www.iva.co.uk

Some people find it Tough Going in IVA's because they are so accustomed to living on credit which in reality is money that is not there's
IT IS THE BANKS MONEY!!!

It is a deadly trap and is SOOO EASY TO GET SUCKED INTO!!!!
When you have a credit card when you are near the max they then decide to up the credit limit by another few thousand.
A Voice in your head says i won't go anywhere near my credit limit and before you know it you are there again and the Train Tracks have run out as the credit card company will not give you anymore money and all credit avenues are now CLOSED OFF!!!!.

HENCE YOU ARE NOW IN STRESS PANIC MODE!!!

HENCE YOU HAVE HARDLY OR NO MONEY FOR YOURSELF TO LIVE ON AND HAVE TO TAKE ON EXTRA WORK OR OVERTIME TO KEEP THE CREDITORS AT BAY!!!

HENCE YOU ARE TOO ASHAMED TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT!

HENCE YOU HAVE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS ANALYZING YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE AND WONDER HOW IN HELL AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS THAT WOULD TAKE ME 50 YEARS TO REPAY.

HENCE YOU ARE TOO SCARED TO PRESS BALANCE OF ACCOUNT ON THE CASHPOINT MACHINE.

HENCE YOU BECOME DEPRESSED AND FEEL WORTHLESS.

Welcome to the WORLD!!! of Bankruptcy, IVA's and DMP's

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!!!!!!!

Andrew - been there, done it and got the designer T shirts!!!!!!!

Isn't it amazing that they are willing to throw thousands at you to start with, and encourage you to get more, then when you have the slighest hiccup they put the thumbscrews on and won't listen!

I know that I am not entirely blameless, but when your bank say 'here's a gold credit card for both of you, with £10,000 each, am I going to be strong and turn it down? You guessed it - no!

I have said, 'oh, I'll just let it go to £500, I can cope with that', but then it's 'I would like one of those - get the plastic out.'

Never again!

its strange but I don't miss using credit cards or store cards. I will have a credit card of any description again. I was thinking what i will do with the IVA money when my IVA is over and I have decided to put most of it away in a savings account to have the money for things I want to buy and hopefully not rely on credit ever again.

Jan

I have to admit Jan that there are times I would love to get the plastic out, if I see something I like. One of the reasons I no longer go to any shops other than Asda and Tesco!

I will get used to it, but it's early days for me yet. I don't intend to get one once I am debt free though. I'll manage on what I have got and if I can't afford it - tough!

Jan
I have not had a credit card for over 3 years and I honestly do not miss it. In fact it is a relief not having the statements coming each month. I like you do not go shopping except for food shopping with a list. It is surprising what things you realise that you don't need that seemed so essential. I look in Charity shops for new goods for presents I have already seen some candle holders in the Heart Foundation shop new rang that I will get for my sister for Christmas and at the moment they are reduced to £1.99 add a nice scented candle and nice gift for under a fiver.
I must say I am looking forward after my IVA is completed to go shopping and buy what I want (with in reason) but I think 5 years of caution will hold me back.

Jan

I remember the same horrible time! It's when the minimum payments became too much to cope with. They just about covered the interest charged that was the frightening bit! I felt sick and got that awful nervous stomach feeling and thinking oh my God what do I do now!! I thought about leaving the country and go back home but that would be so irresponsible. I live here now, it's my home and I want to pay back all I can.

Yes, it is very stressful to have to go through but I have learned one BIG lesson - no more credit cards ever again. I would like to put money into a savings account and not use the bank's money. when you think about the credit card interest charged could have been a nice little lump sum in your savings!

Maz

I have to admit that I sometimes 'recycle' Christmas gifts that I have had that I will never use, either that or I put them on Ebay. It sounds ungrateful, but I would rather have vouchers than stuff I will never use, and that people know I will never use.

Some of the surveys that I do pay out in vouchers, so people get those for Christmas. Last year cost me next to nothing gift wise. Hubbie and me exchange a bottle of something and that's about it. I try to spend any spare cash on my daughter - oh and I have to get the dogs something as well!

Maz, we always used to joke about the bank banking with us, rather than the other way round! It always used to be their money we were spending - and that was usually just after payday!

Before my IVA was approved I lived on indigestion tablets for heart burn all caused by stress of the debt I got my self in.
Jan

I'm just glad I can sleep and not wake up with a feeling of dread every day. I don't mind the postman coming now, or the phone ringing.

I know what you all mean. I now pride myself on the fact that i am spending my own money not the banks.I am even picking up bargains and putting them away for the kids for xmas, before i would just give them to them for a treat. I am also enjoying doing my weekly shop and putting things back that i dont really need, before i would have just put everything on the card and not looked at the price of what i was buying,now I have to. so far so good.

AND WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF APPRECIATING ALL THE THINGS YOU BOUGHT ON CREDIT, THE PHOTOS OF THE HOLIDAY YOU HAD IN THE COOK ISLANDS(LUSH), THE CLOTHES YOU BOUGHT ALL THAT TIME AGO, THE JEANS THAT YOU CANNOT GET YOUR LEGS INTO ANYMORE, REMEMBERING THE TIME YOU FLEW A FRIEND IN BECAUSE YOU MISSED THEM,AND THE TIME YOU BOUGHT CHAMPAGNE FOR THE PICNIC IN THE PARK.WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME THAT HAS BEEN HAD BECAUSE YOU WERE OFFERED MORE. THE BANKS TOOK A RISK ON LENDING THE MONEY, SOME OF US TOOK A RISK ON BANKING ON THE BANKS NOT TO GO UNDER, SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS INNIT.

I have become really mean ... I really hate spending money!

Debbie

I DON'T HATE IT, JUST REALISE NOW THAT I AM SPENDING MY OWN MONEY AND THE VALUE OF IT IS MORE CONSIDERED NOW. WHEN YOU NEED TO BUDGET IT REALLY CAN BE DONE.

I still love spending money - but at least this time it's all mine!