Teeny tiny steps

MMC87

Thanks everyone. I’ll have a go at doing an SOA!

MMC87

I wasn’t able to copy my SOA on iPhone and I don’t have a computer at home. However, it was worth doing. I realised from the results that my own calculations were wildly incorrect. After paying off rent, DMP, general bills, travel and food then I would have about £30 left over. One dentist appointment or cab to the hospital with a broken foot (you wouldn’t believe how many times....) and I’d be stuffed. And to think, I was worried that I’d only have 200 quid to live off!!

Anyway, I bit the bullet and decided to give StepChange a ring (mainly because they emailed me about something odd looking in the original budget I sent to them). I don’t want to repeat what I already wrote in the DMP thread but I’m immensely glad I rang. The advisor was brilliant - so positive, understanding and good natured.

I’m going to be paying £390 per month instead of £544. I honestly don’t feel this will push my DFD too far back because my plan is to pay that for a couple of months, get used to budgeting properly for the first time in my life and then add a reasonable amount each month, depending on where I find I can save.

Even during the conversation, I accepted/admitted that I spend too much on food but he still suggested upping my budget for food so it was realistic. We agreed on £45 per week but I’m confident that I can get this down to £35, for example and then straight away, there’s an extra £400 a year towards clearing off debt.

I feel like this DMP is already an emotional rollercoaster. This morning, my eyes were closed and I was hanging on for dear life. Now, I am upside down with my arms in the air and shouting ‘Wooooo’.

MMC87

Plan - started!
First payment - 10th January!

Day to get confirmation of plan being in place: 7!!

MMC87

Today was my first proper day at work where I wasn’t distracted by thoughts of creditors, potential starvation and death. It was cool. Lots of people mentioned noticing that I just looked a bit healthier which I’m I have decided to call my DMP glow

I inputted my new bank details on the self service thingry and rang HR to confirm it was all sorted. When they asked security questions, I got the name of my bank wrong, leading me to celebrate down the phone because I realised that meant the change had occurred automatically. I changed my answer, got my confirmation and left the bewildered sounding agent to go about her day.

I’m grateful to have my Virgin Money account for my pay to go into at the end of the month but already, I’m considering getting a different basic bank account. With Virgin, I can’t transfer money via internet banking - something I had totally missed during the psychological war I was fighting a few weeks ago.

I’m going to look into other options as I houseshare so transfers are how we pay things. If I can find an account, I’ll keep the Virgin one as any emergency fund. If not, my housemates will half to accept cash for my share of some of the bills.

I am beyond stressing over money, though. There’s a always a way.

MMC87

My zero hours place just confirmed that my bank details were sorted in time for my salary this week. Hopefully Nationwide won’t raid my account now that SC has started to contact them as I’m due around £90 which will go straight into my emergency fund.

MMC87

Were not sorted **

motivated

MMC87 wrote: »

My zero hours place just confirmed that my bank details were sorted in time for my salary this week. Hopefully Nationwide won’t raid my account now that SC has started to contact them as I’m due around £90 which will go straight into my emergency fund.

Hopefully MMC you can get to the bank before anyone goes in to take any money

Fingers crossed
M

MMC87

Possibly naive on my part but SC sent the letters yesterday and I assume it will take at least a few days for them to be received, processed and actioned.

MMC87

Money from zero hours went into Nationwide this morning so transferred it into my Virgin Money account and it’s all safe and sound. Will spend some of it on for the next week or so (I’m home alone over Christmas so will probably make myself something nice for my Christmas day DVD marathon and then batch cook something for the rest of the week.

I’m also putting some towards travel to see family in a January as I incorporated this into my budget (at the suggestion of SC which I didn’t expect). Will be the first time I have seen them in the past year where I haven’t been too distracted by debt worries to just enjoy their company. Something to look forward to for the first week of Jan!

MMC87

*some of it on FOOD for next week