DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part Three)

Reformed_Shopaholic_2

rugby6ft8 wrote: »

I really don't think that there's anything that can be done. Is it normal to feel like this? I just want to take my dogs out and keep on walking etc... I've got so many concerns that I just dont know where to start - I feel like a faliure.

Hi Rugby and well done for taking the first step:T - I don't know what the weeks ahead will hold but I can tell you that you are definitely not a failure and everyone here will support you with any advice you might need. They're a great bunch.

If you do take the dogs out to get some fresh air and clear your head, make sure you come back online as i'm sure you'll have a lot of support on here - well done, it will be hard at first (and i'm just starting to face up to my debt problems this week) but I know people on here understand :grouphug:

It's really difficult taking that first step but you have done it and things can only get better from now on. Don't be so hard on yourself ok.

Tigert

SNOW!!! - I'm jealous

Bright Sunshine here but it's a little cold.

Writing letters today - Lot of post yesterday, mostly from creditors saying that there had been no contact from Payplan :-( Will ask Payplan to contact them again, but as they've had the first payment, I'll point out that that will be the offer.

On the bright side - It's Sunday - So no post :-)

No chocolate left though - pigged out on mini chocolate rolls yesterday and only have 1 left.

Reformed_Shopaholic_2

WhoopieDoodle wrote: »

RS - Payplan told us, last week, that MBNA cannot touch an Alliance and Leicester bank account unless the credit card is with Alliance and Leicester. So, we are going to continue banking with them as OH card is NOT an A&L card, but a BMI one (I think, there is so many of them!)

Bless you Whoopie and thank you :A
feel better now going to get those letters done..promise

WhoopieDoodle

Truly, I was sorry to hear about the sad loss of your dog. I know how attached we become to our dear family pets - I had a black labrador for many years and my heart broke when we lost him. We have an english cocker spaniel now and he keeps me sane and happy.

yellowmonkey

Rugby.

You have taken the first step and the road to recovery has started.It is daunting when faced with the debt we have aquired over the years but I have paid off over 3k in a year. I am looking forward to going sub 25K soon and ,at the end of the day, to quote and old cliche "It is only money". There are more important things in this wonderfull world including friends and family and ,if you have it, simple things like the sight of snow and the smell of cut grass etc. Anyway getting sloppy now so I wish you the best and good luck. Dont stand in any dogs poop though on your walk :rotfl:.

ym

trulymadlydeeply_indebt!

moneysavingmumofone wrote: »

Hello all, just wondered if anyone could help!
We thought we were getting on ok paying things but so many creditors keep saying they'll accept a certain amount each month then the next time we speak to them they say theyve got nothing on record Its just all getting on top of us now, me and oh keep arguing because we never have any money. First, we just wanted to plough every penny into paying things off things keep cropping up and interest and charges keep being added and we're getting nowhere. To top it off ohs p60 has arrived and based on those details, on the entitledto.co.uk website it says we're only entitled to £16 a week tax credits but we get £42 a week so im guessing we're going to owe them money But it also works out he's bringing home £1380 a month but its £1230/£1260 most months
Could someone please explain what exactly a dmp is and what it entails? I have a vague idea but not 100% clear.
When you're on a dmp can you save up any spare money you have each month and pay off the debts when youve got enough money saved?
Once youve added up rent, food etc is the amount left over ALL split between creditors? Say you were left with £268 would every penny be gone?
Thankyou

Hi there. I'm so glad you asked that question as I naively thought they wouldn't take every last penny you had left, but if this is the case, then I may have to fudge my numbers whilst I'm sitting here doing my I&E this morning.

I thought they would look at what you had left and then maybe take a percentage of it, leaving you a buffer for the unexpected. oh eck. Smilealot answered that they take the lot. That would put a spanner in the works for me as OH wants to go BR so that we're not forking out £500 per month on debt and can get on with living. In his mind, we've more than paid back what the original amounts were and that all we're doing now is paying interest on what we've borrowed and they can go whistle for it. He'd rather line our pockets than theirs.

Wish it was Wednesday morning so I can speak to my interviewer and get on with it.

Good luck on your quest.

WhoopieDoodle

Yes, the creditors will say they have not heard from Payplan but it is a load of nonsense. They will say anything at first, to try and get you to pay more money. Just stick to your guns and repeat the same information to them (it's boring, but it will get through eventually).

I do like to have some control over the situation, so when I receive letters from creditors, I always reply before sending the documentation to Payplan.

Yes, the snow is really deep. Had a lovely walk in it first thing this morning (trying to burn off the Easter Egg) and will be going out again soon.

For those of you worrying (we all do, but it is worse at first), you will find that every thought is consumed by the debt etc, but honestly, as each day goes by you will stop thinking about it so much and realise there is more to life. I'm not talking out of my backside here, it's true. We have to get on with life, we are paying the debt off and we need to concentrate on the good things going for us and the fact that we are not getting into more debt.

You are not a failure. Everyone makes mistakes in life and we learn from them.

That's Whoopie's lesson for the day. Amen!

trulymadlydeeply_indebt!

WhoopieDoodle wrote: »

Truly, I was sorry to hear about the sad loss of your dog. I know how attached we become to our dear family pets - I had a black labrador for many years and my heart broke when we lost him. We have an english cocker spaniel now and he keeps me sane and happy.

Thank ayou WoopieDoodle. He was a 14 year old Bearded Collie I'd had from 6 weeks old, so he reached a good old age for his size. He was on his last legs and had been for many years. People have been saying to me for about 4 years, God he's still going strong. Arthritis has been an issue for many years now, but recently he has started fouling inside and not even noticing he's done it plus he was shaking his head a lot. Think it was some form of doggie Parkinsons. Once he stopped barking to go outdoors to do his business, I realised that he had lost the plot. Spent the last few months coming downstairs, muttering "Please be dead, please be dead". That may sound wrong, but I couldn't face having to make the decision myself. That said, I have been to the vets with him every fortnight since November (major costs!) and they kept saying "no, he's not ready to go yet". Glad in some ways, but there's only so many times you can drive 15 miles to the vet with a heavy heart thinking today's the day he goes and then bringing him back home. It was playing havoc with my heart and my head. But at least it's done now and he isn't suffering.

Thank you all for your kind words.

WhoopieDoodle

Truly, the only way we have been able to create extra money for emergencies etc, is declare the full amount for groceries, clothing, prescriptions etc, but not use all the money for these. Our grocery bill is nowhere what Payplan have allowed, so we use the extra for an emergency fund. Also, if I don't spend what I have budgeted a week (which I never do), I put this away into a birthday fund. Also, OH and I do not need the clothing allowance, so this is used for something else (digital/internet).

OH also does overtime when he can which we are trying to save for when the mortgage converts to variable (we have a fixed rate at the moment).

With a lot of creative book-keeping, you can have surplus money to put into your pocket which, in my opinion, is imperative. After all, if we do not have a back-up fund and something needs repairing, we may need to stop paying the creditors and we do not want that to happen, whatever it takes.

WhoopieDoodle

Truly, I really do emphasise with you. My labrador became pretty senile, and was soiling in the house and now realising. We kept trying different things from the Vets, but to no avail so we had to make the sad decision to have him put down. It was pretty awful, but it was the right thing to do. You will have lots of lovely memories of your dog and these will never leave you.

I was loathe to have another dog, knowing how hard it was to say goodbye, but now we have Jake I wouldn't be without him and I still love my old labrador and miss him.

Take care and try to have a good day