Gemmzie's DMP Diary (Year Two)

Gemmzie

It's so hard because the solutions are there;
lower gas, leccy, sky
increase income
cut food budget

But none of it actually seems to be possible I'm so stuck

Gemmzie

First bill for January has come in and it's the phone bill for £11.32 so £3.68 saved already Okay it's not a lot but still it'll be put towards another debt, all helps right!

Gemmzie

Think I've got next year's budget sorted for now, it's all a bit temperamental though because my brother plans to move out soon. Can we say that to the creditors?

angelflower_2

gemmzie

I am afraid i dont have any big advice and forgive me for saying but sky had to go....its a luxuary and whether or not it causes arguments...on the budget you have, you cant afford it.

Glad the budget for 2008 is worked out. What can you all do as a family to try and increase your income? You could say you can only keep sky if you work out a way to increase your income by the same amount.....you could try clicks, mystery shopping, ebay/amazon/car booties etc

Gemmzie

Thanks angelflower, I know it needs to be cut down, getting rid of it altogether would be silly as we get our broadband from them for £5, cheapest other supplier here is £25, the lowest Sky package is about that.
I've tried that approach but apparently he's entitled to it as he works hard :mad: :rolleyes:

Gemmzie

This month's challenge to ourselves is food. So we normally spend £400 a month. Now we did have quite a few bits and bobs left from Christmas but so far this month (12 days in), we've spent £62 :j
So we are way under budget So much so we are able to treat my dad to a Chinese for his birthday so that's him fed for the weekend too.
Well happy with that

beanielou

Great Gemmzie.

Gemmzie

Okay, new budget goes off to capital one today with a letter explaining any items that have changed. Wish us luck!

taxi73

Hi Gemmzie,
Sorry not very good at DMPs so can't help there.Cutting the food down is a very good option.Also can whoever else who lives there help financially at all?..also the tax these aren't to be messed with you will either have to pay in full or ring them and ask if you can reduce payments beware as the tax can bankrupt anyone owing them but in years gone by I had to phone them as we were in a bad position so they took so much a month of us ..so would this be better than using the o/d...just scraping about for ideas ..sorry....

Gemmzie

Thanks taxi. I've got enough together to pay the tax just. Not sure how we'll make it through February but we'll see.

We are doing really well on the food this month. Only £243 spent and that's including dad's birthday meal. We don't really know how we were spending so much before! We'll have to see how next month goes...

Have been reading a lot about SAR requests on here lately, now most of the debts have a nice chunk of charges on them from when we first tried to set up the DMP (the highest being £570-ish in six weeks - huh?!). I wonder when the best time is to request these to get these charges written off?