6 weeks on

[Firefox]

well folks its been a whole six weeks (I think) since I made my final payment and I wanted to share with you all how things have been going since.

On the IVA front it seems that here was one claim still outstanding from HSBC which is holding things up for completion, they have another 8 weeks before they are excluded so you have to assume that they will get their act together and put in their formal claim. Its a bit irritating that 6 years ago they were happy to chase me to my grave, but now I am finding it a challenge to give them anything at all...... Hey ho just have to be patient I guess.

I had my first full salary payment post IVA two weeks ago and let me tell you it feels mighty strange knowing that I can keep the lot. I have found that I feel guilty every time I spend money on anything and it is genuinely taking some getting used to. We are now in the "re-building phase" of our plan putting some cash away each month and being proper cautious with the rest. Our plan to have a nice meal out to celebrate the first salary but decided against it in the end, opting instead to give the kids a little present each and keep the rest of the money in the famous "tin" (the eagle eyed amongst you will know what I am on about from previous posts). What has been most strange is that whilst I don't have to watch the pennies in quite the same way as before, I find that I cant help but continue with the frugal ways I have learned, (they call it learned behaviour), in fact my first weekly shop actually cost me less than usual because I hunted out some absolutely amazing bargains!

Reflecting on my new life post IVA I feel like I have been through some kind of financial rehabilitation which has left me wiser, smarter and a great deal more cautious. If I don't need it (even if I can afford it) I wont buy it... know what I mean?? Dont get m wrong it is very liberating and clears some headspace which allows you to actually think about the odd treat, but the biggest thing for me is that I can start to plan again. Casting my mind back to the few months before the IVA I was like a man driving around at dusk in the fog wearing a pair of sun glasses... I was a man with no plan.... it was truly awful... Now, I have a clear plan, a pretty good idea of where I am going and the confidence to get there in my own time, with no added pressure.

I would love to know if anyone has had the same experiences as me.....

Take care and good luck on your IVA journeys

[plasticdaft]

Great post mate. Any insolvency can be a very liberating experience,especially if you have been juggling debt for years before acting to deal with them!!

Paul

[Firefox]

Let me tell you I was juggling so much that I thought I might get an unsolicited job offer from the Moscow state circus!

[plasticdaft]

we could have formed a double act,I always felt I could do with throwing some credit cards balances away to someone else!!!

Paul

[Hippo]

Hi

Just enjoy your freedom again and I am planning everythnng fot when mine is sorted next year the 4 years have gone past fairly quickly and I think that at the start you need to first accept you are to blame and then be proud of yourself that you have had the guts to get the problems sorted and then keep yourself motivated to get the IVA done.
At the end of the day you are paying back what you borrowed to some extent and its no use feeling sorry for yourself or what other people are doing with there lives Most likely thay are running up huge bills and being miserable The way the country is for the last couple of years I think that to be paying your way and getting through is a big achievement
AS I read here the IVA Process is a financil teacher for you and at the end of the 5 years you will be stronger for it Everybody makes mistakes or gets in situations that get out of hand But its how you deal with them that matters in the end I find having a close friend to just get a few things off your mind helps a lot I dont see it as anything to be ashamed of or get miserable about Just have to resign yourself to get through to the end and just think of it as you bought something expensive and now you are paying the bank for the next 5 years
Anyways congrats and post back how you get on and it gives hope and encouragemnt to others
take care

[Firefox]

Nice one hippo. The last year was hard work for me, a bit like watching a kettle boil... well done on getting to the last hurdle and good luck

[Louise.bb]

thanks for this. I can identify so much with the 'no plan' as that is exactly how I have been feeling for months. going around and around in circles digging a bigger hole, soul destroying, if I had not found this forum and words of help like this I would be no further forward, the best of luck to you and yours for the future xx

[MrsKnight]

Great posts hippo & firefox, it's lovely to hear about successful journeys x