... the wine is open and I would be lying if I said I haven't shed a tear of joy, relief, I don't know what!
It has been a very long, very hard 5 years particularly on the children who have been as much affected by this as we have.
However, it has been worthwhile and we have come out the other side with our heads held high and a lot of lessons learned.
Our payments more than doubled over the duration of our IVAs due to changes in jobs/promotions so we were able to pay back far more than was originally forecast which is nice.
I don't think the majority of my spending habits will change - I'll still go to the supermarket near closing to get the reduced meat to freeze, will still shop at primarni and charity shops and will still monitor my budget obsessively with my spreadsheet but it will be nice to be able to let loose a bit now and to be able to say yes to the children now and then!
We haven't told many people about our situation and while I have found those that do know to be sympathetic, I think some - particularly my friends - don't understand that when I have said "I can't afford to do/go/buy" I meant I literally did not have the money to do it - they all live on the plastic and the overdrafts.
Thank you to everyone who has offered support/advice/an ear over the years - I haven't been the most frequent poster but have read lots - and good luck and best wishes to all those still on their journeys.
(Of course, nothing is final until the PPI stuff is wrapped up but that's all in final stages just awaiting completion!)
The end is in sight - months not years!
Looking forward to a brighter future for my children!
