www.iva.co.uk

[:)]

Is it me or does anyone else in an IVA find that they are turning into SCrooge and becoming increasingly tight about money.
Pre IVA i would think nothing about buying things and treating myself to nights out.

NOW!!! i am upset if i spend a fiver and can go days without spending anything whatsoever as i can't think of anything that i really need or want.

I am extra careful in my Bank Account and i am always in credit but i monitor it now very closely and check my balance everyday for direct debits etc.

When i go shopping i look for and go for the cheapest things so i can save extra pennies and sometimes use the vouchers they giveaway in newspapers which is totally unheard of with myself as a year ago i would have laughed at any of my mates who did that.

I am now so TIGHT FISTED that i sacrifice things just to save something like £2.00 like i changed where i get my Chinese Take Away from as it is CHEAPER by £2.00.

I am changing and is it me or has the IVA has possesed me!!!

I don't think so Andrew, I think you are just being careful and doing what is right for you. By doing that of course you are doing the right thing also, so to speak, by your creditors by making sure that your efforts mean that they get their dividend through your IVA.

I would be rather proud of myself if I were you, sounds like you are doing a cracking job.

Regards.

I think youre just being careful as long as there is a little something to look forward to like a chinese take away (yum yum) then being careful is OK. I came home empty handed armed with christmas vouchers the other day as I didnt feel the need to get anything I didnt need. I will save them for something I want. Right now I cant think of anything. I think it does change you, the black figure in the bank account takes a bit of getting used to at first. Perhaps its deep down fear of having to live that dread again that makes us more careful. Its not a bad thing though.

I'm the same Andrew. Other than the normal weekly shop (and we have substituted value stuff and own brands for some stuff) we very rarely go out shopping, and I can't remember the last time we treated ourselves to a Chinese or Indian (well hubby anyway as I can't eat them at the moment).

I also check my bank account regularly as well.

We're just being frugal.

I'm the same Andrew, don't worry you're not possesed! I quite like being scrooge.

Hello Everyone!
I completely agree with Andrew - I will walk to a different shop to save something like 50p!
And like freelili I too got loads of next vouchers for Christmas & my birthday (as its 2 weeks b4 xmas)& I refused to buy anything till the sale started & then still came out with a load of vouchers left over! (& some bargains - that I actually needed!)
I too check my bank every day & am usually left with about a pound at the end of every month - but everything gets paid somehow.
I find myself thinking more about what I am buying & if I need to buy it or where can i get it cheaper!
I think it does change you but only for the better - before I never really thought or knew what I was buying or more importantly what I was spending x

You guys are a real inspiration, especially with regard to the budgeting tips. Very well done all!

I was a tight arse before Jon's IVA. I brought 3 kids up more or less on my own till i met him and we didnt really have a lot but we managed and we were happy.
Since the IVA i'm worse. I check my bank every day and leave my purse at home if i go out somewhere where i dont really need it so i dont get tempted to buy anything.
The kids get what they NEED but not always what they WANT.
I am also a compulsive saver these days.

I was only remarking to hubby this morning about how we used to waste money.

A few years ago we had late model Honda Civic - nice car, ideal size for us. One day it went back to the dealer for a service - £200. After we had paid for and collected it, we had a look round - and ended up trading it in for a CRV! The most expensive service ever! Mind you, they did knock the price of the service off the price of the car.

But what a waste of money! We didn't need a new car at all! Wouldn't dream of doing that now. The one we have is 3 years old and has to last us another 4 and a bit!

I've been like that Jan - I've changed my car for no reason in the past. I actually changed it last year (out of necessity) and I felt guilty this time which can only be a good thing!

Used to do it all the time - I've had more cars than most people have had hot dinners!

Cars are such a loss maker aren't they? No sooner have you driven the thing off the forecourt than it is worth a significant amount less than you paid for it. Second only to divorce in my mind.

I am reminded of an old friend who once defined divorce as finding someone you can't stand and buying them a house.......

Regards.

Between the two of us we had 6 cars in two years before the days in an IVA ! To be honest this week being so cold, snowy and icey I am really proud of my little fiat punto runaround - it has started everyday and behaved itself on the motorway - it trundles up and down the m1 everyday and so far so good ! Before I had to have the latest reg number !!! March sees hubbies car needing MOT too - first time both cars will be needing MOT's - never had that - always changed before MOT due !

Our cars were very rarely new, but after a couple of years we always had to change them. Not anymore. We love our Skoda - it still looks good and runs like a dream!

I love being frugal...don't you get a buzz out of how much you can save?? I've now turned into the annoying person at the till who counts all the coppers and change because I hate breaking into a note.