Oh pants I messed up BIG!!!

Lucifa73

Broke_Bear wrote: »

As we go into the new year, I will be meal planning and prepping for us both and making sure the food budget is stripped to the bare minimum whilst keeping the healthy home cooked foods rather than cheap convenience. I have been researching meal prepping lunch ideas for me and OH as I have access to a microwave in work but he doesn't so dishes must be able to be eaten either hot or cold. So far the couple I have done have been a success so next week will be planned to a T.

If OH has access to a kettle/hot water at work you can make up your own pot noodles which will mean he gets a warm lunch occasionally. I do them regularly with leftover meat/veg which makes them extra cheap. I've also done rice pots using the same basic idea. If you look them up on the internet there are plenty of ideas.

Broke_Bear

Well, here we are half way though the year and the debt has barely moved one way or the other. I have come to the difficult conclusion that drastic action is called for. I have set the ball in motion for starting a DMP in order to get out of the debt cycle once and for all......wish me luck!!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Broke_Bear wrote: »

Well, here we are half way though the year and the debt has barely moved one way or the other. I have come to the difficult conclusion that drastic action is called for. I have set the ball in motion for starting a DMP in order to get out of the debt cycle once and for all......wish me luck!!

If you haven't managed to shift any debt in that time, you probably do need some help with it. You haven't done an SOA, so these suggestions might be rubbish, but
1) could you put some of the debt on your mortgage? I know that's frowned upon on this site, but I think as long as you then overpay to alleviate the long term interest costs, I don't see a problem as long as you're controlling your spending
2) could your OH 'lend' you the money and you pay him back long term by paying a higher proportion to the bills/mortgage in the long term
Like I said, might be silly suggestions, but just ideas

Broke_Bear

Thanks Ohsh, I have done an SOA with step change but don’t want to add it on here at the moment, OH is not in a position to assist with the above and as it stands the mortgage will be gone at about the same time as the DMP leaving us in a far better position at that time so we don’t want to add anything on to it.
I think a DMP is the best way at this stage so the long march will now officially begin as all letters were sent off yesterday. Many thanks for the suggestions though xx

Broke_Bear

Well a cra@py day in work, everyone wanting everything like yesterday!! End of month fever to get their targets I guess but it does mean my little team gets pulled every which way from Sunday... roll on next month!! ����

Well the sky has not fallen in yet, letters will not have arrived yet and no payment has been missed so that is hardly surprising, it does feel like all the plates I have been spinning to stay afloat are at that moment of suspension just before they all come tumbling down around my ears. Oh well it had to be done

Broke_Bear

Another busy one in work but seem to be making headway with the never ending in-tray!

Payday on Friday but cannot touch my wages until the 1st of the month as that will keep me straight in YNAB, I have enough petrol in the car, we have food in the house and I have £25.31 in the bank. I CAN DO THIS! I want to go into next month with a little bit left from this one to go into my EF.

I guess my letters will be starting to reach their destinations from today so I have no choice but to manage on what I have anyway...which is a good think and kind of the whole point!!

I have to work on Saturday but I am looking forward to getting out into the garden on Sunday as OH has pretty much finished the raised beds and I have lettuces and courgette plants to get in, I hope that this will save us some pennies on buying salads as I also have tomato plants outside, cucumbers on the kitchen windowsill and new potatoes in bags on the patio! With any luck we will have plenty of salads to see us through the rest of the summer in a few short weeks time. YAY

Treadingwater02

Hi Broke Bear,

Just wanted to say thanks for popping in and commenting on my diary, I have subscribed to yours as well so that we can plod through this debt busting together!

xx

Broke_Bear

Well I made all 5 token payments this evening of a whole £1.00 to each creditor. I know my letters are starting to arrive as (despite stating in the letters I only wished to be contacted in writing) I received a text from B card to say they have placed my account on hold as discussed! I suppose the text kind of counts as 'in writing' so can't grumble too much but as to the 'as discussed' part, I haven't discussed anything with them I just advised that they would be paid £1 per month for the next 3 months, I take this as their acceptance anyway!

In other news, I am sadly stuck in work tomorrow so will not be able to enjoy the garden in the sun until Sunday, I have a list of jobs to get done out there as long as my arm so I may have to rope in some assistance from OH and DSD and as it is my birthday weekend (although not till Monday for the actual date) they cannot refuse :rotfl:

Broke_Bear

Well work went without a hitch, quiet day really, lovely OH took me and DSD out for a birthday dinner to a local Italian for my birthday on the 1st, was a lovely meal and birthday treat. Sunday was a busy day, woke up early WHY????? so decided to get out in the garden, OH helped with the last bits for the raised bed then I managed to get my lettuce, courgettes and peas all planted out and hopefully they will grow away grand now (they were starting to look a little worse for wear in their little pots!). The DSD's Mum came over to collect her as they were in the area anyway so OH went out to get a few bits from Aldi that we needed while I had a little sit down (ok I caught up on some diaries ) and did the washing so I had clothes for this coming week in work!

Birthday came and went as I was in work but got some lovely cards from my colleagues and some pennies from the birthday club collection. I share a birthday with another colleague so we pooled some of our work birthday pennies to provide cakes and pizza for everyone (thank heavens the office is only relatively small!!) am still about £20 up on the work birthday pennies so this will go towards holiday spends at the family caravan in August (free holiday bar small treat spends as I am in debt don't you know :rotfl: )

On the debt front the only creditor I have heard back from so far is Barclays by text, I have had a reminder to pay text from MBNA (they never usually send this but I guess it may be due to having cancelled my DD) so I don't think they realise yet that the £1 payment made to them all already this month is all they will get until next month. I officially missed my payment date to Barclays today so the ball is officially rolling and the rest are due between now and the 15th so as I have not had acknowledgement letters yet I will be expecting the barrage of collections letters and calls to commence soon.

Hope all is well out there for everyone else xx

Broke_Bear

All plodding along quietly here, have been looking forward to this weekend as I have only had one day off in the last 14 so ready for it!!

Will be doing the garden, tidying the house and generally catching up with myself. DSD is over again this weekend, I might actually get to see her this time! Haha

In other news OH got a speeding ticket last weekend on his way to collect DSD so is under strict instructions to drive more slowly. Am hoping he gets offered the course so there would be no points to affect insurance.

On the pennies front, have still only heard from BC re the letters I sent out, they have frozen interest and fees for 30 days so I will send them another letter later this month to confirm they will only be getting token payments until October. I will send a second round out to the other creditors also so I can at least say I have done my but by keeping them informed even if they do not have the courtesy to reply!

Wishing everyone a good weekend xx