2nd payment due today!

[littlefi]

I can't believe it! I know some people are finishing this month and that must be amazing but for me being in the IVA itself and now 2 payments down is still such a relief!

The time has already gone fast, I hope the next 6 years do, well not personally but financially!

[luluj]

littlefi - well done - you have already noticed how quickly time goes ! Did you have any money left at the end of month one - we always used to put this in a pot and after six months open it and have a treat!

You will soon be at your first anniversary and then half way through - keep focused !

[littlefi]

sadly we didn't have any money left over as it was a really expensive month for us but we did live within our means and 'managed' when food was running low! We've had a disaster at the beginning of this month too, the lawnmower quit so we bought a cheapo one so don't think we'll have a contingency this month either, but as long as we're managing we'll get there!

[chas.m]

Hi Fi i will hopefully be joining you on the same journey soon, its just a thought,instead of paying for things that have broken can we ask if anyone has one that they can give. I am in home improvement and i have some things in the garage i would be willing to give away if anyone needed it, just a thought.

[littlefi]

Good idea Chas! For the first time ever I took it to see if it could be mended before i bought a new one, they said it wasn't worth it but I tried, I would never have done that before, I would have just gone and bought new, it was on special offer and super cheap!

[chas.m]

i know what you mean fi. i would love another car but all i see now is a pound sign on it, if i have not got the cash i will not have it, never again. Hopefully my son will get older and realise that too.
I have a brand new 800mm quadrant shower tray in the garage if you know anyone who needs to replace theres, FREE.

[frost]

Hi we are also new to the world of IVA but find we are managing to budget even though we had a couple of added expences, my car failed its mot costing £80 but not too bad. We started paying in May and are coming up to paying our third payment but it only seems like yesterday when we made the first. We are finding that we are mending things more and making do which is great fun really and teaching our 6 year old son new things. Our 6 year old love to grow vegetables which is great for saaving money. Good luck and hope time goes quickly to a debt free future. x

[MrsKnight]

Lovely to see posters adapting well to a IVA life, you will soon get the hang of it & it will become second nature! It's not easy but as long as you keep positive & look forward, you will be fine x

Frost - I would jump for joy if my car failed it's MOT n only cost £80! Cars are the biggest downfall in IVAs x

[frost]

We shopped around for places doing deals on MOT, North Eastern did the MOT of £29.99 and the only problem with the car were the brakes needed cleaning which cost £50 so we were pleased.

[chas.m]

You are very luckey there Frost.
Not even at the mot yet,i have been quoted £350 for rear discs and pads, £900 for new clutch and £180 for service all with VAT on top thats just the car the van is £175 for service plus VAT and they both need taxing at the end of the month.
Oh well we will see what happens.

[Skeef143]

Hi Fi, it feels good to be on the way doesn't it? My payments go out on the 1st, so I have now made 3 payments, and the time really seems to have gone quickly. My MOT is September, so I am trying to save contingencies up for that.

[susieq73]

God, I typed out a whole reply and hit a button and it disappeared so it may appear twice!

I love watching my wee ticker thing count down, makes me feel good, i've just paid my 3rd payment and time is passing quite quickly.

My budgeting is going ok too, don't have much left month end but i'm managing. End July will be hard as its road Tax time but will just be more frugal with food etc.

Also managing a week's holiday to Scotland this month - Staying at my parents ( they are on a cruise) and i know they will leave food and booze for us. Then spending a few days at my boyfriend's parents and again,they wont't let us spend money so we are very lucky! Will only need approx £80 for fuel so that's what i call a bargain break

[littlefi]

Fantastic that you're managing to get time away too!

[Shining]

We all have our own budget ideas and it's excellent to share these with other posters. Time does fly within an IVA and I hope each month becomes easier for us all until we make that final payment.

If we lived local to one another we could trade resources/goods which would be a good idea.

One of our posters kindly donated me some clothes once when we met at a Frugal Friends Christmas do!

[kazzafunk]

Maybe we can have a nearly new sale at the next FF meeting?!! Which I fully intend to travel to (will book a travelodge - if there offers get any better they will be paying me to stay with them!!!!)

I am going to get a postoffice budget card to save for car tax. I am concerned that if I put it in an ISA I may dip into it.

I have also noticed that they do a Christmas club - no interest but you can save all year and only access the money from 01/11 to get vouchers (or use in a large range of shops).
It might be good for families if you can't trst yourself not to break into it.