A real bad day today

[dcl]

Why does it always happen at a weekend??

Car trouble, car tax and then an increase from Powergen all in one day. The car tax was budgeted for but the rest not unfortunately.

I thought almost 4 years in to my IVA things were staring to get easier but obviously not.

Powergen put the payments up by £66 a month and the car needs servicing and work to the tune of £400 so there goes any xmas I was planning for.

It may sound like I'm on a right downer right now and I am, but hey, we all deal with this and I'll pull through and in December hopefully things will get better but November looks like a bread and water month for me [:(]!!

Maybe its just Saturday Night Staying In blues for me really!!!!

[scaredkez]

dcl hang in there nearly at the end of it all, ok you are having a nightmare month they all come to give us grief, but you are nearly at the end don't lose hope now, i can certainly tell you of many bad months and a very bad year, but we have come through it, in a couple of months when this is all over you will laugh and say did i really go through that, chin up mate, it will all come good in the end.
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[dcl]

Thanks Scaredkez, sometimes a bit of support is all you need. I know of the hardtimes you've had to as I read the forum daily but sometimes it gets a little too much and you need a moan.

I will go on from this and will complete my IVA, 15 months to go and counting. I know, and always knew this year would be the hardest financially but during the 3 and a half or so years to date I've lost a parent and so has my partner and nothing hurts like that so financial problems have there place but they are not the be all and end all of everyday life.

I sit here now with 35p in the bank and I need food for the week but I'll survive if it means 'borrowing' some bread from my mum for sandwiches for the week. Sometimes I read how hard people do have it on here and I feel guilty because I think that I have it easy until a day like today arrives and then it brings everything home.

[scaredkez]

dcl you will make it, i am so sorry you have only 35p in the bank to be honest i haven't much more, i think life likes to throw everything it can at you to see how you cope, i am sorry also you have lost loved ones along the way it always makes the journey harder, but that is life and we have to take what it throws at us, i haven't lived under an iva, only the first few months of my debt problem when my ip took me for a ride and know how hard that was then , i admire you for being this far in, by reading your post you hopefully have a loving family who will see you through this week,
you have nothing to feel guilty about you faced your problems and dealt with them, anyone living under an iva knows what it is like, it is breadline sorry to say, no room for anything more, don't get me wrong i would never have made an iva no matter how i tried as i couldn't have stuck to such a rigid budget with 3 kids, don't give up now, 15 months is nothing to what you have been through so far, just keep telling yourself what you pay into your iva each month will soon be yours for keeps.
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[dcl]

Thanks again, your words do make me feel better and upset me all at the same time, don't worry its good thing, it just makes me see it will be worth it in the long run.
Luckily for me I have a well paid job and no children so I really only had to think about me in this situation and an IVA was best for me (and my creditors), i could have gone bankrupt and it would have all been over by now but I feel stronger because I had the choice and chose the IVA. I know some people aren't as fortunate as me to have that choice.
I'm so thankful on the kind words about losing loved ones because it was losing my Dad that brought my whole IVA to light when I was asked to contribute towards the funeral and had to admit why I couldn't. It lead me to an understanding family that I didn't realise I had so maybe that was an upside of a very desperate lonely situation.
35p is more than the £1600 od I had before [:)], that makes me happier

[tracy.h]

Hi dcl
Ireally do know where you are coming from,but you have come a long way and that in its self is somthing to be proud of.
We are nursing my father inlaw who has terminal cancer,and is going down hill fast its so hard to see someone you care for who has been such a strong influence in your life loose there battle.
As you say it certainly does put things in perspective,but even so we still have to carry on and you should be proud in 15 months you will be able to begin a new chapter in your life.
Be strong your lucky to have the love and support of your family it makes a big difference.
Take care any time you want to post we are always here as you say it helps to talk.

Tracy

[OPTIMIST12]

Hi dcl -

Can I just say I hope you feel better today. I am only 8 payments into my IVA and the end still seems an eternity away. It is reading posts like yours from people who have stuck with it for so long that helps me remain positive - and shows that people DO see IVAs through for the duration.

Good Luck and well done for getting through the first (nearly) 4 years.

[dcl]

Thanks all, I do feel abit better today, the suns shining and I'll be going out for a nice healthy long walk shortly with my partner (not that he knows that yet [:)]).

Tracy sorry to hear about your situation but I'm sure you know that other areas of your life are more important than money.

Optimist its good to be able to help others by showing that you can hang on in there and really try to complete an IVA, you may only be 8 months in and it may be a hard slog but it really does fly by. I remember being at the 6 month mark and thinking I'd never make it but looking back now I can't believe how quickly its gone and the knowing that in 15 months time I will be debt free drives me forward completely now.

[thebear29uk]

Hi dcl

I'm assuming Powergen have assessed your bills and decided you are using more than your current amount covers. My supplier has tried this on me on more than one occasion. I have informed them that I dont want it to go up by as much as they say because I might have been using more power in the last 12 months than I intend to in the next 12. If it helps you why not tell them you'll put it up by £30 and re-assess in 12 months. That way you'll be closer to the completion of the IVA.

Just a thought.

Dave.

[tracy.h]

or tell them if you can't come to an agreement that suits your financail needs you will contact another supplier,there is so much competition about,i'm sure they won't want to loose a valuable customer.

[dcl]

Unfortunately I'm on one of these online tariffs with Powergen and I don't bother checking my bill so a debit figure has been building up to around £280 and I have to pay that back before they'll consider lowering the payments. It should only take 4 months and then they'll put it back to a more sensible payment. My IVA annual rview will be in a few months so I'll just make sure that I put the increase in my expenditure and struggle through until then.

I'm feeling much better now though as my Mum gave me £20 for shopping [:)], it's amazing how much you can get for £20 when you really try (I'm even tucking in to a reduced price egg custard right now).

[pippa]

Glad you are feeling better today,

I too am having a difficult time this month with the car tax/mot(at least two tyres) and yesterday I had a reminder from the vets that the pets boosters are due, I called the vet to see how much and for 2 dogs & 2 cats it is just under £110!!! thats without flea treatment and worming tablets. I am in the wrong profession.

On top of that I had a real lapse of concentration and washed all my work shirts with my daughters black jeans [:(!], it never rains but it pours [:(].

Pippa

[bagpuss]

Firstly.....HUGS ALL ROUND....xxx

I also have a debit amount buy with British Gas for electricity....I have stopped the direct debit...(bank charges for unpaid d/d aint going to help me) and instead i pay them as much as i can each week...so far this hasnt been a problem, as long as they are getting a payment each week/month and its as much as you can afford they wont do anything major like cut you off.

Hope this helps a little. xx

(hey 4 years in.,....your doing great)

Angie xx


My IVA Story......http://bagpuss.blogs.iva.co.uk/2007/09/ ... iva-story/

[wen]

Hi dcl - sorry your having a bad day. Did you know that there's a company called Utilies Warehouse who guarentee the cheapest prices with gas electric phone and mobiles! i use them and they are as good as there word. One monthly bill for all and the call centre is in the UK and you actually get to speak to a real person[:)]

Regards wen