www.iva.co.uk

I know that's not great english but I think so often being in an IVA can be seen as a horrible slog and there is no doubt it is not an easy path. However so far I'm enjoying the learning I am doing along the journey.

My 5 months have been FAR from smooth I think I've had an 'emergency' in every month so far, car broke, laptop broke (which I need as I'm a freelancer), mum got really sick & I had to travel a long way to be with her, I could go on. However I haven't used/needed a credit card at any point, I've found a way. Ok not with the laptop, mum helped with that, but all the other emergencies I've found a way.

Also we need a new TV/multimedia type stand, and of course can't just go and buy one, not only that but I like a particular style of stuff, I'm not going to compromise just cos I don't have the money, I just need to search longer and harder. Anyway I got exactly what I want on ebay for £15 and picked it up last night, it's a very collectable type of furniture BUT it finished at a silly time and buyer wanted collection within 24 hrs, so I got a bargain.

My point is when I wasn't budgeting and thinking about money I would have bought the first one I saw that I liked, now I'll wait and wait knowing that my time will come and I'll get what I want at a knockdown price. Blimey I wish I'd known this years ago!

Anyway just wanted to post about the positive sides of learning to budget right, you can get some of the same things - ok not big budget stuff like holidays - for much better prices if you're patient and search. I'm personally loving it!

Well I wouldn't go as far as to say i'm loving it Fiona but I agree that it is a learning curve. I find myself thinking when i food shop especially with prices continuing to rise.

Good post Fiona - sounds like a great Buy - well done x

Ah Rod yes I meant I was loving the bargain finding, not neccesarily the IVA, clearly I'd rather be rich [:D]

Oooops Sorry Fiona, that's a typical Man for you, always reading something the wrong way!

I find life within my IVA easier than pre-IVA, crazy I know but it's how it is for me.

Having said that I look forward to when it's complete and will have learnt a very valuable lesson I'm sure.

Lesley - you must be starting to think of what you will spend the surplus money on when your IVA is completed? Any thoughts yet?

I can completely agree, the last 6 months for me have been easier and hard! Like you Fiona, I've had to dip into emergency funds each month, mainly for my car but i've managed and found a way. I've cut back on food shopping, booze shopping and a few other things, always looking for bargains!
Currently starting to decorate and already planning what i can afford to do each month, might take me 6 months but that will be my livingroom done. Its only painting, new wooden flooring, new wooden blinds, new fire etc but it will all be paid for in cash! New Sofa will need to wait a while!
I've certainly not found it a slog, but being able to budget is a god send!

Melanie, Hannah is the only one of my children to suffer because of my IVA, it hasn't affected any of the others, if anything they gained from my stupidity.

Hannah will receive the full first months payment post IVA as a thanks for being you gift and for being so understanding and working so hard to get yourself all the things that I got for the other 3 whilst studying.

After that well I plan on still putting it away in a savings account as I'll have lived without it for 60 months so just save for a lot of updates to the house etc.,

Hi Lesley, I have to say I agree I'm initially finding it easier living in an IVA I think it's partly cos I struggled with the debt a good couple of years before I took the IVA out so for me having money for food without worrying IS easier! Yes we don't have the luxuries but I'm learning lessons I wish I'd learnt years ago.

Susieq, I'm the same, doing bits to the house whilst in an IVA is hard but I'm doing a bit at a time, when I can afford it. I want to paint the living room, but will have to wait a couple of months to find the spare cash, that's fine though as I appreciate it a whole heap more than I used to.

We did ridiculous things to make our IVA work for us. I can now budget though I was useless before. Now, just 2 pay days after ours completing and we appreciate everything we have we were wasters before the IVA we now think in material terms. I had a bit of a migraine when we got paid this month and last month just because we are not used to having this money to get the things we need and save a bit. I even started funny breathing and panicking the other day when other half said he was drawing £200 out. Crazy or what.
Oscar
x

I imagine I'll be the same when it's all over, although it's a very long haul for us yet!

Fi it'll go quicker than you think really it will. Hugs
Oscar
x

I kind of don't want it to cos I'll be in my 50s when it does eeek!

You have nothinh to worry about - I'll be in my sixties!!