Sounding off!!

[artemischild]

the big thing we missed was holidays! we were centre parc freaks, usually going 4 times a year and two holiday abroad too!

The first year of my IVA was utter hell, nothing but a year of sulking lol! then we discovered the best and cheapest form of holiday......camping in the UK! now were totally hooked, we love being outside, love the whole camping experiance, the sitting out at night talking rubbish and drooling after too much tesco brand wine lol!

I guess the point im making is one thing an IVA teaches you is to apprecaite things a lot more! the things we origianlly took for granted seem to hold a lot more value.

I think in two years time when my time is finally up, i'll still be a convert to primark, camping and supermarket own brand products! after all.......anything else in life is surely just extravigant???

Arty
)O(

[Shining]

Good post Arty and sums me up perfectly too as I would like to think I won't go back to my previous ways as I don't want to be in this situation again. x

[artemischild]

Absolutly Lesley, i sit and dream now about how far £400 a month could go! i think if ive managed to live 5 years (and lets face it thats quite a long ruddy time!!) then why would i ever need to go back to the old ways of 'want it now so i'll ram it on a card'?? Ive learnt so much, more so that i was obviuosly very materialistic and actually given a couple of months i can afford it simply by saving!

I think trading off a very horrible time for some good old self dicipline and a much brighter future is eventually worth it!

Just keep bumbling along people....you will get there!!

Love N light
Arty
)O(

[kallis3]

I ditched the hair colour, and the cut and blow dry. It's now a dry cut and I occasionally colour it myself at home. Never bothered with nails or anything else, I'm not a pampering sort of person. I've never done designer clothes either unless they were courtesy of Ebay.

Miss my holidays abroad though!

I will never like camping!

[artemischild]

I will never like camping!

Lol........why not?? its awesome [;)]

[flow13]

Our lives completely changed when we started our iva. Instead of shopping for brand labels for everyting we hunted for bargains and I think now we have the bug. I love primark especially when they have the sale rails (which is usually all the time) that say from £1. We have had loadsa bargains from there and done with christmas presents for my stepchildren.

We used to enjoy takeaways/nights out etc. But now we love a night in with a home cooked meal.,

We ave also tried camping (had a few bad experiences) but right now we are into the sun holidays. Just had a great one at Brean Pontins and we are off again in August to Southport Pontins.

[Skippy]

My one real extravagance has been my highlights - I'd live on beans on toast so I could keep having those done!

[600andy]

In my book real men cry.
Jan

xxx

[600andy]

Yea, we miss holidays too - personally, as a kid, we did caravan holidays and sat on beaches all day regardless of the weather - head full of nothing but fresh air and wondering whats for dinner - little else and I loved those - BUT, blimey, even a simplr caravan holiday is an absolute packet now isnt it?! I tried, but cant get my Wife in a tent. Last year we bought a weeks caravan holiday in Dorset off of ebay for £250 - and it turned out to be a bargain Holiday......until the Clutch went on the car......a borrowed £1500 later, our bargain Holiday felt a bit flat.....

I dont miss many things, but I miss getting away - we all need that regardless of our solvency status.

[600andy]

Our lives completely changed when we started our iva. Instead of shopping for brand labels for everyting we hunted for bargains and I think now we have the bug. I love primark especially when they have the sale rails (which is usually all the time) that say from £1. We have had loadsa bargains from there and done with christmas presents for my stepchildren.

We used to enjoy takeaways/nights out etc. But now we love a night in with a home cooked meal.,

We ave also tried camping (had a few bad experiences) but right now we are into the sun holidays. Just had a great one at Brean Pontins and we are off again in August to Southport Pontins.

I always miss those Sun holidays because I amm not a Sun reader.....pity! Have a great Holiday

[artemischild]

My one real extravagance has been my highlights......

This used to be one of mine.......then i discovered highlights in a box and that my other half is quite dexterious with the hook thingy [;)]

ArTy
)o(

[kallis3]

I wouldn't let my hubby anywhere near my hair! I used to have a full head colour and then higlights on top of that! Now it's my natural mousey brown with a little bit of grey.

I can't wait until we can go away again - first port of call will be the Maldives.

[artemischild]

Lol Kallis, it took a few goes but he got good in the end, i know he hates doing it, but im sure he gets much pleasure in having me on his arm at least looking half decent lmao!

Im plotting and planning to go away for xmas and new year in 2010, i figure with what im used to being without (£400 a month!!) i can easily stash away following completion of my IVA and take him on a much deserved holiday and spoil him rotten!

The Maldives now you come to mention it seems rather appealing , its weird thinking that in just 4 months of saving i would be able to afford a holiday like that!! how mad it seems now that prior i would shove it on a card and worry about it later!!

POsitive and plentyful!!
Arty
)O(

[Shining]

I've changed from the top salon in town to a home hairstylist and to be fair she's ok, I'm not going to say I get the same level of customer care I got in the salon but that was a big price to pay for customer care so it had to go. May one day who knows? x

[kallis3]

I do like my hairdressers as I've been going there for 12 years now and I can manage to afford the £12 every five weeks. I might go back to having it coloured there when I'm finished.

Our last Maldives trip was on the plastic - spent a fortune, but I have to say it was worth it!