www.iva.co.uk

Ok, maybe a bit premature for us as we are right at the beginning but it's always good to have a goal to aim for I think, something to think about to get you through those dark days and months when it seems neverending.

So, no matter where you are in your IVA journey, when you are finished, how are you going to celebrate?

For us, we went to Florida last summer and the kids had a amazing time and are desperate to go again, now although that's well out of our reach for the next few years, we have decided that when we are through, we are going to take them back, following this me and hubby want a campervan so will save for that too! then it will be a case of overpaying the mortgage as much as we can. It gives us something to dream about and focus on for the next few years, I feel guilty enough that we got into this mess which means we can't take our kids back there now while they are still so young, however, I guess they should be blummin lucky they had the chance to go anyway! I know there are many kids who never even get a holiday let alone go somewhere like that.

So that's us, what about you, what are you looking forward to when you are through?

Our first port of call will be the Maldives - went for my 50th birthday and it was brilliant. Then it will be New York probably as we have friends who live there and then Florida!

Fortunately I will have retired by then as well and so will have a lump sum (hopefully!!!!!!) that will be funding this.

That sounds fab Jan, we wanted to go to the Maldives when we got married but the wedding was too much so we ended up in Cornwall (although nothing wrong with Cornwall, we love it there!)

We never had a honeymoon at all!

It was fab. Another place I'd love to go back to is Sri Lanka, what a wonderful country that is.

Do you know what lem, I haven't even considered thinking that far ahead!
I think I have spent so long worrying about what we CAN'T do that I find it really difficult at the moment to contemplate the things we might be able to do!
I am sure that with time and savings(hopefully) that I will be able to turn my way of thinking around and be able to think about these things.

I would however, love to take the kids to Disneyland one day and I would like to just be able to make my house more of a home!!

Ooh and possibly consider tying the knot!

My task will be saving everything that I have been paying into the IVA to get the large deposit that will be needed to move house to one with a garden so the kids can play and have a childhood bit more as I had.

Getting onto debt and not being able to do this being cooped up in a not very nice house and have them lose 5 years of childhood is the saddest part of all of this for me.

But on the brightside, I acknowledged my problems and it is all nearly over so I can hopefully realise my dreams for them

I have been told we are going to Disneyland [:D]. I shall be nearing my retirement and might (if they still do it then) be looking forward to my lump sum, then I am going to get rid of my skip ( if it lasts that long) and get a decent car ... nothing flash, just one I am not ashamed to be seen in (oh vanity!).

Oooh it's nice to think ahead but I'm a heck of a way off the end yet!

Ok well, first off repair our credit standing, cos we never had any intention of staying in this house and now we'll be stuck here for another 6 years [:(]

But also, we love California, we used to try to go once a year but haven't been since we started our business which led us to this debt, and won't be going til we're out of this but boy will we enjoy it when we go back! I can feel the sun on my face now....

Get the house redecorated - it's very shabby now, to the point that I don’t like people coming round. Also, being able to buy things without worrying. And finally, a flippin’ good holiday!

Fortunately the house is ok but we may look to getting a conservatory. My holiday comes first though!

I love California as well - did a bus tour to there and Arizona and Nevada a few years ago and went from 25+ degrees in Scottsdale to minus 5 and snow in Flagstaff!

ah yes those temp differences are weird aren't they? We drove from Tuscon to the Grand Canyon, baking hot to slightly chilly in one day! Then we went from Grand Canyon to Vegas, talk about surreal!

New car for me - I am going to try and nurse mine through the next few years, and get a new one at the end of it all!!

At end of IVA I will be over £1000 better off per month but I will continue to live the frugal live for another 3 years. The money will be put away each month and I will then pay off my £36,000 balance on my secured loan.
After that I will £1500 per month better off!!

After that I think I will go on holiday every month for a year!!

LOL mole!

We are the same as everyone else, decorate the house, holidays, just living and maybe saving a bit for some new furniture as our suite is looking a little passed it's best now, so I hate to think what it will be like in 4 years time.
The one thing I have said is one day, not immediately on finishing, that I would like to take all my family away on holiday, son his partner and 2 kids plus my other son and whoever he is with and hubby and me, Some where warm and All inclusive.