Here I go

[pixie]

Welcome to shoppers anonymous! You're certainly not alone and well done for taking the first steps.
I've always been very generous at xmas etc. whether I could afford it or not! I find it difficult to talk about feelings and I guess I tell people I love them by buying them things.
Once you've cut up the credit cards, the option isn't there anymore. I have a debit card still, but when there's no money there to spend you can't!
I don't actually like shopping in real shops and if I do need to go into town, it's always with a plan of which shops I need to go into and what items I need from which. Working out what you really need before you go might help. I always shop online but it's been months since I bought anything!!
Good luck, it's a hard journey but so worth it.

Pixie

[Adam Davies]

Hi
If it,s any help I was prone to buying material things pre IVA but having been through one I can tell you that it does change you Now I am very careful as to how and when I do spend MY money.
regards

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[R1chard]

one of my problems was cars..

ive spent thousands of pounds on stuff for cars which i never got my money back on..

new engines, upgrades, insurances, track days, new sports cars, etc etc

[bagpuss]

I used to get invites from friends to go shopping and i couldnt say no cos i was skint and didnt want them guess there was a problem so i would go...i would buy stuff so i was still part of the "gang"....then go back alone the next day and take it back cos i knew i couldnt afford it.

It was buying stuff for the kids that i was gulity for...no excuses but i think growing up in a poor and unhappy family with nothing made me think that i was going to make sure my kids had everything, silly really cos they had everything they needed anyway, well the important stuff.

Its great that we can all share these things without being judged.



Angie xx


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

[louiseh]

I too went through phases of comfort shopping, I did it to take my mind off family problems and other worries. This only worked until I got home, looked at what I'd bought, worries were still there money wasn't. For me the biggest step was realizing I had a problem and working out the course of the problem. Of course by the time I figured this out and new I needed to sort myself out the debt had already spiralled out of control leaving an IVA as the solution. I found contructive ways of using my time and taking my mind of things. I found excerise really helped, no fancy gyms just a cheap step machine, always makes me feel more posivie about everything ( something to do with the body releasing "happy" chemicals so the doc says. Also gardening, and studying something new, doesn't need to cost a fortune but even small achievement build confidence and make me more positive. You've taken the first steps so things can only get better.