Living costs

violet888

I've been on my dmp with SC for coming up to 2 yrs, started with Token and now paying around £100 over various debts. I need to do my review but I'm not sure how to handle it as this yr we both became pensioners and carrying on working part-time as we have not had a new kitchen for nigh on 30 years + we needed to buy a car as our son's was on loan to us until working again after lockdown.  We saved & got a cheap car but now saving for a basic kitchen, but how do I reflect those on the plan?  Both are necessary and by no means frivolous.  I am really stressed about this and don't know how to handle it. Is it best I take over and do a self-managed plan? And if so, how do I change, is that acceptable?   Thank you for any advice you can offer.

sourcrates

Don`t be stressed, a DMP is an informal plan, with no real rules, you can do mainly as you wish, if you need a car, buy a car, if you need a kitchen, then buy a kitchen, you just tell stepchange what you have done and why, you don`t look for agreement, you simply say I needed this, this and this, this is what it cost, this is what I can afford going forward.

They are quite understanding of things like this, and I don`t want to downplay their role one bit, but they act for you, not the other way around, you are the one in charge of this, all they do is act as an intermediary, that`s it, you do not have  to justify yourself to anyone.