Life after an iva ... The journey into the debt free world

tibawo

Well the anticipated wait for my pay and new tax code came to zilch as work had not even got the new tax code so I wait in anticipation for the next pay day.

Luckily the money covered the most of the monthly bills so I am now more on an even keel. Feel a bit more relaxed but still having to keep an eye on every penny. Which I suppose is a good place to be as it will stop me christmas splurging!

Daily clicks all over the show and with nectar appoints gone I need to look at this again.

Did have a fab week away... Long may the sun 9.50 holidays reign!

tibawo

Has it been six days since I was on?

Work have confirmed they have got my tax code so should not be taxed on everything this week. Not holding out for the tax refund as I'll start to allocate in my head and then spend what is not there!

Still not got the budget where I want it but am hoping this pay will help me get all the expensives like petrol paying in advance sorted. I can't believe how frugal we have lived on food. I think I might do this for an odd week here and there in the new year just to build a buffer and start some savings off.

Clicks have fallen by the wayside at the moment and I really think this has been because of money worries and how I was going to be able to afford to get to work.

Let the week begin!

tibawo

Why does life do this to me? I was really looking forward to balancing the budget and getting Xmas and then the money buffer sorted but no life has to throw something at me... I am starting to feel I am never going to enjoy life and it will be a constant hand to foot battle.

I noticed a light on the car, caught it out the corner of my eye but no sooner had I looked than it had gone. Thought is must just have been door open alert going of. Went off to work. Whilst waiting at lights, it happened again, this time I realise it is oil one but is not permanently on just when car is idle does it start to flash. When moving it goes off again. Obviously as it is the oil light I know it needs checking but why or why does it do it now!

I trully learnt from my overspending with my iva but I just don't seem to be given a chance. I need the car for work, being zero hours I won't get paid otherwise but now I can't use it cause of oil light. I can't use public transport due to the nature of my job. Why does the world hate me so much?

tibawo

Car has oil leak... Better start saving.

As much as I am annoyed at this and feeling low I have just found out a good friends dad has died so it puts things into perspective.

patman99

You should be checking your car's oil every week, so you would be able to spot the low oil level and top it up. Much cheaper than a new engine.

Oil leak may just be a cheap fix,

tibawo

Thanks Patman... Got to the bottom of it. It was not as expensive as I thought... Apparently even a regular checking of oil wouldn't have helped as mechanic says it was a something that when it goes it is not a gradual one.

Anyway, going to stock the store cupboards today in the bid to get ahead ready for Xmas. I did get the washing powder yesterday as it was on offer and I had a spend and save voucher at mr t. My 'target' shop was commented on by the check out lady as to how much I got for so little. She meant it in a nice way.

I am now on the hunt for a frozen doll that dd wants for Xmas. This is the only thing she really, really wants. It's probably the only time I will search for it. I am not being a desperate parent and will only pay the retail price.

tibawo

No luck with the doll as yet but I keep checking.

Hadn't realised I had not been on for a while. Talked to someone about my tax rebate and they say that if my new code is on and does not have an x at the end then I should get my rebate. I wait with anticipation whilst still not trying to think about it!

A bit healthier money wise this week as I do have a fiver left. Some bits and pieces to pay but these not really due till end of month but would like to pay them earlier is possible with Xmas coming etc.

Been making up Xmas bits for a stall only to find that the local fares are on days I have something so have to think fast. Thinking of maybe doing a car boot with them but might not be my target audience.

tibawo

I was going it start a new thread for a new diary but decided to resurrect this one so I can go with the ups and downs. I did feel I was getting organised but I just don't know what happened, I think I started looking at what others have etc and it made me feel I was letting myself and more importantly my kids down. People always tell me what a good job I make of bringing up the girls but never realise what goes on behind closed doors.

With the iva, and christmas behind me I want to make this the year I start to rise from the ashes. Luckily I have managed to book a two cheap caravan hols for Easter and start of May half term. I have to pay the other fees yet but pay day is this week so should be sorted. I really want to go splash landings at some point as well, I promised the girls and know it ain't cheap but has been something on the wish list for years. I am due tax back but this now won't come till end of year as they have put me on week one.

That's the easier bit.

I am in a cycle with my weight, I have no energy so I veg in sofa. I veg on sofa so remain obese. I have no motivation or will power to do much else. I need to do something about this but just can't as mentally I think being healthy equates to spending money on exercise, fruit etc. my job doesn't help as it involves a lot of sitting down and driving. I don't even use the slow cooker and just make quick easy teas now.

The house is cluttered. It does look better than when I started the diary but I put pressure on the girls to pull their weight when I do little myself. There s stuff all over my room that I could just take the tip and be done with it but the other part of me keeps thinking I could do a car boot as money is money but as I never have time it seems pointless. Contemplating just putting a job lot on ebay that way I might get something for it.

Daily clicks and other ways of earning bits on the side have died at death at mo and need to get this going.

Finally, money wise I am all over. I just don't seem to be able to get into a routine. I think this next week end I will have a clearer picture on this. I am really fed up of living hand to mouth. There must be more to life than this.

I think I have got a bit off my chest. I know baby steps are the way to go and then at the end of the year I can look back and really realise what I have done but it just seems too big of a mountain to climb.

tibawo

Made it to payday.
Just got house insurance to get up to date and then can look at finances. As I have a zero hours contract I want to pay extra to the ones I can so that when there is no work I don't have to stress as much. Ultimately I want to build up an emergency fund as well.

The house is slowly getting sorted, I have some bits to go on ebay which I will do once I type this. I am taking the declutter slowly otherwise I will end up making more piles round the house of bin, keep and ebay and won't get round to moving them. Just got back from cash4clothes and got 2.90.

No daily clicks yet but says my instagc is not active?

Not done anything about my diet but am trying to find a decent price for swimming somewhere!

Just done a mystery shop so can get another 50p from ebay. I only need odd ones now for set so promised myself that I will use these bits to get them them and then I can put up in loft!

tibawo

tibawo wrote: »

We'll tomorrow is officially my six year mark from the start of my iva. The future is what I make it. Sadly my zero hours contract is just that... Zero. I have been to sign on etc while the hours pick up and have taken a provident loan to pay for school uniforms. Some of you might shoot me down with the loan but it works for me while I sort the dregs of my bills out.

I still owe money on the leccy and also nursery fees. These are in my budget and my aim is to sort them by this time next year. I also have mot on car, money I owe sister but, touch wood, these are in hand.

So why the diary? Since leaving uni I have been bad with money and some twenty years later I feel I have finally turned the corner. As I work in education September feels like the start of the new year for me!

An iva has helped me and I feel a weight off my shoulders. At times it was tough and I am glad I did it but now for part two!

I'm hoping that some of you will join me with tips and advice as I learn about pensions, savings, my children's future, getting my house looking nice, keeping the house tidy so I can invite people in for coffee instead of blocking them at the door, having money to socialise, building up my credit score, loosing weight, eating healthier, going on holiday,my daily clicks and of course, using my money saving ways gained on here to keep me debt free.

to add ... need to sort the bikes and curtains tha just need sewing

Where does a year go? I have not posted for a while and as my debts are starting to creep up thought I best try an get a grip on things. Due to HMRC messing up my tax code, long story but where I had budgeted for this summer, they took two thirds of my salary on my last pay and without notice I was not able to sort this. It has sent me backwards.

Luckily I had preplanned days out etc for summer hols before this happened so summer has not been too bad. We are having our last treat Tuesday/ Wednesday .. Alton towers. Although we won't be able to eat out and splurge I am sure it will be fun.

When I come back I am going to re do my budget, look at all the bits now outstanding and include things like Xmas. I think this year I am going to use my virgin bank account. I think £1 goes into a month ... Don't laugh but it is an Internet one and I hope that it is harder to access may make a difference. I don't want to go back to pre iva and iva days, I want to be able to go in my purse and get an odd treat without having to mentally calculate if it will leave me short by the end of the week!