First steps

another Christmas in an IVA completed – three down and two to go!! I hope that everyone survived Christmas. We are now half way through – 30 paid and 30 left. I cannot believe that we have come so far. It was three years ago this week that I first found the forum and support from it. Reading the blogs and posts made me believe that things were not as dire as I was thinking at the time. I am so grateful for the specific advice relating primarily to the dog and car!!

well – some you win and some you lose! I’ve had my post office voucher for blog of the week but find that with payday next Tuesday we have less than £15 I do have a couple of tesco vouchers I got from valued opinions as an emergency back up and a freezer full of food. Just had loads of little bits to pay this month and have to find money for son’s bus pass £12. I will have to cash in the change from our big bottle downstairs. I feel really crappy and with Christmas approaching I know we’re gonna have to be extra careful the next couple of months. Still – we’re making our way out of debt and not falling further in – that’s gotta be good!

Well three months worth of blogs have gone. Won blog of the week a few weeks ago too so thought I’d better update or people may think Andy’s lost the plot!

All went well with the annual review really. We agreed to maintain the payments as they are. Submitted new I and E which showed net decease of £7 but I have managed to add a few hours overtime a week for the next few months to offset. Cleardebt were fab and reduced our payment to allow us to lease a car from Dunctons and we are very committed to doing our best to repay what we owe. Chairmans report shows nearly half what were expected to return over the five years has been paid after two years so all is well.

A good review just reinforces how pleased and relieved I am that I was able to find the forum and the suppot and information that led me to cleardebt. Not wanting to sound like a walking advert, they have been fantastic! Not once have I been made to feel stupid or at fault for allowing things to get to the situation they did and I have 100% confidence that they’d help us if we needed it.

Two years have really flown and I cannot wait to get Christmas out of the way so I can say we’e half way there!! I think half way through is such a psychological hurdle and I cannot wait to pass it!

To all who are reading this and starting out I have a few snippets of advice – use the forum to get information and support. make sure you feel really comfortable with your company. remember that if you’ve started your journey then you’re already on your way to the end!

Review forms arrived yesterday and after a quick phone call today, I have emailed everything off!! I am really hoping that the payment stays the same – I’d like it to go down obviously but as long as it doesn’t go up, we’ll survive I’m sure!!

Two more to go if we don;t have one at the end!! Never had any equity in te house since it started and still don’t so hoping to end in three years time!!!

These two years have flown!! I remember looking on the forum for the first time two and a half years ago now and cannot believe I am at this point. The nerves of waiting for the acceptance – then waiting for the review – but nothing compared to the stress of waiting for the bailiffs I guess!!

To everyone just embarking on the road to debt recovery, Good Luck!! Research well and use the forum. I would say phone several companies but we only phoned Cleardebt and have no regrets whatsoever.

I’ll report back soon on the findings!!!

sorry not been able to update blog – laptop broke again I do miss the convenience of our overdraft – if not the charges!! Having to wait until the end of the month to see if anything more of an emergency happens is beginning to take it’s toll!!

I have kept my job – and still fulltime so payemnts can continue. I am so relieved!! Docs all coming together to have a speedy review – expecting the paperwork anytime now.

Things are as tight for us as I guess they are for all – public sector so no pay rise but cannot complain really I guess as so many from where I work have no job come next month.

Spoke to cleardebt today and feel not so blue!! Back to work today to find that new jobs may infact only be part-time Spoke to cleardebt who advised we’d just need to go back to creditors if I could not maintain my payments. Feel a bit better about that. Told them ablout our tax credits loss but that we should see a drop in tax this month so we’ll ride it out until the review that’s June anyway. Increases in insurance will just be taken from the new direct debit amounts on the bank statements – just need to save this month’s petrol receipts as proof of increase in fuel. Only have one saving to show on house insurance – at least I am trying!!!!

Cannot think where else to find savings. Food always goes above our £392 allowance and clothes for my child / work / uniform etc is more than the allowance CCCS deem realistic!! We have basic packages on TV and phone etc and do enjoy the extra channels we get so don’t really want to drop that – our choice though I guess!! Dog insurance cost more than the pet allowance and I’m not getting rid of her!!!!!

On the positive side we’re starting to prepare documents for our second annual review – cannot believe how the time flies! Doubt very much our payments will go up as only rise will be taxman funded

Despite all the bad feelings, I never feel as bad as I did for the few months two years ago whilst reading this forum with bankruptcy the only thought in my mind. I dread to think where I’d be without you all!!

Well I never thought I’d wish to be at work in the rain! We have about £30 in total until payday as we’ve had no child tax credits this month and seem to be constantly filling up with petrol. We have had about half a dozen calls asking us to go out and soak up the sun with lunch in a beer garden. I really really want to go but there is no-way we can afford. Feeling gutted really and just wanted to off load!!!

Well no good news to report

Officially heard that my current post will not be there in a couple of months and have to put forward a statement of supporting evidence if I wish to be considered for one of the new posts that they are creating. Not really a job a want to do but feel like I have little choice!

Lost Child Tax Credits from this month – £40 down each month without the ever soaring cost of fuel. I put petrol in my car last week and £60 didn’t even fill it! Everything is going up except our pay!

It’s coming to that time of year when everyone seems to start their conversations with “Are you booked up yet?” and trying to explain that we won’t be going away this year either is a toughy! At least we can blame the dog being too young to put in kennels! (For those of you who were here last year, she’s one now and thanks all for persuading me to have her!!!)

School holidays again and no money for son to do anything exciting. Fortunately the weather has been OK and he’s been around to his friend’s house who lives quite close. He’s trying to find paid work but that’s not proving too easy as it needs to fit around his training schedule but at least he’s trying. We are telling him it’s for his benefit to have a good work ethic – he just think’s we’re being tight!!!

Trying to think positively we are nearly two years down! Sounds better though as 40%!!! Good luck to all!!

where to begin? Work are reducing our department by 60%!! Odds on having a job not good! All people keep saying is as least I have well paid hubby! Little do they know that we pay nearly all my salary over to an IVA! Have to keep trying to be upbeat and not think about it but I have no idea what will happen if I have no job. I am confident that cleardebt will help but what else? There may be a possibility of staying on my grade and dropping hours or working same hours on a lower grade – neither of which I fancy!! Don’t find out for a few weeks either

Car failed MOT so contingency is gone and council tax starts again next month. If I stop and think I feel quite depressed! Can’t go off work though as one of selection criteria is sickness record!!!! Will update when I hear something.

and hubby did again last night for the first time in ages! Four bunches reduced to 10p each!!! Not in the budget for this month but I think we’ll make it up somewhere!