Almost 1 month in

[Clairbare]

Hi everyone, it's been a few weeks since I have been on this site but thought I would just give a little update.
We are almost 1 month into our IVA and I can say with all honesty I have started to sleep again. We no longer receive calls and have had a couple of statements which I am sure they still have to send us but no threatening letters or horrible calls. Obviously, due to my nature, I am still very disappointed that we had to go down this route, I still feel so very responsible for the debt we built up but maybe that is not a bad thing!
Hubby and I were talking about how people ever afford to go on holiday without actually getting into debt - especially those who manage to go abroad every year - but maybe one day we will find a way, however at the moment that is not so important.
I was walking around Legoland (courtesy of tesco vouchers, a god send) with a hole in my trainers, knowing I will have to wait another week til payday to see if I can stretch to adding them on our shopping bill (i have never used the calculator on my mobile so much as i do round tesco now!) It's amazing how much your life changes.
We were in Tesco and i dropped my phone, battery on floor, calculations of shopping lost, I felt gutted, had to guestimate, picked up a few bits for sons birthday party (not for another couple of months but spreading it) but had to put it back as didnt have enough in purse - now there is a big difference to a few months ago!!
Now onto a new challenge of trying to lose weight (i seem to like pressure, over one little hill, onto another) so have started weight watchers without actually joining, bit cheeky, borrowed a friends books to get me started. Lost 4lb in 4 days, but have a long way to go - need to lose about 5 stone!!
Anyway enough about me, good luck to everyone out there and stay strong xx

[Charlietill]

Hi Clarebare,

Glad to hear that you are ok. I, like you have just started on my IVA journey. I will have made 4 payments on 01/05/10.
It is a great feeling knowing that you don't have creditcards, loans and overdrafts to think about. I guess that we got into this culture early on and that is how we cannot see how people can afford to go away etc without resorting to credit. Chances are they don't. I should imagine that there are a lot of people with high levels of debt but are managing to maintain monthly payments. As my mother used to say.... it will all end in tears. Someday it will catch up with them.
At least now when I buy something or pay a repair bill I know that is the end of it and the debt won't be around my neck for years.
I'm sure that this will be a great learning curve for us but we will come out of it in a much better position. Hopefully then we will be able to save and go on holiday then without credit.

Take care

[steppingstones]

Hiya Clairbare. It is such a different feeling watching the pennies now isn't it. I have had to turn down two workmates nights out and a hen party so that I can watch the pennies. But snap, like you I have borrowed my friends (slimming world) books in a bid to slim down.

[steppingstones]

I meant to say in my last post that despite living to a budget, I love not relying on credit cards and overdrafts to get me through the month. It is far better than the sick feeling that came with trying to work out how I was going to pay everything back

[Clairbare]

I have to say the hardest part is trying to make excuses why I can't join people when invited out - I am rubbish at making up excuses on the spot and dont want to say have no money cos it gets a bit sad! I always say yes then make an excuse up later - hope I will still have some acquantences left by the end of it all.
The best thing though is I can walk a lot more now the weather is getting better, saves on petrol.
Good luck with slimming world Sally,

[indebtscared]

Hello, we are in week two, 1st payment due end of this week. We are living ok, budgeting for everything, but the feeling I like best is the feeling of not worrying about when we can pay it back, what we buy is ours, with our money. I too have cut my social life down to zero, but my friends and I have started a home evening where we each visit others house, we all take something, a dvd, a bag of popcorn,,or a bottel of wine, as this costs loads less, we also found we enjoy ourselves more, all in our pj's, slobbed out on the sofa. Keep you chin up and believe that we can do this. Good with the weight loss, I do go to Slimming World each week, with 6 stone to lose, 1.1/2 stone lost todate, so am always here for advice.

[kallis3]

Hi Clarebare,

Glad you are settling in to your IVA ok.

What I used to do with the shopping when we first started, I used to do a virtual shop at Tesco and note down how much it cost, that way I didn't have to use my calculator (although I have done that in the past) and knew how much it was going to come to.

We don't bother now as we buy pretty much the same stuff each week, so have a rough idea of prices.

I was lucky with the social aspect - I rarely go out anyway, so I have no problem saying no! I'm very anti social.

[steppingstones]

Hi indebtscared. I really like your idea of having a friends evening. I think I might suggest that to my mates so they don't think I've fallen off the radar, plus the thought of slobbing about in my pj's is a bit more appealing than having to get ready for a night out.... Did I really just say that??? I must be getting old!

[MelanieGiles]

Great positive posts from two of my newer clients. Well done ladies - and Clairbare if you lose five stone there will positively be nothing left of you! Don't be daft! If you need to lose 5 stone, then I need to lose around twelve!!

[Shining]

I think these are great posts too. In an IVA I can sort of guess now how much the shopping is and try and find myself a couple of bargains per week.

Good luck with the diet, I'm on one too and I need around 5 stone off too so we can support each other. x

[debt attack]

Hi Clairbare

I know things chance drastically don't they - but I do feel its for the better.

To look at my bank the daye before payday and see even 1pence in credit feels so good compared to hte -1999.99 I was used to seeing when I was always up to my overdraft limit!

My 2nd payment has been taken from my bank today and I tell you I was exctatic...sounds sad that but just the fact of feeling in control...it is actually making me a little tight!! Haha

Anyway good luck and keep posting..I think a lot of us (me included) tend to ease off on the posting but it is good to see everyones progress...I am certainly going to try and post a little more frequently.

Take care - and lets get through it together!!

DA

[Shining]

I like to put a countdown in my signature and I love to see it change each month, must check mine now as I made a payment today! x

[Struzzo39]

Yeah we also made our 2nd payment today.Woo hoo. Cant say its been easy. b***** car and electricals etc!!! But the feeling of relief is immense. We've found doing a big shop online around payday and smaller shops weekly at aldi etc for the fresh stuff really works for us. Quite scary to how much we used to spend on food shopping alone to what we do now. I'm too following the weight watchers plan with around 4 stone to go. So apart from supporting each other through the debt side of things we can keep each other going on the weight loss front too. Good luck all on both matters x

[Clairbare]

Thanks Mel, clothes hide a number of sins - at 5'3ish and 14.5 stone starting weight i need quite a few pounds off Taking each week at a time little steps - weigh in tonight though on the wii fit
Today my profile changed to show 1 month down - I cannot tell you how that has made me feel. I have lapsed a bit on this forum but it does feel good knowing there is always someone out there - to listen and help you through.

Hope everyone has a fab bank holiday weekend - even though the weather is meant to be horrid xxx

[Shining]

You have a fab weekend too and I'm sure you look great but hope you get the weight loss you want x