Struggling with dmp

Sillypotato

I am their main carer and no I don’t receive any child maintenance and it’s not an avenue I’d be willing to explore for reasons not needed to be explained.

Sky is tided into a contract for a few more months and my phone bill is high I agree but its a contracted for another year and I’ve already sold the phone to pay other debts.
I haven’t spent money on catalogues since I went into dmp. The money was spent on other credit avenues if that’s what you mean by stop spending on catalogues after the DMP was started.

I have tried to cut down on food and I make most of our meals from fresh but I have two lunch boxes 5 days a week along with breakfast/dinner/snacks 7 days a week not including my own food. So that’s only 95 a week that includes nappies as well. And before you say nappies can be cheap, not when you have to buy specifically due to ezxcema.
But yes I see all your points and try to lower spending as it is. But even still I can’t afford to keep the dmp at the amount it is without the kids going without the basics.

theoretica

sourcrates wrote: »

You MUST submit a new budget to them, one that is workable for you,

This! You need to have a budget that actually matches reality - and make your reality match the budget. There is no point in juggling around numbers and leaving things out because they are 'luxuries' and then discovering you can't go without them and getting into debt. Once you have a budget that works for your life, then see how it matches with the various debt remedies and if it needs any little tweaks to fit their criteria.
(other child expenses = 0? Clothing the three of you for £240 a year including shoes?)

a_silver_lining

Hi there how long have you been on the DMP?

Sillypotato

I’ve been on the DMP since Oct 2017.

I’ve spent the last few hours working through my budget and I’ve tried to submit it online to StepChange but obviously where there’s money being used where I previously hadn’t stated as I hadn’t taken into account a lot clearly it means I have to ring them which I will do tomorrow as from my current budget even with cut backs we are left with nothing. Which is why I got into more debt over the last year to account for things I didn’t put in my budget in the first place.

LoulaBelle

Hiya - have you got an Aldi or Lidel near you? oh my goodness its a game changer foodwise - my 2 only take packed lunches as they don't like school dinners and you can get little cartons of drinks - pack of 3 for 49p fruit and veg are cheap - seriously check them out x

Sillypotato

Hi, yes I already shop in both of those shops and others to save money but my children eat ALOT for four year olds. I also buy yellow stickers and freeze when I can. But they have incredibly healthy appetites and no, they don’t eat processed foods hardly ever.

sourcrates

Sillypotato wrote: »

Hi, yes I already shop in both of those shops and others to save money but my children eat ALOT for four year olds. I also buy yellow stickers and freeze when I can. But they have incredibly healthy appetites and no, they don’t eat processed foods hardly ever.

Mine are just the same, i`m divorced, and only have them every two weeks for the weekends, but i can easily get through £50-60 each wk end just in food and treats.


I applaude people who manage on a £20 quid a week food budget, but i seriously don`t know how they do it, I think a DRO would suit you in your circumstances, and would urge you to find out more from stepchange, who are a recomended intermediary.

Sillypotato

I will ring them tomorrow morning and discuss the change in budget and options from then on.
I totally agree on that! £20 a week is just for lunch boxes alone half the time! And the last thing I want to do is stop them from eating good food and switch to processed rubbish due to lack of funds. It’s like my worst nightmare.

a_silver_lining

Sillypotato wrote: »

I’ve been on the DMP since Oct 2017.

I’ve spent the last few hours working through my budget and I’ve tried to submit it online to StepChange but obviously where there’s money being used where I previously hadn’t stated as I hadn’t taken into account a lot clearly it means I have to ring them which I will do tomorrow as from my current budget even with cut backs we are left with nothing. Which is why I got into more debt over the last year to account for things I didn’t put in my budget in the first place.

Thanks with a £2000 additional debt since you started that's an over spend of roughly £135pm. I was wondering if it had been a shorter time indicating a massive overspend. It isn't actually a massive amount, so I think it suggests that you haven't included enough for food and general children spends. Good luck, I'm sure you will get great advice here.

Sillypotato

Spoke to StepChange, was hard work to be fair. First Lady was really helpful and good, second man not so much. Added my latest debts onto the plan and due to benefit switches in the last 3 months I’ve become behind in council tax so until that’s cleared nothing can happen. Insolvency options wasn’t even discussed although my budget had little over 50 left at the end of everything.