www.iva.co.uk

Hi again everyone, firstly I want to thank you all so much for your enduring support and patience with me over the last couple of weeks, for a forum of complete strangers, you really have been a lifeline, esp Jan, Lesley, Melanie xx

Today I am just at breaking point I guess, my salary is all over the place because I am sort of inbetween jobs at the minute (I have a job currently, a new one to start in Jan, but will be running both alongside each other for a few weeks) and am in limbo trying to decide whether to keep both jobs going which will enable me to make a much higher return to our creditors (but may cause childcare issues), Egg have called my husband 8 times today (and spoke to him each and every one of the those times!) demanding payment, demanding reference numbers etc etc, and I am sat here wondering how on earth it has come to this.

6 months ago I was in a very well paid job with a company car, private health insurance and overpaying our debts to the tune of £1000 a month, but the job was sending me round the twist and my heart lies in nursing so have done a return to practice course but this means I have to start right at the bottom again.

Now hubby has come in and tells me the starter motor has gone on my car and we have no spare money to fix it this month, its xmas next week, we will be having beans on toast at this rate

So sorry to hear that Lem It always happens at the worst times. Money is tight at Xmas at the best of times!

I take it your IVA hasn't gone through yet then if you are still getting calls? They're not nice are they? Have you considered changing your number to stop the calls? I remember it well. I just used to fail the security questions so they couldn't harrass me!

Thinking of you, and hope your car gets sorted.

Whatever you eat this year, you will be eating it with your family which is what really matters. and you are back in a job you love which is more than most can say! Speak to your ip and see if they can do anything to help with the starter motor...cars have a wonderful sense of timing don't they! Christmas is tough in an iva because the whole festival seems designed to relieve us of our hard earned cash. But spending time off with your family is priceless!

Hi Lem, take away the stress of the calls, change your number, I do realise it's not always practical but 8 times in a day is a ridiculous amount of calls and surely that's next to harassment?

Remind me Lem are you still paying your creditors token payments? if so stop the payments as it will have no effect on the meeting outcome as it's been said so many times by the professionals who post on the forum. That way you can get the starter motor.

As for the jobs I would sit back and think if you could manage both jobs long term? if your IVA could be accepted without so much stress maybe that would be favourable.

I know it's easy for me to say I'm almost 3 years into my IVA but I do know what you're going through and I do know it will end eventually, switch your phone off if you can or ideally change your number, they can only contact you via mail that way and it's your choice when to open it.

Remember we're all here for you and although it may seem like it now it won't be long before we're wishing you well with your meeting date hopefully.

Chin up, you can always come for me for Christmas dinner if you want! xx

Bless you both, Broke, IVA is still in the early stages so we are not even at the proposal stage yet, this month we have defaulted on a few payments to get the cambelt done on my husbands car, my car has been a little star through all this weather but we have the total sum of £9 left available on our overdraft until I get paid on 23rd (have plenty of food in though) and now have to look at trying to get my car sorted. We can't use credit now so we have nothing, fortunately I am not at work tomorrow but we are both at work Thursday and I now have no way of getting to work or home (I am working 1.30 - 9.30pm Thursday, 32 miles away from where I live, no public transport) unless I get the car fixed tomorrow, but then can't pay for the repairs!

I wish now we had just soldiered on for a little bit longer, this was my worst fear, we have not even had time to build up a contingency fund, how the hell are we supposed to do this for the next five years without credit???? I am sorry I sound so pathetic, but we just don;t have enough money, I am such a failure, I am letting everyoine down, my poor kids....

Lem you're not a failure. You're doing the best by your family as when you're in your IVA you will have budgets for everything and hopefully although it won't be easy, things will be easier.

Add me as a frugal friend Lem and I'll do the same and we can converse off the forum if you want, I don't like you feeling this way bless you and although I can't help you directly I can offer you support. xx

Hi Lem we have all been there - first of all you have to try and step back - and plan which is hard because the phone rings all the time and you have no money which means even a simple thing can become a crisis. But it may seem that if you had carfriewd on for a little longer then it would be better but you would just be adding to the debt.

You are right about having some back up cash though - when you get paid next month dont give a penny to the creditors money down the drain - stick to the IVA process get a good IP and be careful about what you are offering - you have to live it for 5 years! - absolutely no point offering what you cant afford or what is not sustainable

But the best bits of christmas do not cost money and the calls will stop and the new year will bring you a start a solution to this nightmare - so chin up! (and £9 will buy a couple of bottles of wine so ... always a thought!

Hi again - please don't think you're a failure. Do you know anyone who can lend you the money to fix your car? Alternatively you can do as I once did...I developed flu for a few days as I had no money to put petrol in the car to get to work!!!

lol at the wine joe B, I have already worked my way through a couple of bottles of Baileys this last week (well, Lidl's own version, can't afford the real thing)

Lesley, how do I add you as a frugal friend? I have no idea.

We have breakdown coming out shortly to take a look at the car, hubby thinks it may just be the battery now, fingers crossed, I'm going to look at cashing in my ISA tomorrow, I think there is only about £300 in it but we have to find some money somewhere.

Barclaycard called again just now, they can just sod off (sorry for the language but I am just NOT in the mood for them right now), my little boy still thinks I am the best mummy in the world so maybe all is not so bad.

I agree with your little boy!

Go into your profile, top of this page choose the profile tab, then pop in your password, scroll down a bit and add lesley_ as a frugal friend I've already added you and then I'll send you a mail. xx

Thanks Lesley, I think I've done it, you might want to just check. Breakdown chap is here, fingers crossed for the verdict xx

I've sent you a mail Lem. Hope the breakdown chap delivers good news xx

Lem

I saw Tina's e-mail to you today and understand your frustrtions about your job. Trust me we will find you the right solution, and that definately is not by incurring more credit along the way.

Look forward to our chat on Sunday, but call us in the meantime if you need to. That is what we are here for at the end of the day.

do not worry they are paid to harass you tell them in a firm voice to go away and change your phone number
then enjoy christmas with the family
dont worry what the return is for the creditors thats for your ip to sort out
its better you are getting help than going bankrupt then they will get nothing
If you are feeling low just rant at them down the phone always cheers me up

Hi lem -

Regarding your query of "how do I do this for 5 years?" - I can recall similar feelings 100%. Once you adapt to the new lifestyle it is not so bad - I feel as if my life is simply on hold pending 2012 (I have completed 45 months of 60 thus far). The time DOES go and my IVA company have been ace - I have not had a single call fron creditors for about 44 months (one month after my IVA started) - and really have got used to living the frugal life.