Similar situation to us, until the IVA was set up we received numerous letters and constant phone calls in the end we didn't answer the phone at all, even getting calls at 8.30am in the moring up until 9pm and Sundays! The IVA was stressful but well worth it now the only post that drops onto our mat is generally birthday cards or mails shots, I wish we had followed the iva route a long time before we did. It can be hard sometimes especially when you are in work with people all around you talking about holidays to here and there and going out for the night on Saturday and buying nice clothes, but that is the price we have to pay for the moment, I know it wont be for ever - we have now made 15 payments and I can't believe how quickly that 15 months has flown by.
Our earliest calls were at 8am and the respite we had was Christmas and Boxing Days and New Years Day!
You can have a night out sometimes by trying to save a little money and my clothes pretty much come from Ebay these days.
Some posters do manage a holiday.
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
Virtual shopping is something I would never do unless I wanted to buy anything.
I love H&M (wearing a pair of their leggings as we speak!)but I do find that the stuff is either very good or total rubbish. I used to wear their BB range but can do the bambi limbed teenager stuff now instead!
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
Have you tried their shirts Jan? They have some very tempting ones for £10 but like you say, H&M can be very good or very bad and I don't want to waste my money! The stuff I've bought before such as jackets doesnt need regular washing and ironing like a shirt does and I don't want it to fall out of shape after a month!
I don't do shirts - work provide a uniform and I only need a shirt if I have to go to court (part of the job) and I have a Sainsburys basics at £4 for that. They are really good! My suit is a cashmere mix which cost me £10.50 from Ebay!
I've always found H&M to be one thing or the other. Sometimes I can go in and want to spend loads, other times I can walk out without having seen anything I like.
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 now even buy clothes from second hand charity shops, something we would never have thought doing a few years ago.
The charity shops these days are better laid out than they used to be with all the items displayed like they are in some high street stores - you wouldn't even know that the clothes had been worn before. They are such high quality.
When someone at work said they would never wear clothes that someone else had on I tell them that the clothes from the high street could easily have been tried on by several people and not purchased.
The shirt I'm wearing now cost £1.00 (probably would have been around £40 in Next)
Regards
st75
regards
st75
Started lump sum IVA in Aug 2010 - received certificate of completion April 2011, thanks to Melanie & team
I am a big second hand shopper, and why not! As you say there are many bargains to be had, and as long as the clothes are of good quality and clean then they are fine. Would probably not buy second hand shoes though!
I buy from charity shops, Ebay and my best bargain today - two tops and a pair of shorts from Sainsburys - £1 each!
I'd buy second hand shoes if they fit!
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
Thinking about it, my work boots were second hand and I've been wearing those for about five years now and they're brilliant!
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
