The hardest year

[flowerpot]

I know it possible to show increases for most things, but what about showing the increases in things like fuel and groceries.

I usually pay by debit card, but often I will draw cash from out contingency to top these up if the pot has run dry near end of the month.

I reckon my grocery bill has gone up £10 a week, and fuel £5 easily and this is only doing the same as perviously!

xx

[kallis3]

We haven't had to show any receipts. I think the IP's know that the prices have gone up - they have to use petrol and go shopping, so unless you suddenly buy a gas guzzler car or fancy some caviar, any rises in your bills should be accepted.

[ivas4us]

ELV5, I have never personnally known of staff discount for council tax and I am sure it is not allowed and the audit commission would probably be a little unhappy. People that live alone are allowed 25% discount of thier bills. I have known council employees mention discounts to members of the public that are giving them a hard time. I remember years ago working in a property fitted a new front door and the tenant was constantly calling me lazy whilst sat thier watching his sky movies (a luxury at the time). In the end I asked what he did for a living and he said nothing to which I replied and you're calling me lazy. He then started going on about the community charge (which later became the council tax) I said I didn't know what itwas as we don't have to pay working for the council which was an outright lie. It did the trick though 2 hours later when I finished was the next time he spoke to me and that was to say good bye.

[Max]

That was good! I can't immagine you being lazy!

[Julie]

To be honest we found the first year okay - think the relief of finding a solution helped it along. It was the 2nd year that got to us..when things broke down etc that reality kicked in, not helped by greedy creditors!

[MelanieGiles]

Or was it a greedy IP??? Creditors would have little say so in your budget once the IVA was accepted Julie.

[David Mond]

Swans girl - your IP should give you time or allow a payment break to cover these unforseen items. Did you ask of him/her?

[kallis3]

Swans_Girl's husband had his variation turned down and is bankrupt David.

[stoneyB]

I cannot understand why some IP's seem to be so b***** minded at review time. It's tough being in an IVA and pedantic arguments over £10 here and £5 there don't help anybody

[MelanieGiles]

I completely agree with you Stoney. It doesn't add any true value to anyone.

[Julie]

David - we asked for a variation which was refused by creditors, how well it was presented by the IP I won't comment, but the IVA failed and hubby went BR.

I agree StoneyB, some IP's do seem to be Bl****minded, thankfully there are good IP's out there too.

[David Mond]

Sorry about that Swans_girl.

It is sometimes difficult for new entrants to find the right IP and only communication through a Forum like this helps posters to check wisely.

StoneyB - I don't understand whether it is the IP or their staff - mind boggles what on earth are they trying to do?

[moretolife]

this is an interesting question re the "hardest year"...for us it has been a different experience every year that goes by....we found the first year a bit like a "honeymoon" as we found ourselves stress free for the first time in a decade or so
Altho the budgeting was hard it felt like a sort of game...and it was new and fun...(I know some folk may think we are weird but it was a challenge to work it all out in practice )....
Into the second year it became a reality shock...no spare money at all...stuff needing done in house....the secrecy as we hadnt told anyone...the excuses and lies we told to get out of going places or doing things...christmas for the second time on a strict budget...cars breaking down.....wow...we were very low.esp around review time as we panic-ed about lots of stuff and realised that we hadnt researched IVAs at all and didnt really know what we had signed up for....
Into the third year and we discovered this site and suddenly it all changed...by posting all our questions here and getting free and great advice and even personal phone calls at home to speak to IPs free etc...gave us knowledge and this brought a sense of being in control....friendships and advice at FFriends meant we werent ignorant and the next year review was a lot easier to deal with....we began to tell people and were so blessed by their love and acceptance and support....and all through the trauma of OHs work situation and possible redundancy this site held our hands and helped us through it..plus taking on IVA insurance through Cover It All here on site helped put our minds at rest.
Blogging for England also helped me enormously....
So here we are ...over half way through and heading for next review in September and it is still hard...but in a different way..We are confident we will reach the finish line...(unless something awful happens)...we are coping..it isnt easy...we still have tatty old cars...we still desperately need a new bathroom...we still cant get the heating upgraded...we still cant floor the loft....we still cant get up and go wherever we want ..whenever we want...BUT

We are still alive..we have a roof over our heads...we have a family and friends that know all about IVA and dont judge us .....we eat ...sleep and breathe...we smile...we love...we enjoy friendships....we eat chips on the beach...we love "orange wednesdays" and Wetherspoons pubs.....we think a day trip to the beach is a holiday...and read the sunday papers on a deckchair and watch the world go by....and you know what...

We feel content and at peace...and a lot of the credit for this goes to the folk who are a part of this site...IPs and experts and friends and newbies and admin.....

so in answer to which year is the hardest...maybe the true answer to that is...the ones BEFORE entering into an IVA or the one before you find this site.!!!

[hope4us]

Moretolife what a lovely statement, it does make you think about how people judge you for what you have and not for the person you are, we all end up on this site for one main reason mostly because we're in debt and need advice on it we don't need to be judged for how we got into debt in the first place. No-one knows what the furture holds for them (if we did i suppose we'd all millionaires)if thats what you want in life, but for me a bag of chips on the bench, a kiss and hug from my loved ones and my flowers budding in the garden makes you think of what you have got, not what you haven't, Keep thinking the glass is half full NOT half empty, good luck to you and your family xx

[ivas4us]

What great posts. It has certainly put it all into perspective.