We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

brizzledfw · 28 November 2013 at 9:17PM

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

OH's payday to day, yippee. Paying the usual stuff today.

We do have extra spends, OHs going to get light bulbs tonight. We need a few, particularly the outside lights (by the door which is in the pitch black at the moment). I think they will come to about £18.

Also the 'other car' needs a bulb. That will be the 3rd car bulb we have replaced this year!!

I spoke to OH last night about the possibility of us managing our DMP ourselves in the new year. There are few cards that I think the debt isn't enforceable (having read some posts on here and the messages we have received in the past). It's just a thought at the moment.:o

xx

What would you have to do Alice? I know you're busy so is it too much or would it be much cheaper?

Baileys_Babe · 29 November 2013 at 8:46AM

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

I spoke to OH last night about the possibility of us managing our DMP ourselves in the new year. There are few cards that I think the debt isn't enforceable (having read some posts on here and the messages we have received in the past). It's just a thought at the moment.:o

xx

I have no idea about these things, what are the advantages of managing your DMP yourself? would it be a lot more work for you?

Alice_in_Poorland · 1 December 2013 at 10:10AM

brizzledfw wrote: »

What would you have to do Alice? I know you're busy so is it too much or would it be much cheaper?

Baileys_Babe wrote: »

I have no idea about these things, what are the advantages of managing your DMP yourself? would it be a lot more work for you?

I think one of the advantages is that we could pay our debt off a bit quicker. If we put the CCs that we disputing on hold whilst we sort the paperwork out we could put some more money to the other debts (which we can't do on our DMP as everybody has to be paid equally). The big worry for me is if the phone calls start again, I really couldn't cope with them (calling at work etc). It would be a bit more work as at the moment we just pay stepchange every month and they do the rest. I'm going to read a few more blogs and get some more hints and tips and then we'll see.

I don't want to keep wishing the next 5 years away just so we'd of paid the debt off.:(

xx

Alice_in_Poorland · 1 December 2013 at 10:34AM

We've had a rocky couple of days. OH dropped one of the bulbs he bought on Thursday night, and of course it had to be the most expensive one.

Then we tried to work out how much money we needed in the entertainment/social fund over the next few weeks. OH said he needed £40 for one of his nights out (last night)!! Which caused another row and in the end he did only spend £15 (I dropped him off and picked him up to save on taxi fair).

I think things have been a bit fraught over the last fews weeks the niggly rows were just a release from both of us. Also I am finding it really stressful keeping our situation from our families. I can't wait for it all to be paid off.:(:o

Yesterday we went to sburys, spent £69 but that did include a DVD (present, money from present pot) and some chocolates for the advent calender (£5), so £55ish on food not too bad and we'd got some pizzas for DS2 and his friends who slept over last night.........and because we had company the heating stayed on into the evening.

Last month we spent £305 on food, which is the best month for the past 2 years but as I've been helping out elsewhere we did have a couple of take outs/fast foods which we wouldn't normally have.

Petrol was £220...gulp and £30 in the 'other car', this was because I did extra travelling so hopefully back to normal this month.

We've just finished a jar of coffee so I'm going to start collecting 5p's in that, won't be adding them up as we go along but will open it on 1st December 2014.

Today we're going to collect all the leaves up and wash the cars and the in-laws are coming for dinner.:eek::rotfl:

xx

grannyx2 · 1 December 2013 at 10:40AM

I think one of the hardest things about this whole DFW situation is trying to keep up appearances with family and friends.

petrol is dreadfully expensive at the moment, my car seems to drink it like water.

Hope things are ok now you've cleared the air

5p jar sounds like a good idea.

Granny x

amber03 · 2 December 2013 at 9:02PM

You never know, some of your family or friends maybe in the same situation as you and again like you are slowly getting themselves out of the mess without telling others. Maybe some of them could be on these boards without you knowing. :)x

Alice_in_Poorland · 3 December 2013 at 9:54PM

grannyx2 wrote: »

I think one of the hardest things about this whole DFW situation is trying to keep up appearances with family and friends.

petrol is dreadfully expensive at the moment, my car seems to drink it like water.

Hope things are ok now you've cleared the air

5p jar sounds like a good idea.

Granny x

I agree Granny, it's all just an act.......and that makes me feel a bit fake at times.

I'm really trying to keep the petrol spends down this month but there is a lot of running about to do.

Me and OH are OK, still plodding.

xx

amber03 wrote: »

You never know, some of your family or friends maybe in the same situation as you and again like you are slowly getting themselves out of the mess without telling others. Maybe some of them could be on these boards without you knowing. :)x

Now that is a scary thought amber if people I know in 'real life' are on here too.

xx

Alice_in_Poorland · 3 December 2013 at 9:59PM

Yesterday and today were NSDs......I'm sure I've had more of them since I stopped keeping count.:rotfl:

Have updated spending diary/budget tonight.....usual first two weeks of the month.:(

Must get quotes for house insurance!

Heating is going on for 4 hours a day at the moment, not happy about it but its a compromise with OH.

xx

grannyx2 · 3 December 2013 at 10:47PM

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

I agree Granny, it's all just an act.......and that makes me feel a bit fake at times.

Now that is a scary thought amber if people I know in 'real life' are on here too.

xx

Yes I feel a bit fake at times too, not that the important family members don't know things are tight for me. Anyone who knows me well would also see that I've cut back but haven't had things spelt out to them.

As for someone I know in rl being on here and recognising me, oh perish the thought.

Granny x

brizzledfw · 5 December 2013 at 10:52PM

Alice..sorry it's hard at the mo. You do so well and you're certainly not fake. Just trying to protect family from the harsh truth. Many more than you think either have or have had money troubles..honestly it's so much prevalent than you think.

You're doing so well. Please please don't beat yourself up

Have a mince pie and a glass of wine from me!:beer:

We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free