Lessons learnt

[tra23dog]

My husband and I have completed out IVA and we have our CC's. We basically got into debt when I gave up a full time job to start my own business. We had to live on credit cards and I took out a business loan. The interest grew and my business didn't get off the ground and before we knew it, we were heavily in debt. We had many sleepless nights and saw no way out. We took out an IVA and although it was a struggle, we scraped through. We now don't buy anything unless we have cash and as we lived on a very tight budget for nearly 6 years, we learnt that as long as we had a roof over our head, could pay the bills and food in the cupboard, nothing else really mattered. We have learnt to ask - do we really need this? We appreciate the little things in life. We do feel a great sense of relief to know that we are completely debt free!! We don't owe anyone a penny and that is how it will stay! It is hard but you do get there and the feeling is great!

[Shining]

Well done on completing your IVA's and thank you for sharing your post as this will no doubt help others who are part-way through their IVA.

Glad it has left you with a positive feeling and it's one decision in my life I definitely don't regret and that's the IVA.

[MelanieGiles]

Great to see that your experience has been a positive one, and that your lessons learnt are being put to good use. Posts like this do serve to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel even if you are just starting out on the IVA journey.

[Struzzo39]

Lovely post. I know you shouldn't wish you life away but I personally cannot wait till the iva is over

[footiemad]

Certainly good to read a positive post. I'm at the half-way stage having just got through a terrible financial year (theft, new boiler, car and flood). I am hoping that there nothing left to go wrong but you never know. The main thing is that we are still surviving, no further debts have been incurred and we still love each other. I would like to say roll on the next 2 years but I hate wishing time away. Still glad that we took the IVA route because at least we still feel safe and in a couple of years will be able to rebuild our lives financially.

[Christabelle_sparkle]

Well done on completing your IVA,
We cannot wait for ours to be over.

[luluj]

Glad it has been a positive experience and you are now debt free and able to start over again, but this time within your means - best of luck in the future