DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 11

make_the_change

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Hi MTC

I'd write to them again, saying I will only discuss this in writing and the calls will now be classed as harassment.

In terms of what to do about getting a default, I think you have to stay strong and cut payments to a minimum or stop altogether, is the default so important for a reason? Possibly someone whose done this might be of help. I think 'Time to face the music' did something similar, maybe checking her past posts might be useful.

Saz

The reason I want defaults ASAP is because my DMP will take a long time to pay off therefore it's advantageous to have the default and 6 year marker set in stone. I think I will make my complaints and stop paying. Hopefully get that default ASAP and then start again. Thanks x

make_the_change

BeingDebtFreeStartsHere wrote: »

Afternoon everyone,

Not specifically DMP related but kind of as it's all about saving money

Trying desperately to stay within budget for the weekly family food shop (approx £60 - £65) - anyone got any good ideas for cheap and simple dishes for families? My daughter is pretty fussy with her food - I want us to start eating healthier as a family instead of the usual oven cook stuff like fish fingers and pizzas etc.

Any ideas welcome!!!!

Take care,

BDFSH x

We have a small shopping budget and I too am healthy eating (currently on a diet!). I tend to buy yellow stickered things. For example, rolls, crumpets, wraps etc.... They go straight into freezer and then take them out when needed. I found I was wasting bread products and this works so well for us now. I also check out yellow stickered meat and then freeze. If there are 6 pork loins in a pack, I portion them up and freeze.

I cook a lot of stir frys, packed with veg and served with rice or noodles. Just need a cupboard of Chinese staples. I can then use chicken, prawns, beef, pork or even turkey in them. Sometimes if I use a jar of pasta sauce, any of the sauce I don't use will get frozen too. Pasta bakes are great and you can throw in anything (sausage and tomato, ham and creme fraiche, to name a couple). My kids love pitta bread so can make their own dinners and again freeze them and take out what's needed. Casseroles. Soups. Any leftovers frozen! Fajitas, homemade pizza so kids can be involved. That's a few ideas off the top of my head x

Oh and just remembered, I saw this years ago about using rice crispies as a batter for chicken (Sainsburys have now advertised this idea). Cut chickn breast into gougons, coat with a sauce base (I use cream cheese or BBQ sauce or mayo) and then roll in rice crispies that have been lightly crushed and seasoned. Bake in the oven until cooked. Taste lovely! x

System

BeingDebtFreeStartsHere wrote: »

Afternoon everyone,

Not specifically DMP related but kind of as it's all about saving money

Trying desperately to stay within budget for the weekly family food shop (approx £60 - £65) - anyone got any good ideas for cheap and simple dishes for families? My daughter is pretty fussy with her food - I want us to start eating healthier as a family instead of the usual oven cook stuff like fish fingers and pizzas etc.

Any ideas welcome!!!!

Take care,

BDFSH x

Hi,
I've found the netmums menu planners really useful - most recipes are easy to make, and reasonable. They have a veggi version and a reduced meat version which is useful as I have tried cutting down on meat to help make things cheaper.
We make our own fish fingers - buy the fish and then mix 50g of flour with 50g of polenta (or replace both for breadcrumbs), dip in egg and fry...really tasty.
here's the link: http://www.netmums.com/family-food/meal-planner

Have you joined the grocery challenge on the old style money saving board? Loads of recipe ideas on that post which is helpful (almost too many!!)

I find sticking to the food budget really tough - have to be super organised and planned, and try and batch cook when I can.

Good luck Ramble x

BeingDebtFreeStartsHere

make_the_change wrote: »

We have a small shopping budget and I too am healthy eating (currently on a diet!). I tend to buy yellow stickered things. For example, rolls, crumpets, wraps etc.... They go straight into freezer and then take them out when needed. I found I was wasting bread products and this works so well for us now. I also check out yellow stickered meat and then freeze. If there are 6 pork loins in a pack, I portion them up and freeze.

I cook a lot of stir frys, packed with veg and served with rice or noodles. Just need a cupboard of Chinese staples. I can then use chicken, prawns, beef, pork or even turkey in them. Sometimes if I use a jar of pasta sauce, any of the sauce I don't use will get frozen too. Pasta bakes are great and you can throw in anything (sausage and tomato, ham and creme fraiche, to name a couple). My kids love pitta bread so can make their own dinners and again freeze them and take out what's needed. Casseroles. Soups. Any leftovers frozen! Fajitas, homemade pizza so kids can be involved. That's a few ideas off the top of my head x

Oh and just remembered, I saw this years ago about using rice crispies as a batter for chicken (Sainsburys have now advertised this idea). Cut chickn breast into gougons, coat with a sauce base (I use cream cheese or BBQ sauce or mayo) and then roll in rice crispies that have been lightly crushed and seasoned. Bake in the oven until cooked. Taste lovely! x

Amazing ideas!! Thanks make_the_change xx

BeingDebtFreeStartsHere

ramblehan wrote: »

Hi,
I've found the netmums menu planners really useful - most recipes are easy to make, and reasonable. They have a veggi version and a reduced meat version which is useful as I have tried cutting down on meat to help make things cheaper.
We make our own fish fingers - buy the fish and then mix 50g of flour with 50g of polenta (or replace both for breadcrumbs), dip in egg and fry...really tasty.
here's the link: http://www.netmums.com/family-food/meal-planner

Have you joined the grocery challenge on the old style money saving board? Loads of recipe ideas on that post which is helpful (almost too many!!)

I find sticking to the food budget really tough - have to be super organised and planned, and try and batch cook when I can.

Good luck Ramble x

Thanks so much Ramble Will definitely look at the netmums link and the grocery challenge
It is so tough - I am now trying to be super organised and plan each meal carefully in advance - only buying what I need. I do love a challenge though!!!

Take care,

BDFSH x

blisteringblue

The downside to my week off gutting the loft is the endless Ebay listing and Music Magpie-ing on the flip side. Might just about be worth it if there is a nice pot of cash at the end but I will be glad to get back to work tomorrow for a rest

January2015

Just logged into our two BC accounts. DH's account let me log in just fine. My account :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j online access restricted :j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Hopefully this is the first step towards a much wanted default (well I can dream can't I :rotfl:)

For both accounts, the online screen has been showing 'CARD CANCELLED' for several months now. DHs balance is over 10 times what my balance is. We are still paying token £1 per month and they are not complaining or adding any interest or charges.

January2015

January2015 wrote: »

Just logged into our two BC accounts. DH's account let me log in just fine. My account :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j online access restricted :j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Hopefully this is the first step towards a much wanted default (well I can dream can't I :rotfl:)

For both accounts, the online screen has been showing 'CARD CANCELLED' for several months now. DHs balance is over 10 times what my balance is. We are still paying token £1 per month and they are not complaining or adding any interest or charges.

Just logged into Noddle for DH and myself and I am soooo pleased to report we have 9 out of 11 accounts defaulted :j Yes - you can guess which two are not defaulted. BC are a pain in the proverbial, but we will get there

We started out with 12 creditors and cleared 1 completely. We now have 11 creditors. We are making self managed DMP payments to 10 of them. The 11th one is, we believe, unenforceable and we are playing the 'prove it' game at the moment, if for no other reason that it buys us time to build up our F&F fund.

At the rate we are paying the debts off we would not be debt free until 2026 :eek: (because we now pay less than we did when we were with SC). However, I am aiming for a DF date of 2020 - with the help of some F&Fs along the way. We did make F&F offers earlier this year but none came back low enough to make it worth us doing, so as we are not paying interest or charges anywhere we are just plodding on and saving where we can. We will try again in about a year or so.

BeingDebtFreeStartsHere

January2015 wrote: »

Just logged into Noddle for DH and myself and I am soooo pleased to report we have 9 out of 11 accounts defaulted :j Yes - you can guess which two are not defaulted. BC are a pain in the proverbial, but we will get there

We started out with 12 creditors and cleared 1 completely. We now have 11 creditors. We are making self managed DMP payments to 10 of them. The 11th one is, we believe, unenforceable and we are playing the 'prove it' game at the moment, if for no other reason that it buys us time to build up our F&F fund.

At the rate we are paying the debts off we would not be debt free until 2026 :eek: (because we now pay less than we did when we were with SC). However, I am aiming for a DF date of 2020 - with the help of some F&Fs along the way. We did make F&F offers earlier this year but none came back low enough to make it worth us doing, so as we are not paying interest or charges anywhere we are just plodding on and saving where we can. We will try again in about a year or so.

Great news Jan!!

2020 will be here before you know it - we're getting close to 2017!! :eek:

I still can't believe we're almost 2 years into our DMP - still a long way to go but taking it one day at a time

Take care and keep up the great work x

BDFSH x

January2015

January2015 wrote: »

Just logged into our two BC accounts. DH's account let me log in just fine. My account :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j online access restricted :j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Hopefully this is the first step towards a much wanted default (well I can dream can't I :rotfl:)

January2015 wrote: »

Just logged into Noddle for DH and myself and I am soooo pleased to report we have 9 out of 11 accounts defaulted :j Yes - you can guess which two are not defaulted. BC are a pain in the proverbial, but we will get there

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

*****C*E*L*E*B*R*A*T*I*O*N*****T*I*M*E*****

Letter from BC received today. "Important information about your account - a Default has been registered on your credit file"

Actually quite a nice letter, thanks me for keeping them informed about my debt problems - says they are sorry to hear of my problems. Says they didn't expect me to clear the arrears but now must register a default with credit reference agences. Then it goes on to let me know about it being on my file for 6 years etc etc. Then finally tells me there is nothing else I need to do, but reminds me they are there to support and help me.

One BC account down.....one account to go :T

Overall account progress ten defaults, one to go.....as I said previously, we are getting there. I honestly don't think this would be the case had we remained with SC - self managed and manipulating the token payment thing has bought this about. It was January 2016 that we went self managed - so this particular BC battle has taken 8 months.