Hi everyone

[Waitingforship]

I thought I'd just pop in and say hello. My IVA started in November. Wish I'd found this site whilst I was in mad panic mode earlier. I probably could have saved £600 ish in introductory fees. Hey ho! I have to say this site appears to be great. I spent hours reading a blog last night and it made me feel so much better[:)] It's nice to realise I'm nowhere near alone. Look forward to learning all I can about how never to have to do this again. Oh and Julie? (Swangirl Hubbyhasdebts Blog) I salute you. Great read and great ending grats.

[Christabelle_sparkle]

Hi waitingforworship
& welcome to the forum.

you will find lots of inspiration and answers to your questions on here during your IVA journey.

[Foggy]

Hello and welcome --- the oft heard cry of "wish I had found this site sooner" applies to most of us I think !!!

Keep posting and smooth journey

[Waitingforship]

Thanks Christabelle and Foggy. It's a novelty to be able to sleep again with some of the weight now lifted. I think this Forum is gonna help alleviate the residual guilt I'm still feeling. Just hope I can make it through without too many dilemmas.

[Foggy]

I found, at the beginning, I was all over the place emotionally. There is, of course, the immense sense of relief, then comes guilt -- followed by "what have I done" !

I took great delight in accounting for every penny and paying my grocery shop in cash (something I hadn't done for years). You will soon learn the worth of "real" money when dealing in cash --- it is far harder to squander a real tenner than it was to flash the magic plastic !

One little tip -- don't carry cash around with you -- only when you know you are going to spend it -- it is amazing how little sweets here, a magazine there, and so on, add up.

[Waitingforship]

Sound advice, thanks Foggy. Already feeling the difference between real money and the Monopoly c/cards. Found myself staring at cheap bunches of roses today (Valentines) and umming and ahing over whether to get a single red rose or pay the extra pound for the half dozen. I must have spent 20 mins standing there looking like a complete lemon. The Mrs got half a dozen in the end. That's next weeks office tea fund down the swanny lol

[Shining]

Hi and welcome glad you found us. Writing a blog can be very helfpul during an IVA with an added bonus of if you're picked you win a nice voucher to treat yourself.

[Waitingforship]

Thanks Lesley. I might just give the blog a whirl.

[luluj]

welcome to the forum
the forum is a fantastic place to come when you are feeling down.... it is a useful place ask a few concerns, ask questions and Feel comfortable in talking about debt.
nobody will judge you.... we have or are all in the same boat.... come on here any time there is normally 1 or 2 of us about even through the night

[Waitingforship]

Thanks Luluj. I've already discovered what a welcoming bunch you are

[plasticdaft]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to ask questions of us, scream at us, cry in front of us, laugh with/at us, but most of all enjoy sorting out your debts with us.

Paul

[mothergoose]

Hello and welcome...We are all in the same boat struggling along...We have only had our iva one month longer than you and it seems like a long journey ahead..

[Shining]

Look forward to reading your blog in due course.

[Waitingforship]

Thanks guys.

[KM1512]

Welcome to the forum and to the journey of your IVA I know the feeling about have to give up something to be able to afford gifts, i think it was the hard part of the IVA at the start but now 4 and half years into the process and I ask myself do I really need it or is it just a want and I plan for the future more because using plastic to by things was so easy. Good luck