So proud

[johnz]

Well, last night I sat down and spent hours working out a budget for me to stick to for the next year. I made sure I was holding money back for car tax, insurance, mot's etc, etc. And guess what. After months of thinking I couldn't get mu husband anything for christmas this year I've discovered I can!!!

And!!! Because I'm not just throwing money at his presents, I've had to seriously think about what to buy him. Once I'd figured out what to get him, I then spend ages trawling around the internet finding the best deals.

The result! I've managed to get him 4 presents, all of which he will love at a fraction of the price I would have usually spent on him and I've paid for all of them with my own money!!!!!!!

There's one more present to get, so I contacted the person I would need to get it from and have arranged to pay half out of my november pay and half out of my december pay, so it will be all paid for - No Credit!!!! Budget allows, so I'm doing.[:D]

To do this, I have had to restrict my own personal spending amount to £5.00 per week, but it'll be worth it to see my husbands face on Christmas day.

I'm so proud of myself[:D][:D]

Johnz

[tracy.h]

Well done my other half is getting nowt this year as any spare money will be going on the grandchildren,so in a way i soppose that will be a christmas present to us both seeing the joy on there little faces when they open there presents.
I must admit its the first year we wont be buying for other family members,but as hard as that is i'm proud as this will be the 2nd year we havnt used credit to support xmas,my present to my children is cooking dinner,and we all chip in so i'm really looking forward to it,ahh i feel quite festive now.

[ray_a]

One of my resolutions for next year is to try and help people who have financial problems is to plan ahead for Christmas 2008!

There are ways to save for Christmas without spending a lot and using this Christmas as part of my experiment!

[Oliver]

Well done Johnz, that's excellent work.

Best Regards
Oliver

Thomas Charles and Co Ltd.
Experts in personal debt solutions.
Read customer feedback at: www.thomascharles.com/about_us.asp

[tracy.h]

I don't seem to be able to get it right today i didnt meam to jump your post Johnz i think you have done very well and your husband will be proud of you when he knows you have put so much thought into his presents.

Tracy

[iva experts]

Good work Johnz [:D]

Best Regards,
IVA Experts
http://www.iva-experts.co.uk/

[emma_t]

Hi johnz
It is really great to see that you are sounding so positive after sounding so down a while ago.
I have uptil now just brought quite expensive presents for family and friends b'day's and Christams, but this year its all changed and I am on a TIGHT budget.
It is so true that you put a lot more thought into things this way and end up with much more personalised presents. Also with cards, I just used to buy the big flashy ones, but now I am reading the words or making them (my neighbour is a dab hand at this card making game and has showed me how to do it..) and they are so personal to the intended person.
I have also spoken to a couple of close friends who we always go through the 'what do you want for Christmas thing' for ages and stress over what to buy eachother, i suggested that we just send cards, cut out all the stress and have a night out together instead - they thought this was a fab idea.
It is so hard to sit and write a budget, but what I have done is get a notebook and I write down everything I spend (to the penny) and when you see where it goes you can makes adjustments - i did not realise how much money I spent in Costa until I started writing it down - have now brought a thermos as have a good coffee machine at home and make it and take with me for the day.

your proud of you[:D] and I am sure your husband is too [:D][:D]
Emma x

[aguise]

Hi all
Like john z I have been trawling the internet for pressies, and so far have done quite well. I am the same Tracey we wont buy each other anything, but no bother as you say watching the grandkids open theirs is fun enough.
Its a nice feeling to do it without the credit and I think makes you think more of what you are buying people.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[louisa.s]

Well done Johnz and I'm sure he'll love particularly as he'll know that a lot of love and hard work went into them.

I actually think that being in the iVA has brought back the truer meaning of Christmas and takes away all the commercialism of it (mainly because we do not have the budget to spend hundreds of pounds on each other)

It should be more about getting together and I do dinner for the girls at work and we enjoy a bottle of wine and good food and great company and if budget allows it then we buy a small gift but it must not go over a certain amount. And sometimes you just have to think outside of the box!

[bagpuss]

I think your right louisa.s having been through an IVA has brought back alot of feelings about whats important and what isnt.

well done all you sensible spending santa's xx

Angie xx


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