wish I'd found this site earlier !

[sophie0119]

Hi, Just discovered this site and hoping to learn how to cope better with my IVA. I'm 19 months into my IVA and am finding it really hard, especially around this time of the year. Theres way too much money left at the end of the money ! Has anyone got a tips please ?

Having read through some of the previous posts, I realy wish I had found this site earlier.

x

[clareyfarey]

Hi Sophie, welcome to the forum! I found the forum at about the same time, it really is wonderful

How are you coping now? Are you struggling in your IVA?

The best thing I can advise you is to count every single penny that you spend, and make sure that your I&E is reflective of what you ACTUALLY spend. Some people put through an unrealistic I&E to get the IVA approved, then find it very difficult to live within it.

Of course, there are things like making sure you're with the cheapest energy provider, shop around for your insurance, and I know a few posters on here sign up to survey websites to get vouchers and cash back.

Hope this is of some help!

Cx

[Shining]

Hi Sophie and welcome to the forum, I do agree the forum is a godsend and luckily I did find it pre-IVA. Christmas can be a testing time but good advice above from clareyfarey, make sure at review time your I&E is a true reflection of what you spend to ensure you've allowances for all the necessary things. I can usually skimp on shopping to provide a little bit more for Christmas food. The vouchers are helpful from the surveys too. x

[MelanieGiles]

If you are really struggling due to a change in circumstamces, your IP may have discretion to reduce your payments by up to 15% without the need to get creditor approval. Have a chat with them to see if this in an option for you.

[leaKybrain]

Whilst my IVA journey only officially started today I have been budgeting for three months since making that first phoen call.

I found the online surveys have helped, I do pinecone research and every time I get a book I use it in asda against my shopping, but then put an amount on my saving card. i probably had about £80 last year,

Do savings stamps for any of the main shops you go to like morrisons, farm foods, and Ithink iceland do it.

I also save thru afriend with park hampers so i pay £20 a month from my housekeeping and i get £200 vouchers at the begin of november. This has helped no end this year, have even been able to use some of the vouchers to give as gifts themselves, which means that I haven't had to miss any important people off the gift list.

Plan your meals for the month and stick to the shopping list, I find this works spot on if I stick to it. there will always be months when you can't do it, like birthday months or something like that. But it may mean that you can save a bit of your housekeeping. So far I have saved £20 from the last three months. £10 and £5 and £5. It may not seem much but if i did that for the year its £80 towards the christmas month.

Try cooking and freezing in batches, bulk meals out with other things to make them go further, this is esp helpful when doing that menu plan as you will always know what you've got in the freezer.

Probably think of loads more but will put them up later.