My DMP diary - 2026 (year 1)

getoutofdebtcard

Keep up the good work! I haven’t updated my DMP road, as I’m going through many many things but I’m reminded of you as we started roughly the same time! (I’ve changed my username, felt it had a tad too personal info on it)

your posts keep me sane! I hope you get all your complaints upheld and in timely order. I’ve done a handful but not all of it, it’s mentally draining and takes a long time. I’ve tried to get the big ones out of the way first and at least the ball rolling.

Tomorrow will be my first pay without having to worry about whether I will survive or not! Last month was a horror show, so close to mentally breaking (still am) but payday is here and I will actually have money!! Will go into pots of course, exciting times

Let’s get through this together!

(I am tempted to keep a CC just so I can have purchase protection) however I have not had to use this at all for the 12 years of adulthood, so trying to steer myself out of the thought of it.

Another reason why my diary isn’t up to date! I ramble and do not know how to structure myself, I am just vomiting thoughts! So I will end it there, have a goodnight!

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982048#Comment_81982048

It is all a bit of an emotional drain isn’t it. I’m looking forward to getting to the other side of “this bit” when everything has defaulted and I’m just doing a standing order to everyone and they leave me alone lol

Now that I’m putting what I need into pots I realise how little extra I have for debt repayments compared to what I have been paying (with then living cost going on to credit as I didn’t have enough left to cover it). Such a mad circle isn’t it.

good luck - we will get there 😬🤯

SpireCaptain

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982099#Comment_81982099

That's what I'm worrying about seeing in black and white on the banking app. Yes, I've been paying £900, but I then used it for council tax, water and food shopping once it's cleared on the card so the £200 my SOA with Citizens Advice for debt repayment will probably be more like £100 between 8 creditors...plus the £900 would take me into the overdraft every month so it wasn't actually money that I had to hand. One big spiral downwards.

You're doing great both of you guys and what a relief about the mortgage fix! Phew!

SpireCaptain

Vomiting thoughts! I like that. Exactly how I feel facing my diary updates. Nearly 25 years since I last wrote an essay at Uni so out of touch so to speak. Just keep at it, any post I read I always tend to give a thumbs up so people know they're being read 👍

Smudgeismydog

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982048#Comment_81982048

You don’t need to keep a cc for purchase protection, once you are out the other side of this, and you will be, perhaps then consider a cc which is paid off in full each month. But right now, please no x

getoutofdebtcard

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982262#Comment_81982262

thank you for saying that! I’m just so conditioned to having a credit card, I’m still fighting internally with myself, you are right, plus the cards I have are all predatory! I do not have one normal credit card

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982116#Comment_81982116

I keep thinking how on earth have I serviced this level of debt for so long then I remember I have 70k of debt (and STILL getting offers in the post and by email for further debt every couple of days). I’ve been paying around £1100 a month towards debt for about 7 years and it has only ever gone up. Absolutely mad. 🤯

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982267#Comment_81982267

I know what you mean. I have a few cc with 0 balance and I was also wondering whether to keep one open. I hadn’t thought about closing accounts and cards yet so that will be the thing to think about once all this bit is over.

getoutofdebtcard

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982342#Comment_81982342

I’ve maxed all mine out, so it would be hard in my position to justify keeping them, since they will probably close my accounts themselves anyway.

If I were in your position with £0 balance on a credit card. I would definitely keep one! But lock it up and actually only use it for essentially needed protection, like purchasing a holiday/flights or anything important. Since I am now understanding the root cause of my issue (adhd/autism)

But yeah that’s just my opinion and what I would do if I still had a cc that was £0 balance! ONLY for actual purchase protection and pay the balance off straight away

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81982359#Comment_81982359

we are twins - I’m also autistic/adhd which is so difficult to manage with the combined impulsiveness and then overwhelm. I wish I could sign up to something where any applications for credit are put on ice for 7 /14/28 days and then I have to reconfirm that I want to apply.

E.g about 8 years ago I decided at 10pm I needed to get an extension and had applied for and received a random huge amount of money within 10 minutes. (not enough for an extension but how would I know as I had no quotes so had just decided and based it on an extension I’d had 20y before) That loan is paid off now but paying it off caused me to get in loads more debt as I couldn’t afford it and also had to take out a second loan to finish the damn thing.