My journey to a debt free life

Onebrokelady

I didn't think it was possible this week but work was even worse today, I'm off tomorrow though so I'm not going to think about it
I am having an ongoing battle to get shifts on a Sunday,since I cut my hours I need more unsocial hours to make up the deficit and it's just not happening,I checked the off duty today and there are not other HCAs working on a Sunday for the rest of this month so I could have worked any of them,I'm really peed off about this because I was told I couldn't have them because other people want them,it's because they want me there on a Monday to cover a clinic but one of my colleagues could cover the Monday clinic,it's so frustrating

I have now decided to call Stepchange tomorrow to tell them I can't afford my current payments,I was waiting to see if I was going to be given some more sundays but I'm not going to be so I need to base my income on last months pay,this included one Saturday and one Sunday which is the minimum I normally get( apart from this month when all I have is one Saturday) we will see what they say tomorrow,I can't go on paying the same amount though when my income has dropped so much,they have my income as £1250 because they added three months pay together and divided it to come up with that figure,my pay now is £1090 so £160 less, I'm not sure what will happen but I will just have to deal with it

I was reading the DMP Mutual Support Thread and there are people on there who have had to reduce their payments for various reasons and and it's been fine,so I don't see why I can't do the same

Willowtree222

i'm sure they'll be understanding if your income has dropped. They'll have to be.

Sorry about the lack of Saturdays and Sundays. It doesn't seem to be making sense why they wouldn't use you. x

Onebrokelady

Nicnak wrote: »

i'm sure they'll be understanding if your income has dropped. They'll have to be.

Sorry about the lack of Saturdays and Sundays. It doesn't seem to be making sense why they wouldn't use you. x

It's because they want me to cover a clinic on the Monday,I'm not allowed to work two days in a row,so if i work Monday I can't work Sunday,I checked today and I am covering clinics every Monday for the rest of this month:mad:

Willowtree222

If your colleague can do it though...anyway... never mind. Frustrating for you though. x

HairyHandofDartmoor

I'm sure Stepchange will not have a problem with it. If your wages go down then your debt payments go down, it's a simple equation and it happens all the time, so don't worry about it. Ring Stepchange and get it sorted and then it will be off your mind .

Onebrokelady

Nicnak wrote: »

If your colleague can do it though...anyway... never mind. Frustrating for you though. x

I know I don't get it either,I know the person who does our rotas has been told to cover the clinics as a priority but she has also been told I can work two sundays,I've spoken to her but she doesn't listen,she has got a Sunday shift this month though 😫

Onebrokelady

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I'm sure Stepchange will not have a problem with it. If your wages go down then your debt payments go down, it's a simple equation and it happens all the time, so don't worry about it. Ring Stepchange and get it sorted and then it will be off your mind .

:j:j:j I did it :j:j:j

Onebrokelady

After a fairly good nights sleep I woke up at 9 this morning and phoned SC to tell them about my circumstance change,I spoke to a lovely lady who was very helpful,my plan has now been changed to reflect my new budget and is now £79 a month instead of £134,the first payment comes out on the 1st of December,it's added another 7 years onto my plan which I'm a bit sad about but I'm just going to have to play the long game with this.
I need to be able to live at the same time as paying people off,I intend to pay back every penny I owe but it might just take a long time to do it,I'm now hoping creditors accept the new payment
The lady I spoke to today used today's phone call as my annual review so I won't need to do one in February now and the date of following ones will change to November

I'm just calming down and trying to stop shaking and I will be going into town to make a start on my Xmas shopping,I've just been on Amazun and put the books DD wants I into my basket and I'm just going to check in town that they aren't on offer anywhere then if not I will order them when I get back

foxgloves

Oh well done, OBL. I can understand that the 7 extra years isn't what you want, but who knows what could happen to your circumstances in that time? I think the difference in monthly payment from over £130 to £79 shows why it was such a struggle to try & pay the old amount on your reduced working hours. I hope you are not feeling as shaky now & can plan your new budget taking into account the new amount. Now, m'duck, I say this as one big ex-spender to another......don't go mad at Christmas. I'm sure you won't, as it sounds as though you are being sensible with checking prices for offers, etc, & you even put those Ferrero Rochers back the other day (I thought of you doing that when I saw some in town recently!), but it's so easy to get carried away, isn't it? I'm planning on chucking all mr f's nectar points at our festive grocery shopping again. We did that last year & it worked really well. I also get as much into the freezer between now & then, so it doesn't all come out of one month's pay packet. At the end of the day, it's a big roast dinner & some nice treats, isn't it? None of us need a two-week wall to wall face-stuffing marathon (though this hasn't always been my view & certainly not mr f's in the past, lol!)
So, I'm glad you put your big girl's pants on & made that call - as in everything, slow & steady wins the race. That debt isn't going anywhere except down. You have to have a sensible amount to live on & as this issue with your hours seems to be a sticky one at the moment, it sounds like you have done exactly the right thing.
Now have a nice calm evening with your sewing.
F x

Kitten868

Well done you! You've done it. You had to call. You had to reduce your payment. It was the right thing to do. DMPs have to be affordable. No one thinks you're trying to get out of paying- every one is cheering you on for nailing your budget! For getting on top of your finances. You are really doing this. I'm sorry your debt free date has been extended BUT it was necessary. Keep going 1BL - you're an inspiration xxxx