IVA Stir Crazy

[animaleyes76]

Have to say that I wasn't that bothered telling my friends about my situation.

They were pretty supportive and non-judgmental and realised that i couldn't go out as often as i wanted etc and it has worked quite well. Now i live in Prague and beer is £1.30 my social life has picked up again somewhat lol.

I know what you mean though because i remember when we were always having trips out with work that sometimes were covered by the company to a point, but after that you had to pay, and all the people wanted to go to really posh bars where a beer would be £4.50 or something.

I just felt a bit depressed that i couldn't even do the same things.

Then again, now i know many things that i didn't at the time, basically that most of them were doing the same as me and spending money on the never never but unlike me it's taken them until 2011 to deal with it. Now i have 6 months-ish, okay 190 days (i'm not counting honest) until it's all over, and yes i do feel a bit smug

[orange]

i feel the months get harder and think thats because your nearing the end and its frustrating when you need something and cant get it and then your planning what you will do and find yourself arguing what your going to do ! how do you expalin to the kid you cant have that!long and dificult time to the end

[kallis3]

I'm actually not that bothered about the holidays - I did manage to go away two years ago courtesy of daughter but other than that stuff off Ebay does me plus family get Christmas stuff from my online surveys.

The likes of Poundland, Primark and cheap stuff off Ebay I love! Never been into expensive clothes at all.

Daughter and her fiancee and my stepkids know about it but that's all. I would never tell friends or work about it.

[Goosed]

Oh God...please don't tell ms it gets worse! I've always felt restricted, claustrophobic, imprisoned...

That`s marriage for you[:D]

[kallis3]

[:D]

Some of us are happily married Goosed![:D]

[kazzafunk]

Likewise - I love Primark. Got my summer wardrobe last week for £32.00!! lol - and then I car boot the lot next spring for someone to wear. Can't remember the last time I walked into Next which I used to spend a fortune in.

[kallis3]

Bargain! I really don't care where my clothes come from to be honest. I keep mine until I either don't fit into them anymore or they fall apart!

[kazzafunk]

Have to go cheap with clothes coz due to my bad back etc I have to wear more expensive shoes. Not nice stiletto ones either!!lol

[kallis3]

I got a brilliant hand tailored three piece suit in a cashmere mix from Ebay for a tenner recently!

I must admit that with shoes you do tend to get what you pay for although I've them from Ebay before and they've been fine. I got a pair of Reiker trouser boots from there about five years ago which I wear every day for work and they are still going strong.

[Broke of London]

What gets me is how boring my life is. Go to work come home and watch TV - great!! And then because my boyfriend isn't in an iva I am under constant pressure to spend money I don't have and our lifestyle means I need a constant supple of 'special outfits' and you can only ring the changes so often. So I'm also feeling poo all the time that I can't make my budget work and guilty that I have to spend so mug on clothes when i should be eating more healthily or saving my contingency. I'll get over it though...summer is particularly demanding on my wardrobe so i start stressing and planning about now!

[Skippy]

Although I don't mind buying clothes in Asda and Tesco, I hate Primark with a passion and refuse to go in there!

I get a lot of clothes in Next - their basic range is comparable with Tesco etc for price (t shirts for £4 for example) and better quality.

I always end up spending more on shoes as not many places do half sizes!

[antm]

BOL, my life and quite a few i guess is no different, don't have the summer dresses to worry about lol!!

My other half has a shopping disorder i think its a female thing, she just loves to shop. I tend to moodily follow round with my iphone in hand, then get told off for being glued to the phone, the question is then why you always on the phone. I get the impression when she moves in with me things will change a bit,

I guess im lucky in one respect as i do have my biking which helps, just £10 of fuel and im in the countryside, away from everything just relaxing for a day, i manage this twice a month, keeps me sane!!

[kallis3]

I love shopping and hubby doesn't mind trailing round with me!

I'm afraid that my wardrobe has to last me, and my dresses (not that I wear many!) last me many a year as long as they still fit!

The only thing I don't like about Primark is the fact that it is a bit of a free for all!

[kazzafunk]

BOL - yes it's hard if you have places to go to. Hubby hates going out with a passion and I am happy with that so never need any smart clothes! Now I work in the same office each day I don't have to dress to impress and just wear my M&S joggers each day & a smart top.
I used to get things from Ebay for a smart occ as it's normally a couple of seasons old and so no-one will be wearing the same but it's still new to me!!! Handbags are my thing! Got to stop that now but I have some nice ones that will last.

[antm]

Don't get me started on handbags!! worse than shoes in my opinion, we managed a holiday back in march (seems so far away now) during the week aboard i spent must of been about £100 few drinks here, some food, a day trip, my other half about the same, she commented on how little we spent. I was just content sat on the beach with a book as the water laps round my feet.

So on the way back, guess howmuch she spent in the airport tax free shop, me about 3 euros bottle of coke, her she brought 3 handbags, designer ones just over £500!! i almost choked when she told me on the plane home, she brought a burberry purse and matching handbag, a kipling one and some other designer, i told her thats 2 months food and petrol!! im guessing all that will change when i end my IVA but just seems pointless!!