www.iva.co.uk

For the last 5 months we have actually had money left in the bank at the end of the month, it's only a small amount like £5 or so. This is unprecedented and before the IVA we would be well into the overdraft by now (get paid on the 25th of each month). The good thing is that this is our money not any overdraft or bending the plastic to breaking point. The last 3 1/2 years of having to monitor every penny we spend has certainly been hard, but it seems now we have got the hang of buy 'stuff' we need and not 'stuff' we want things are on the up. This is something we can easily manage to carry on with once the IVA is complete so I can only look forward to seeing a black amount in the bank statements to follow. It is a hard and long road but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it has taught us a hard lesson along the way.

I totally agree with your post. I'm out of the IVA now but it's so lovely having the buffer of a small savings account to fall back on. Just this week my car has broken down so it's going to be used to pay for this but I know it's our money paying for it and not the credit card.

Good post Merlin

Yes, I think "that" lesson is the best part of the IVA -- a lesson hard learnt (practically knocked into you!) will stay with you. The new life is an old fashioned way of living --- if you don't have the money you can't have whatever takes your fancy and if you really want / need it, save for it ---- sounds just like my Gran ( bless her) talking .. but, as I have now cottoned on ... she did have a point

Fab post Merlin . I totally agree with you. Its not easy but worth it