Reeling from the Reality Check

there_is_a_light_2

Hi HB, sounds like it's all moving along nicely and you've made good progress since I last checked in! Good luck with getting the new account / DDs set up.
I'm been veggie for as long as I can remember, but unfortunately the rest of my family remain to be convinced. Would be good to share others ideas/recipes, as at the moment, by the time everyone else has been fed I can't be bothered making something separate for myself so I definitely need inspiration in that area!
Have a good weekend, onwards and upwards! x

Historybuff

Thanks TIAL, All going OK thanks.
Just had a letter back from the endowment complaint...saying we should have complained before now and are out of the timescale. I'm going to write back, though and put a case for why it took us until now to complain and also will put a complaint into the FO. Even if we don't get anything I think it's worth giving it a go.
Also a letter from the final CC agreeing to the payment plan...good news. Now all I have to sort out is the overdrafts which I can't do till the beginning of April.
Enjoying the rest of the weekend.

Historybuff

What a lovely day! First day of Spring! I was supposed to get up early to do a carboot, but couldn't get out of bed, I'm afraid. So van needs emptying and I'll try again next week!
I've made a prototype decoration with my material stash for my daughter's stall, so will get on with those so she has them to sell for Mother's Day. Had a look online and have ordered the cookbook from A Girl Called Jack and the Money Diet from Martin. Essential reading to help me in my new frugal regime.
Took my dad out last night to a swing band concert, which he loved, and we ended up winning the first prize in the raffle of a food hamper and a bottle of champagne! Brilliant or what!
So all in all a good weekend. Feeling OK about the debt situation now that it is under control and just finishing off watching the hoarding programme from the other day on catch up.
The sunshine is a great feel good factor!

in_need_of_direction

as is a win, well done you

Historybuff

So going self-managed DMP is not all hunky dory. Despite getting an assurance from one CC over the phone that the payment I made at the end of Feb would suffice till March payday was a LIE! Although the payment I made was double the amount and I was assured it could be for Feb and March, they have insisted that I make the agreed payment this week for March or the agreement will not be valid. Swines! I'm now £93 worse off for food and fuel and only have £70 to last me until 21st March. I have learned my lesson...I will follow up all phone calls in writing in future.
Well I have spent this afternoon getting the standing orders organised on the new account. I've found all the account numbers and phone numbers for all the direct debits to do those tomorrow. I'm now going to cancel all the direct debits on the old account as they have all been paid this month. Things are moving along. I only have ten days to survive till payday. A few NSDs are on the cards, I think.

Historybuff

Phoned round all the DDs. All but two have changed the details over the phone. New banking arrangements almost all in place. Everything has been taken out the old bank for this month, so going to fill up the car with diesel this pm and take the last of the cash out before contacting the old bank to try to get the overdrafts on a reduced payment plan with frozen interest.
Had a good look over all the old paperwork I have for my finances and I've found some evidence of PPI and lots of credit card and bank charges. I'm seriously considering firing off letters to them all to try to claim PPI, fees and charges back. I'll have a good look at the forum boards first and start getting the letters together to go off next week.
The endowment people have replied and say we should have complained about the shortfall well before now. I am, however, going to write back with good reasons why we haven't decided to claim until now and will refer it to the Ombudsman if necessary. I don't think time should matter. The endowment is still in force and we are paying it until 2016. I'm going to have a go anyway.
So looking forward to seeing the big 'monster' debt numbers start to go down!

in_need_of_direction

Great to hear you sound so motivated. Keep up the good work

Historybuff

Last CC sent confirmation letter of payment plan and frozen interest and charges...v good. Not done much more personal finance over the last couple of days due to being really busy at work. Will get organised for next Monday. Going to have the weekend off!

turfy6

Hi HB just read your diary from the beginning, you are doing so well and have come so far in such a short time. I too managed our own debt, but never managed to get interest stopped, still have been rid of the dreaded cc for two years now, will never get another one. Feels great when you start making progress, wish I'd done it sooner. Been on my Debt quest since 2009 still a while to go but this site keeps you motivated, keep going and I will subscribe. Welcome aboard.:beer:

Historybuff

Thanks turfy, I've taken a long hard look and decided i need to deal with the debt. I think it's been an achievement this last couple of months to keep the debt from increasing after years of spending more money than is coming in and only paying off the minimum on CCs. That takes a huge mind shift in itself.
I've decided I'm going to challenge myself to feed us on £10 next week. I've got the 'Girl Called Jack' cookbook and after watching the Sport Relief 'poverty' programme and how much some people have to manage on each week, I think an extreme challenge is in order. I want to stop myself going on autopilot in the supermarket. I still sometimes find myself filling up the trolley and buying for five, even though now all the kids have gone and we are only two!
I also invested in Martin's Money Diet book this week, which I will be dipping into to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Eight days till payday. £94 left - loadsamoney! Lol!