So how hard is it to keep to the budget?

[phil732]

Mole have you informed your ip? they may be able to help?

[mole]

Yes, I can reduce payments and extend the length of the IVA. Already in a 6 year IVA so to extend into a further 7th year is not attractive.

[OPTIMIST12]

I live in Essex and Stansted Airport is convenient for me. My last "holiday" (I must admit it was in my IVA) was a day trip to Scotland care of Ryanair. I got one of their amazing offers - just a few pounds return - and flew to Glasgow Prestwick in the morning and back in the evening - for next to nothing!! Just make sure that you do not take any luggage!!! I think Scottish people are brilliant - they seem to have such a down-to-earth attitude to life. I went into Glasgow City Centre and had a great day - even time for a train ride to Edinburgh. Scotland is a lovely country.

[phil732]

sorry to hear that mole, im no expert but it appears you are doing very well so far, I know its difficult on occasions but trust me its worth it in the end.

[ginger3232]

Thankfully there have spent a lots of money improving Glasgow - as with any city there bits that you would avoid.
Although i orginally come from Glasgow - after being away for 30 years in South of England, i spent the first six months after moving back trying to work out what people in Glasgow are saying

[mole]

Yes I'm ok at the moment Phil, would rather work 6 days a week and have money in my pocket and get it paid off than have no life and live on a shoestring.

[Broke of London]

Ginger - one of my friends is Glaswegian and he even writes in Glaswegian (phonetically if you see what I mean) when he posts on Facebook! So I sit at my computer mouthing the words to make sense of it! It's great because it reads just like he sounds.

[MelanieGiles]

One of my co-directors is Glaswegian, and I think I can understand Swahili better than him!

[kallis3]

I sometimes watch Glaswegians talking on the news and look at hubby and my usual comment is 'What did he say?' Perhaps they should put subtitles on!

[flow13]

When we started our IVA we thought we would struggle loads, but we were quite surprised and find it easy to stick to our budget. And you can find some great bargains. We are more aware of what we put in our trolley now, and don't just buy anything.
I love hunting for a bargain. x

[James Falla]

Sticking to a strict expenditure budget is never easy but you can get used to it over time. The best thing to do (although it sounds very laborious) is to keep a record each time you spend anything so you have a very close eye on how much money you have left to last the rest of the month.

However, you should only start an IVA if you feel comfortable that you can live within the budget. Never be pressured into accepting an IVA payment which you feel is too high. It is better not to do an IVA and choose an alternative solution than start making payments which you can not afford and risk your IVA failing down the line.

[bobble]

[8D]just getting used to it after 4 months,to be honest my wife finds it tougher than me.

[kallis3]

We manage pretty well - I love all the reduced stuff at the supermarket!

[relieved33]

Our freezer is full of reduced fish and meat. We plan the meals two weeks in advance depending on what we have in there and top it up when we see bargains at the supermarket or butchers. Admittedly this is not always kept to but planning in advance seems to have removed the "What shall we have? / wish we could afford to go out or to get a takeaway" conversations. Toilettries are from home bargains on the whole but we still have branded products on certain things - Johnsons baby talc is a luxury I don't want to have to give up!!!!

[kallis3]

We tend to just replace what has been used during the week but will buy stuff we normally use if it's bogoff, even if we we don't need it then.

Always go out with a list.