clothing allowance-bad day today

[cat 1]

I was reading about someone's clothing allowance on here the other day who said thier children were poorly dressed.I'm sure this could happen in theory.My son needs new shoes.They are £65.He needs new jeans- £25 and he needs a couple of bits of underwaer and a couple of t shirts-£30.My daughter needs new school shoes-£32. She needs a pair of school trousres and a couple of blouses-£15.She's had a growing spurt and needs new jeans, trainers and a couple of sweatshirts-£40.Which bit do I skimp on? Just chesked the cupboards to see if I can do a make do shop this week.However, off with the kids and wouldn't be able to put extra petrol in the car/ do a treat. Having a moan I know but some days are depressing.I know it would be sensible to get things each month but really they grow out of stuff all at once and I work in a job where I need to be presentable too.Our allowance is £120 for four of us.I've just put a load of stuff on ebay to see if this will sell and help out.This is why I had to use credit before.Some months weren't finacially viable. Don't get me wrong the IVA is fantastic and I'm still grateful for the opportunity and boundaries that it has provided me.Just needed a moan today I suppose.Cat

[MelanieGiles]

Although £120 does not sound a lot, in the great scheme of things and today's creditor insistance on the use of the CCCS guidelines or Common Financial Statement, there are many families who are now having to manage with a much lower budget - CCCS guidelines being just £53 for a family of two adults and two children per month!

In today's world, these allowances are absolutely ridiculous.

[cat 1]

I know I shouldn't moan.My kids do not have designer stuff.No names.Just basic clothes.So how people manage on £53 is beyond me.That wouldn't buy my son a pair of shoes. Well, I suppose it would, but they would have fell apart within the week and that's just false economy

[chris.g]

Reading through the post on here about allowances I feel so sorry for some in IVA's and wonder how they manage. It seems as if some are 'punished' for wanting to pay back their creditors. The guidelines seem far to meagre. Having 2 young kids myself, I know how much clothes and footwear cost. Then there's school uniforms and growth spurts to take into account. Unfortunately, they older the kids get the more the clothes & shoes cost....

[angela18]

I've been quite lucky, bought daughters trousers in New Look sale for school £6 2 years sizes!!, and Asda do school shirts £3.50 for 2, blazer is still huge so will do another year!! Its shoes, kids are so cruel and if seen with rubbish shoes etc.. easy target, daughter been wearing them ugly Ugg boots (not real) which were only £10!! Just as well grew out of Clarks!!

[sblack]

Hi cat1,
We have been allowed £48 per month (creditor mods) clothing allowance for our family of 2 adults and 2 children (14 and 10). We are in our 1st month of our IVA. We will have to pinch from another allowance when our fast growing kids need new clothes. This is because our overall allowance just falls within the CCCS guidelines. My question is if the CCCS guidelines are not upto date with todays living costs and do not cover the needs for which they are given why are they not reviewed on a more regular basis ?

[MelanieGiles]

That is a question many of us have asked the CCCS, but sadly there is no sign of an update and the creditors continue to rely on this information which puts so many families into miserable budgets.

[sblack]

Thanks for the reply Melanie. As you know we have only just started our IVA and hopefully the children won't need anything too soon and we may be able to build up some funds in this pot.
Can I just ask if the CCCS guidelines do change will this make any difference to those of us who are already in IVA's?

[MelanieGiles]

Most IPs take little notice of the CCCS guidelines once the IVA has been accepted, and tend to rely on their own judgement and the honesty and integrity of their clients at the time of annual reviews. In my experience, this is the very best way to get creditors repaid over a five year period, and to thus avoid drop off through budgets which are too tight and resultant client apathy.

[cat 1]

Hi Sblack.I really don't know how you would manage with £48.I'm struggling with the £120.Mine are 10 and 14.5 years old. My mood still not very good today.very despondant.Think when I have time to think, I go into overdrive adn can't switch off.Very fed up at the moment.Grateful that the stalker that was debt has gone but it's been replaced by something different and more constant somehow.I should be grateful really, but I'm struggling to think I have 6 years of finite rescources ahead of me with no let up.How could I have been so stupid in the first place? Just about to pay the 5th payment of a 6 year iva. Therefore only 67 to go.Not sure I understand bankrupcy and what that means but I was looking at the insolvancy register (which I do constantly?) and seems people have thier name on twice. IVA then onto bankrupcy?Spend today in bed again,couldn't muster up the energy to try and do something with kids.Don't want to spend the little money I have this week.I have some saved but can't use that as its 'what if' money.Am I sounding very full of self pity? Harsh words needed, but deliver gently? Cat

[lily]

Oh cat

You really are depressed, its going to be difficult to pull yourself up from this without some help. Dont worry about what ifs, none of us know whats round the corner. If its really that unbearable is it really worth it??? What would be the worst that would happen in Bankruptcy??? You need to find a balance somewhere, maybe youre clinically depressed, babe??? Have you considered this??? One thing you mustnt do is call yourself stupid for getting here, we all know how easy it is, just about everyone has credit, ours just got out of hand, youre not alone in that. Standing up and admitting the problem and facing it head on is a brave thing to do. Have a think about things, try to do something with the kids even if its just a jump up and down competition, its really amazing how much good some real hard exercise can do you. (not that I am saying you dont get any).. Just that natural endorphins are released when you do.... I really do know how you feel, I have been there, not wanting to get up, wanting the kids to just go away, let me wallow. I feel for you.

Take care

[aguise]

I dont know how people manage with children on these amounts, they are very harsh. I can only suggest as others and as I do myself look on ebay, primark the lower priced shops. Buy in sales wherever possible. Ebay I tend only to buy new things but they can be so much cheaper just watch the postage. Even marks an sparks have great sales. I bought cord jeans, soft jumper, three pairs of disgusting coloured tights for my ten year old grandaughter a bra and pj bottoms the whole lot came to £24, and am in the plus sizes there is much more I hopefully will be able to buy when I lose more weight. It does take time and effort and I only buy if I need them.
No harsh words cat 1 we all feel like that at times, I just feel better about it in the iva because the worry is not as bad as before the iva, no guilt every time I took out a loan or used plastic.

Ang

[emma_t]

Echo all other posts and these allowances when you have children seem very harsh. I think it is possible to get good quality cheaper clothing these days but I don't know how you cope with kids when they want the latest trainers and such like as it must be so hard to say no, as lots of their friends will have them.

I went to visit my cousin the other day and she gets a lot of good bits and bobs of kids clothing from car boot sales at very good prices. Also ebay and peacocks, primark, H&M kids, etc.

Chin up cat 1 and stop beating yourself up.[:)]
I have taken a lot more walks since my iva, used to take my god children bowling, scating, etc, but they really appreciate a good long country walk with mine and thier dogs. It also wears them out for when they go back to thier mum!!
If I get a bit down I go for a walk with the dog and it does tend to lift my mood[:)]

[cat 1]

thank you all.I love this forum.So genuine.I'll be ok.No choice...just a bad day.Already take prozac.Hardly touches my mood at the moment though.It feels abit like post traumatic shock I think.I've always been worse post incident.So I guess this is the same.Wish I could shake it off and move on.Strange thing is the iva is £600.A loan i took out to consolidate 3 years ago was £570.I still had credit cards and I really don't remember feeling this down all the time.Like I said, just a different kind of anxiety with IVA.Not the creeping ,stalking kind that debt brings.Thanks again.Night nurse for sedation and early night I think.Cat

[MelanieGiles]

I love the idea of a forum swap-shop - Andy could this work???