I posted this on the other thread so reposting here as think this is a duplicate )
Hi Dodge
It is hard with children - our little girl is only small so doesn't really understand money and thankfully she will only be around 8 when we finish so still young enough to hopefully avoid a big impact. For Birthdays and Christmas I try to save elsewhere to put the money aside - I pay towards Park catalogue for Xmas and that really helps a lot to soften the blow.
Nearly 3 years in now and have to say whilst it makes you think more and obviously you can't rely on the credit card - it does make you consider birthday and xmas gifts more carefully - planning ahead more - and you find ways to ensure they don't miss out.
Good luck xx
Last edited by Til on Tue May 17, 2011 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn't permanent." - Jean Kerr
IVA approved Aug 2008 - 6 year term - last payment made 6 Oct 2014. CC received 14 Nov 2014.
I buy the cheapest cards and wrapping paper I can - I even recycle gift bags when I get them.
It's worth shopping round during the year and putting stuff away. You can usually get some bargains.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I know of people that use double up all their Tesco's vouchers and buy toys and clothes throughout the year for Xmas pressies. My sis always buys some pyjamas, socks, clothes in the sales through the year to wrap up with their toys - they don't care what they get as long as there's loads of little parcels!! My niece and nephew love crafts so through the year if we see anything cheap we buy and wrap up. It's hard I admit but she would rather not see the kids suffer because of their debts.
My Tesco vouchers are saved up to help fund the drinks for Christmas. Same with the few Sainsburys vouchers I get!
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I forgot to mention vouchers & coupons, I do save & use them on the things I need.
I know sainsburys is a expensive shop for those in a IVA, but you can use there money off coupons that you get at the till in tescos! Rather sneaky trick I think on behalf of tescos but a clever one at stealing business!
I was in tescos with a voucher for £4 off a total spend of £30 & the cashier noticed a sainsburys voucher for £3 pound saving of £30 as well, told me they accepted them & could use both! So I got £7 off my shopping!
Next week I'm going with a sainsburys £6 off a £30 shop which I got through the post & I'm using it in tescos, every little helps x
Final IVA payment made in April 2013, never ever thought we could do it or get through it but we did! X
An IVA.co.uk Mentor is someone sharing from their experiences of dealing with debt
Another thing I do is buy in bulk in Boots if things are on offer and get my advantage points. Then at Xmas I normally find myself online on Xmas Eve night treating myself to all the 1/2 price gift sets that I love - then I have enough pampering stuff for the whole year!! It's like a little Xmas pressie for me. I already have £20 worth of points for this Xmas. Oh joy!!!
I rarely use Boots these days unless it's to buy the Christmas pressies. My own toiletries are nice cheapie ones from Asda.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Yeah - can understand that but I only buy when it's BOGOF or 3 for 2 on the facial stuff I use and medicines through the year. I never pay full price in there. Just got a thing for Soap and Glory and if I can get it all for free I'm a happy bunny!!
Never buy medicines from Boots at all. Other than prescription drugs I use multi vitamins and they come from Asda - really cheap!
Hubby gets his deodorant from Poundland, mine is less than a quid from Asda.
I do use Avon though for things such as liquid soap, shower gel and body lotion. Only when they are on special though! Hubby suffers from really dry feet and Avon has the stuff that sorts him out at the moment.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I have not used boots for years! Ever since the boys came out of nappies! They used to do some great total spend offers for points on baby stuff & used it to fund some Christmas presents when they were on 3 for 2.
Now I get everything from supermarkets! I love it when tescos & morrisons do 3 for 1 offers! I can't resist some of them, especially if it's something I use! Co-op did some good 3 for 1 a few weeks back on toilettries at a reasonable price too. I'm fully stocked for a while in shampoos, conditioner, toothpaste, bubble bath!!!!!!!
Last edited by MrsKnight on Tue May 17, 2011 8:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Final IVA payment made in April 2013, never ever thought we could do it or get through it but we did! X
An IVA.co.uk Mentor is someone sharing from their experiences of dealing with debt
thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and thoughts and for making me feel a little more possitive with regards to our allowance for house keeping i think i may need to look and see if i can get lifted a little as i think we may struggle as food is so expensive these days [:)]
What you can do as well is to change to supermarket own brands rather than main brands or even basic stuff. Some are absolutely fine but others are a bit naff!
It's a case of tasting and finding out what you can compromise on.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
We use value milk, and always bags of value veg to go in our cooking. The only thing we can't change is our Heinz ketchup and baked beans. Just get them when they are on offer.
I use Boots and save points, I love Sanctuary products and my daughter knows this and often gives me a treat when there's a fiver off them. I had 4 of them £5.00 off vouchers given to me for skincare and didn't use any of them and they ran out today! Gutted but dentist scale and polish to pay for tomorrow. x
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
We always use Branston sauce and beans - won't buy Heinz or HP on principle (they shut down the factory in Birmingham) Buy 1% or less milk and Asda own veg. We do buy the value tinned toms and kidney beans though. Soup is Asda own as well.
I will only every buy free range eggs though.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
)
x
