pleased and even better it was free. I will make her a cake to say thank you.
You realise on this DMP journey every single penny is important, I honestly think its made me a better person, much more thankful for what I have, I count my blessings every day, sorry to get soppy still emotional over the new grand baby news:D
Have a lovely Saturday all x

Mossop01

Hi julie, congrats on the new grand baby news! How exciting!!! X