Puzz tries again.. this time with claws... My DMP Journey. I will get debt free...

StressedSteph

Morning Puzzcat,


I am tired this week too. Think its the miserable weather .


Fab news on still having £25 in the account at the end of the month. These small successes help keep us going.


I remember cutting up my cards, it's quite scary isn't it. Not sure what your payment plan is, but just got to make sure you pay over the minimum amount now and you will slowly chip them away. Mine are still here festering because I was daft enough to not pay more than the minimum amount for years .


So sweet of your mum to pay for your trip to Venice, you are so lucky. Like you said, it would be nice to pay for the odd meal, just to show willing. She probably won't let you though .


Hope you are into the warm today, away from this horrendous weather xx

Puzzcat

What a lovely weather wise day we are having today...


Hi ss, I am on a dmp with stepchange so no chance of me using cc's anymore..!!! Loving my dmp, my debts are finally going down after years of consolidating and snowballing badly...!!


Good news today, got my rac renewal, every year I get quotes online and check quidco, this year aa were offering £35 cashback on my policy so taking it to £99.. rac wanted £167... online they were offering it for £118.99 with a £20 fuel card.. nice man on phone offered it for online price £118.99 with an extra 3 months free...!! So £19.99 more than aa but no renewal until June 2015.... perfect... As my car is getting a little elderly this is a must not a need...

StressedSteph

Morning Puzzcat,


What a great deal with the RAC. Must admit we HAVE to have breakdown as both of our vehicles are getting a little elderly.


During our meltdown end of 2013, our breakdown cover expired and I couldn't afford to renew it. It felt horrible driving around, knowing that I had no help if I broke down :eek:. It really is a must.


I sometimes feel like we ought to be on a dmp, but I am such a control freak. Might end up on one if this LBM number 20 doesn't work out .


xxxx

Puzzcat

Thursday already.. the week's are just flying past at the moment...


Todays news.. well I've been and done the , love tesco's shop and scan its so good to be able to check prices as you are doing the shop and to keep an eye on the total.... so I was getting some small tins of bb priced at 34p and looked down and on the bottom shelf were tesco's low bb priced at 16p.. so grabbed a couple and scanned and they came out at 8p each.. so I got 8.. bargain.... its not like they go off in a hurry..!!! Last week I got washing gel tablets priced on shelf at £1.50 but scanned at 75p.. so bought 3 of those... wish i'd bought more now because of course they are long gone...


Statements coming in now so I'm recording balances, checking interest etc.. well no interest actually and ensuring it stays that way...


No news from FOS yet about creation, letter sent 17 days ago.. will wait for this months statement from creation then maybe give fos a call to ensure they have my letter...


Hi ss, Do you have breakdown cover now? I didn't have the money aside for it as obviously only been doing proper budgetting since Sept/Oct but this month is a free month with C.Tax so that will cover it and I shall make sure there is enough in my car saving pot for next June...


My problem with snowballing was I never had enough to stretch so every month it was back to the cc's so some would go up and some would go down.. that was for the last 5 years...!!! A dmp was right for me, but obviously not for everybody as it does trash your credit rating... I am now in control of my money instead of it being in control of me... I will miss my annual summer holiday but that was paid for in cash each year anyway, this year we have a wedding abroad so the flights for that have somewhat wiped out any savings for 'sun bed' days.. doesn't stop me dreaming though... Hopefully next year.. Boot fairs and Ebay and Overtime should do it...!!


I did pick up a half price duvet yesterday in Waitrose.. (well john lewis products..) for dd as her duvet was rubbish.. she was as snug as a bug last night so well worth the £15..:T
Right off to get on with some surveys as they won't do themselves unfortunately...


Forgot to add doing ok with the exercise... this is me...well maybe a little slower....

Puzzcat

Well having received my Feb statement from Creation and seeing only £4 come off the balance again it stirred me up to make contact with the FOS. I wrote to them on the 20th Jan but hadn't received any acknowledgement that they had receceived my complaint.
So this morning I rang them and there was a processing error and my ack letter wasn't sent, but they have the complaint and in fact sent it off for investigation yesterday... guess we watch this space then....


They are the only creditor charging me interest and I would rather like my full dmp payment to come off my debt not keep lining the creditors pockets....


Other news.... Half term nearly upon us.. I have currently got 3 days booked off but think I'll go mad and take the whole 5.. not that dd needs me to be here all the time but as I won't be having my usual long jolly in the summer I can afford to use more leave now and we can get some sorting done ready for boot fairs/music magpie and ebay....


One poll up to £34.10 this morning... £5.70 till payout and that will be going in the wedding fund for August. Still not got round to doing other surveys.. really must... Have just finished a RM one so a £5 Love 2 shop voucher should be on its way.. I also have £20 in my shopandscan account but i'm going to leave those out of my signature for now.


Still aiming at doing another OT visit this month, so that will be another few pennies for my Venice trip with Mum in May..


Have a girlie night at a friends house in a few weeks time, was going to get a cab.. they quoted £30...:eek: Sure I can buy a car for that.. so me and another friend will have a think on that one... This is why I like to host rather than attend...!!! Also with HT, dd will need cash for doing things.. definately a meal out and cinema trip planned, plus haircut this weekend for her... This months CB should cover that little lot....


This month does seem to have been a spendy month and even though a short one, payday still 2 weeks away... ho hum...

StressedSteph

Morning Puzzcat,


Well done for plugging away with Creation. Like you said, if you could get EVERY debt on zero interest then you will kick the debt so much quicker. I have a couple of debts that are still charging, but they are in hubbys name, and as much as he is onboard with the whole debt busting, he is not a "make telephone calls" kind of guy, let alone difficult ones like please stop the interest charges causes I'm broke type of call . Wondering now if I could type a letter and if that would work???


Yes we do have breakdown cover now. Got the basic AA cover for £11.90 per month (car & Van cover). Feels a weight off my mind having it as both vehicles are past their prime.


Well done on the surveys you are doing great. I could never stick to them, it takes too long.


Well done on checking out the future cost of the taxi. could you or your friend beg a lift home from a partner or friend? Just a thought.


Hope you are having a good week. Looking forward to half term. Hate the school run routine. xxx

Puzzcat

:jIts Friday.....


And pouring with rain again.... on the positive though it keeps the snow away.....


So last day today and then 9 days off.... I love having time off work..... I have a few things that I need to do with dd and she has a few plans of her own, other than that, its mine.. all mine... I shall try and do a few overtime visits, note the word try.....


Did my trip to Makro for my supply of loo rolls and chicken breasts.. strange combination I know.. but the breasts are huge.... and I buy 5kg for £20... cling wrap them all seperately before freezing.. so I now have 17 massive breasts.. (beginning to sound a bit wrong now...:rotfl:) in my freezer... They are so big that I only need 1 between the 2 of us when using them diced so they go along way....


One Poll £34.65, but got some surveys waiting for me.. also got an invite to test some Tesco Finest Pasta, from a sight I signed up on from these boards...


Hi SS.. Unfortunately with regards to my proposed girlie night out, the roads over her direction are flooded and the main one is closed so cabs are going to make the most of the situation and over charge.. plus that was the quote for one way.....!!! Am still pondering that one...


Right onwards and upwards.. the weekend is so close i can almost touch it.. lie in's here I come...


Oh and Happy Valentines Day.. what a load of rubbish.. we are celebrating with some Fish & Chips... First takeaway of 2014... OH is paying....

Puzzcat

So day 1 of 9.... Lots of cleaning and washing done today... was expecting an overnight house guest today but they have had to move to tomorrow which means my meal plan has also had to move..


So tonight its.. Christmas dinner....:rotfl:Stuffed Turkey Breast Joint that I picked up 2 of reduced to £1.20 during christmas and new year... even got myself some sprouts...




Have bagged up another £10 of 20p's for the christmas fund, will bank those next week.


Lovely Fish & Chips last night, shame OH didn't take enough cash to pay for them mind and as they know me, they said don't worry I can drop it in, in the week.. luckily its only £2..90 and not the whole amount...


No other plans for today.. Tomorrow dd's having her hair done by a creative stylist no less... I did mine with the scissors this morning....

Puzzcat

One poll up to £35.75... £4.25 till pay out..


OH gave me £20 towards DD's haircut, it cost £40 but she hasn't had a proper cut since last summer and it looks lovely ...


Also night out next saturday now cancelled as too confusing with the diversions/floods/closed roads... so that will save me the taxi money... although we are meeting up for lunch instead during the week but I shall drive to that so shouldn't be more than a tenner..


No other money news... Oh is suggesting we book a holiday (as in dd and I) need to sit him down and find out what his contribution would be... he's hinted that he will pay for it, I'm umming and aahhing about this one as we already have the wedding abroad, albeit 2 days and my trip to venice with mum when I will need some spends..... We can go out of school holidays this year though as dd finishes in June... He is a very kind man, but I know the offer comes on the back of him wanting to go off to NZ and OZ again come the new year... will continue to ponder...


No other plans today, ironing to do and a bit of clearing up, feel a bit chesty today.. hope i'm not coming down with something for my HT hols...

StressedSteph

Morning Puzzcat.

Sounds like you had a good weekend.

Good news on oh paying half of Dd's haircut and the night out being cancelled. We had a night out cancelled Saturday night and all I could think of was how we had saved £40 :T.

Not sure what to think about the holiday. Would be fab, but how much will it cost.? is your Oh's finances separate to yours so he may pay a lot towards it and then be able to fund his Oz trip on his own?? In the headspace I am in at the moment, I would rather plough all of that into paying off debt, but not sure how tied in to payments you are on a DMP so that may not be an option anyway.


If you can find a way to afford it then that would be fab. I am hoping to use our tent again this summer, If it EVER stops raining .

Take care, have a good Monday xx