food allownance

[snowman365]

£350?

Is that just for one person?!!

[Skippy]

£350 is for food and housekeeping for me and my partner. We split the bills so that I pay for all of the food, part of the bills and pay him some rent and the rest is down to him.

[goulda]

sorry snowman - my wife and I also due to a permanent low salt and low fat diet I have to buy fresh meat,fish etc for myself

[plasticdaft]

2p sausages at asda should make for a good casserole!!!

Anyone else see them on the news?? The bloke that tried them wasnt too impressed!!!

[maxdebt]

Our IVA started in October 2005 apologies I'm working nights and sleep deprived! We asked for a review as my husband hasn't had an increase in his salary since the IVA started and I have started a new job bringing out £100 per month less than before. Incredibly although all our bills have gone up the IP (or one of his "team") rang me yesterday to say they could only reduce my payments to £908 from £933 and we would be getting a call from collections regarding paying the arrears. To say I'm in shock puts it mildly and to be quite honest I think the IVA will fail. We are just waiting for the letter explaining his findings before we do anything but I'm in despair at the moment and can't see a way forward. If we go BR I lose my job - that's a fact - and we'll lose our home - not much equity so nobody wins, it's crazy. When I queried the food part he wouldn't budge and just said that's the credit crunch for you, economies will have to be made. Our company is Debt Free Direct and I absolutely would NOT recommend them to anyone.

How awful for you!! I just read my proposal and it says my IP has the discretion to reduce my monthy payment by up to 15% WITHOUT the need to call a variation meeting!!

[angela18]

we have £302 per month for food, toiletries etc.. works out about £60 per week for shopping. we try and stick to this but we definetly don't live like kings. theres me, hubby and Caitlin.. think we manage more as hubby works continentals, so he has more sandwiches etc or tins of soup as he works 12 hours and just has snack at 7.30 when he gets home. Me and bairn love pasta so we have that alot

[debtor3]

I'm not in an IVA yet but I think you all deserve increases in your allowances!

From the government statistics website,

Food inflation for the past 5 years was
(2004 first, 2008 last):
1.2%, 0.9%, 0.3%, 5.9%, 6.4%

However, for clothing and footwear, there's not much hope:
-4.6%, -5.4%, -4.5%, -2.8%, -6.2%

But everyone knows the government's inflation figures are fiddled any. For example, TV and Camera inflation over last 5 years :

-12.5%, -11.3%, -14.8%, -10.9%, -14.3%

but who wants a standard TV from 5 years ago, it wouldn't be digital and certainly not LCD or Plasma!

[debtor3]

I don't think IVA companies/creditors should be allowed to restrict the allowance on food so much. I know it's probably still generous compared to the third word, but the I in IVA stands for individual which I assume is meant to recognise we live in a rich country and shouldn't have to starve ourselves just to pay back our debts. I for one know that if I was in an IVA, I would make sure my kids ate good quality food and lots of it, as they need to in this Western world just to keep up with other kids, and then see what, if anything was left to spend on food for me. If that meant starving, I probably would and probably will given that my BMI is already less than 18 from all the stress, worry and cutting back on food due to debt !

[lynchmeistress]

Just as a matter if interest has anyone who is with Debt Free Direct actually managed to speak to their actual IP and not just a member of the team? We have never managed it, I always imagine him to be like a queen bee protected by his workers!

[pixie]

I've never spoken to my IP, but I have had emails passed onto them and received a fair response. I don't like calling as you never get the same person and on this side they always sound really judgemental and patronising! whilst the set up team were really nice!!
I'm due for an annual review anytime so it could be interesting!