ok - so I've don my research and now know what an

[jasperyogi]

I must admit I really enjoy life in an IVA, I get all excited again now when we have little treats like a trip out with the children, or simple things like a bottle of wine at the weekend.
Post Iva we lived in a bubble, we may as well have been bright green, with webbed feet running around saying blob blob blub blub!!
Money had no meaning at all, it was just a piece of plastic that we handed over for a few seconds while they put our shopping into bags.
But now, at 35yrs old, we both understand FULLY the meaning and value of money. This month we have managed to tax the car, service and mot our betty and WE PAID FOR IT! ok granted we have £6.04 in the bank now to last us 4 days but hey WE FEEL GREAT!!
An IVA is hard at times, but only as hard as YOU want it to be. Ok we probably wont see the inside of a plane for 5 years or buy expensive clothes, but sooooo what, britain is beautiful with an umbrella, and clothes from George are fab!!
One thing is for certain we dont take anything for granted anymore, and the things that cost nothing like my children hysterical laughing when I had cramp in my shoulder at the weekend playing eye toy on the PS2 (I discovered I'm rather competative [:D])
It was one of those special moments I think everyone has going through a journey like this....you realise whats REALLY important, Family and Friends and they cost nothing
luv ali x

[size5]

Hear Hear!!!

My 24 and 19 year old daughters take great delight in abusing me horribly by posting on my facebook account, my youngest two think it is great fun to wake me on a sunday morning by creeping onto the bed and doing "Big Daddy Splashes" on me.

Happy days.......

[Abby]

i have also started the iva process with melanie, still very stressed, think everything wil go wrong, but i am now watching every penny and paying cash for everything, hopefully if everything goes good for us the relief of no more credit card bills through the post will make it all worth while.
abby x

[Soulgrowth]

Hi Abby ... it's really quite refreshing isn't it [:)]

Debbie

[facefacts]

Hi. I'm really enthused to read the posts above. I too am just starting a process. Financial statement being prepared this week. IP advises should be no more than 6-8 weeks to creditors meeting so looking forward now. It has been so difficult over the past 2 years, credit commitments everywhere while also trying to revamp a derelict apartment while also in the middle of a relationship breakdown. It has been so hard trying to make ends meet and the down side is that I'm now trying to sell the done up apartment in a crashing market. However, having been paying for food bills with my credit cards, and worrying about whether I can afford to service the car due to having no money I am looking forward to having a budget over the coming years as for the past 2 years I have had practically none. FYI here are my debt details
Lloyds refinance loan of visa card, overdraft & car loan = £21k
MBNA Visa = £2,500.
MBNA Mastercard = £6,100.
Citi Visa = £4,500.
Aqua Mastercard = £1,550.
Egg Visa = £1,250.
Vanquis Visa = £750.
Aqua Mastercard = £1,250.
GEC House of Fraser Store Card = £2,000.
Capital One Visa = £200.
GEC Dorothy Perkins Store Card = £470.

As you can see this totals somewhere in the region of £37k and keeping up with the minimum payments of so many creditors has become disheartening especially when the outstanding amount doesn't seem to be going down. I am keeping fingers and toes cross for my IVA creditors meeting as I am hoping that this will give me the new start I need while making me learn a hard lesson. Of the £37k, my IVA proposal means I will pay back £21k (57p in the pounds).

[facingittogether]

good luck with your proposal and well done for taking that massive step of facing up to your problems!

keep on posting as we are all friends on here and are here to support you!

we are almost 5 months in to our iva and although we have a bi=duget to stick to it is so much better than our pre iva days!

love barb x

[Til]

We feel same as many already posted above.

You have no 'credit' safety net when in IVA - your money has to cover everything - but to be honest we get a kick out of knowing that we paid for stuff with our money - not plastic!

OH came home today dead chuffed cos he had got a deal on loo roll when he was shopping! If you can take a sense of pride from working towards that debt free goal then having a tight budget in many ways feels comforting - for the first time in many many years I know what I have to pay out for bills and what is coming in - I no longer have my head in the sand! It kinda feels like, despite us paying the IVA for next 6 years, we have been given a debt free slate and that we are starting afresh. A very liberating feeling after worrying about how to juggle food money out of the credit cards.

We have only just begun and know there will be 'bad' months along the way but so far we love our IVA and the sense of security and peace it has given us back - we know where we stand now and that is priceless - no more drowning [:I]

[Viki.W]

Hey facefacts, just wanted to welcome you to the forum and wish you luck for your creditors meeting. Keep posting for support and advice. X

[facefacts]

Thanks for the support. I received my pack to approve and return ready for the creditors scrutiny today, and the sense of relief even at this stage is amazing. For far too many months now I have been raiding the remaining value on my cards just to pay my fuel bill to get to work, and to buy food. I'm not trying to get too ahead of myself but if I can just get accepted I'm looking forward to having a reasonable quality of life where I don't have to put off buying essentials like glasses or hayfever tablets, and won't have the added worry of how I am going to continue to pay to get to work. I will keep posting.

[plasticdaft]

There is no going back now facefacts,even if the iva doesnt get approved(I am sure it will),then you cannot go back to robbing peter to pay paul,you have to realise by now that it just doesnt work.

Good luck and well done for taking your head out the sand.

[facefacts]

Thanks for the support. I will keep everyone posted.

[kallis3]

Good luck from me too.

[facefacts]

Creditors meeting scheduled for 31st October. Fingers crossed.

[Lisa2009]

Good luck, i hope its a positive outcome xxxxxxx

[moretolife]

good to hear you have your meeting...keep us posted and good luck