www.iva.co.uk

After doing all my calculations this month, considering I only earned 1/2 what I usually do as I was up at Mum's when she was in hospital, things are going to be really really tough this month.

However I'm really going to try to stick with it, it's not a cheap month either, I have a weekend away that is all paid for except for spending money, so ebay selling is going to be done for that, then at the end of the month I need to tax my car and with all the disasters I've had since the IVA, I don't have a contingency.

I just went to Asda and I found my real struggling prior to the IVA has helped me to buy almost nothing and still have food!

How do you cope with tough months? Do you just tough it out, sell on ebay, or ask for a payment break?

Not good Fiona, hope you can manage to cope this month.

If you are really struggling then you could ask for a payment break - don't go short.

Selling on Ebay is good as long as people pay!!! I am currently in a dispute with someone who hasn't paid.

Hi Littlefi its hard this time of year,i would ask for a months payment break if you are struggling.

Eat as cheap as possible!! Big pan warm stew cheap as chips. I know how you feel this is going to be the hardest week in my last 14 months. £10 that's all we have until 11th. Why? Had to pay balloon payment on car thanks to payplan giving incorrect information. Anyway done that subject enough!
Whoops deals can be really good as well. If you can sell stuff on eBay do! Only wish I could! Don't have anything to sell.

Hi there, i feel the same recently i did try and blog about it, petrol hikes and other price increases has made the last few months the toughest of my IVA. TBH i have changed my eating habits, at least once a week the beans on toast comes back, or egg on toast or when i work 11-8 or 10-7 ive resorted to cereal for tea. Probably not the best solution but im determined not to get behind with not far to go.

Christmas is always tough but luckily supermarkets start early so i have a tin of sweets, biscuits, cheese crackers all in the cupboard ready for chrimbo. Just need to keep plugging through it. The carrot is so close i can feel the end now.

Tough month for us Fiona too as my daughters mobile phone bill this month which is normally £10 was actually £88 so have had to fund that from somewhere else, we do have a contingency but I am trying not to touch it as I want it to build up in case we have anything go wrong with the car, I really wouldn't want a payment break so early on in our IVA especially as it is written into our IVA that we are only allowed a payment break once during the whole IVA term so we have to have a contingency there. Hubby still needs 3 tyres for his car but we can't afford to get them, we were going to get one this month but now that has gone out of the window with this bill, it just seems never ending

Doesn't it seem never ending, as I said on my thread about not yet having a contingency fund, so much has gone wrong, any money that should have gone into a contingency fund has gone on emergencies!

However I'm like you I'd rather struggle than take a break, in case on month I really do need to take a break. I think when you have really really struggled you know where you can pull the budget in, so that's what I'm doing.

I never manage to gather a contingency fund for long. Something always happens!

Not trying to be miserable, but whilst I'm stuck in this IVA, at the moment I personally don't like this time of year much...Halloween, Bonfire Night, Xmas and New Year all in a row. The succession of events leaves me even more hassled and skint than usual from the beginning of October (my son's birthday) until pay day at the end of January (5-6 weeks between Dec's and Jan's wage days usually).

However, everyone's in the same boat on here so I'll stop this particular moan right there!

[:)]

I've had a payment break probably every year of my IVA due to circumstances outside of my control. I've finally got caught up with payments again (end of this month) so let's hope this last 16 months run smoothly for me!

I agree they don't all run smooth but so long as you've a good IP behind you, you should be fine. x

Eating cheaply usually gets me through the tough months...baked potatoes and beans, spaghetti and pesto or bulk cooking a stew. Good luck and enjoy your break! x

Thanks all. Yes I will have to figure a way around things. This weekend is a big event and it used to be just something we went to as a matter of course, this time I'm seeing it as a mini holiday! I won't get another one, so although it's usually, dancing & drinking all night I'm determined to do some relaxing as well, as who knows when I'll get away again, probably the same event next year! Have to say fortunately I do some part time work for the organisers, so I only had to pay for accomodation, I didn't have to pay for my entertainment pass, YAY. There's always a way around stuff isn't there [:)]

Hope you have a great time Fiona - you deserve it after the month you've had x

Have a great weekend Fiona - sounds like great fun!

I notice in the shops now that all haloween stuff is greatly reduced - I know this time of year is a real drain on the pennies but maybe look at buying any bits you need just after the event this year so you have it ready for next. Lots of the trick or treat sweets have a long shelf life. I got all my xmas cards in Jan this year from Oxfam as they were so cheap and really nice!

Fireworks wise I know of lots of people who go to round Table/Rotary displays but stand outside the ground. Someon always goes round with a bucket so you can pop some pennies in to contribute instead of paying full admission price - that way you're not ripping them off but enjoying the display for however much you can afford.

Regards,

Have a great weekend Fiona.

We will be making sure our dogs don't suffer too much!!

To Lem

I don't want your hubby driving around on dangerous tyres - not worth it at all. If you need to discuss a temporary payment break to cover this, please contact me. I'm around all weekend, and there is nothing wrong in asking for things like this regardless of how long you have been in your IVA.

You only get one husband (hopefully!)