Life in the 5 year plan.

[luluj]

As I have posted already today-with careful budgeting anything is possible. We have three holidays booked this year, ye we're in a IVA but these are all carefully timed and planned and all not costing more than £200 in total! How can we afford this ??? Well by using part of the contingency fund that has not been used, holding a car boot sale of all those unwanted gifts, items in drawers and things great aunty .... gave you when you were little - did one today and got over £100!

We also have a money tin that you can't open unless you get a tin opener to it - at the end of each day I put my spare coins in it - anything from 20ps down - amazing how it quickly adds up - sure it will buy me a few ice creams in Padstow later in the year!

Don't foget to send your print cartridges back to Tesco - if you do you can claim 100 points that convert to vouchers ..every little helps!

Just have to be imaginative and think outside the bo!

9down 51 to go!

[elizabethr]

I can trade annual leave for cash if its for a genuine reason. Don't mean just coz you need the money!! I think that's a genuine reason but my employer wouldn't. We are allowed to carry some over and if you have any more than that you can discuss carrying more over or swapping for cash. I have been off for nearly 6 months due to medical reasons in my leave year which ends 1 June. I am carrying maxium allowed over which leaves me 2 days which I could convert to cash but doesn't make sense if that means it would be counted as a windfall.

I am already well into my budget and not even in an IVA yet - just started process. I too collect all small change under 50p in jar at the end of the day and I use it for the next "special" day - like our gala day (travelling fair etc) or towards the summer holidays for cinema etc.

I am determined not to use by boots advantage points or nectar points during the year this time and save them for christmas.

When I hear myself saying all these useful saving tips I wonder how I am in a mess in the first place.

[drowning-mummy]

Just applied for my Tesco clubcard!
Just worked everything out and have just over £250 left, is that enough for £24K? I doubt it but dont know. I havent budgeted for contingency either, but did put housekeeping at £600 (just cos of nappies and milk, knew I should have breastfed lol), but maybe thats too high. Sadly had to leave out the £50 pm for the girls Trustfunds, but thats life I guess. Also stopped pension because of this.

[may07]

The thing is that once you face your sitation and start the ball roling youve got hold of it and the wisdom for how to survive it starts kicking in Elizabeth. Glad to hear you sounding so strong and positive!
Mayx

[elizabethr]

Yes May I am feeling ok today thanks for all your support. Spoke to Tina at Melanies team tomorrow and talking again tomorrow. Think she was running everything past Melanie on Friday hopefully. Just need to know whether to pay both our creditors due end last week - have the money on one side but could do with it for food and petrol this week. I am sure I will know tomorrow whether I need to pay them or not now. Not always as strong as I sound though but just keep going.

[drowning-mummy]

I know what you mean Elizabeth, I have all the ideas, now I just need to put them into practice. I'm trying out for nearly every gameshow there is at the moment.
I hope my cash for leave isnt treated as a windfall as that is the month that I go back, and in that first month I have to retrain for my license (12 days solid), so my childcare costs are about £400, my petrol is huge (100 miles round trip everyday) and to top it all off, thats the month my car tax and insurance is due (I'm guessing I wont be able to pay car tax monthly anymore), so the funds have already been spoken for and thats the real reason I am cashing the days in. By doing it I'm leaving myself open to working at Christmas, thus being away from the babies, so if its gonna be snapped up then I may aswell delay my return to work or I'll have to beg, borrow and steal!
Oooh I'm worrying again. Time to unwind now to LOST, the best show on tv!

[MelanieGiles]

I have advised Tina to go ahead Elizabeth, so subject to us getting your documents we should be able to proceed quickly for you. If I were you I would use the money you have available to buy the essential things like food and petrol, and if there is enough left there is no harm in making token payments to your creditors - but in reality it doesn't really make any difference whether you do or not.

[elizabethr]

Thanks for that Melanie. Philips payments are an informal payment plan with his creditors, mine are already token payments of 10% of the original minimum payment due and have done that now for 2 months, it doesn't seem to stop them phoning or writing anyway so I will use the money I have put on oneside and buy essentials instead, had to use 40 today out of contingency money for shopping and I have petrol to get as well tomorrow. I think Philip is a bit nervous about not paying hise (due tomorrow) but I have explained as we are going ahead with formal plan its ok just to tell them that anyway if they ring. It quite a relief to hear you think our proposal might work. I spent last week getting info together and will do so tomorrow if you need it then hopefully will have time to do some less stressful things when not at work - I am going to sew some new clothes - havent made myself anything for a couple of years and am quite good at it when I have the time (learnt from my mother who was a dressmaker). We all sew in my family even Philip!!! Very useful for fancy dress costumes. Might take in laundry next.[:o)]

Thanks again and I will speak to Tina tomorrow.

[MelanieGiles]

My Mum was (still is actually at the grand old age of 86) a dressmaker, so we have always made our own clothes - although I don't really get the time these days. You will find much fun scouring for patterns and materials, and will run things up at a fraction of shop price - and most importantly they will fit!!! I was looking at a Vogue pattern book the other day, and there are some fabulous designs available these days, so good luch and you can become the sewing expert on the site!!

[Skippy]

My mum was a dress maker as well! She tried to teach me to sew but I can' just about sew on a button. Anything more than that and it goes back to mum - she was horrified when I sellotaped my skirt hem as I needed to wear it but couldn't sew it!

As well as dressmaking, my mum also worked in a mattress factory sewing mattresses and at a boat yard sewing sails.

[kallis3]

I can sew a button and do a hem, but I really have to be in the mood for it. Things usually build up until I have no option but to sit down and do them.

Glad I wear a uniform for work so I don't have to worry about clothes for work. Just wear jeans at the weekend.

[s.b.w]

I've heard of one person doing this while in an IVA and they were told to give 50% if money to the IVA, as it counted as a windfall.

All IP's have different ways of treating this, so you may find your's has a different attitude.

Good luck...

Sharon