Another week gone by, the cheque gone to the plumber, cleared me out totally of money and left me £300 short of IVA payment this month as agreed previously by IP.  Spoke to IP this week as due to son moving out I needed to get  it clear how we were going to move forward.  Spoke to Melanie and she was very good explaining a lot and as my 2nd income has increased it was decided to keep this £100 was the way forward for now and maintain payments and then if I need to contact her again I can do.  I am happy with this situation.  Washing machine still working …..fingers crossed it continues to do so for a little while longer.

It’s 4am I’ve been awake since 2.30am and really do need to sleep but it’s not happening…again! I just wish I could sleep.  Kandh from the forum is coming to visit today with her children as it’s a local festival in my home town…..lot of fun I’m going to be falling asleep after a few hours!  I’m glad that I met Kandh as when we go to the festival and I’ve not got much money she’ll know why and more importantly understand.  I’m taking my granddaughter with me and she is taking her children.  I’ve got some crisps and biscuits in from Aldi and will pack them to take with us rather than eating out.  Looking forward to it, just now need to get some sleep!

Well what a week!

Firstly, washing machine now on it’s way out, sounds like I’m living on the runway of Heathrow, it’s still working and still cleaning clothes, so I can put up with the noise! How I could possibly replace it, I’ll never know but I’m sure very soon it’s going to be necessary!

Well then my son moved out!  We did have a few words about his drinking and social habits and he found himself a flat! Just like that! there one minute gone the next, blows my budget totally as he used to give me £50 per week board and lodge money!  Well  I emailed my IP and she did say, let it settle for a couple of weeks and we’ll talk again. 

The upside is that the job I took (2nd job) paid a little bit more than my previous 2nd job, so all is not lost hopefully!  I’ll talk to Melanie hopefully next week and we can work something out? fingers crossed everybody as I want this IVA to work so badly.  I just seem to having everything thrown at me at once to test me out! 

 What I’ve never done on here is explain why we are in debt so I thought about this and decided to post the letter that I sent to my IP initially so here goes:

BACKGROUND STATEMENT 

Our initial feelings as to why we are in the financial position we are in now is that we continued to live a lifestyle that we held up to 2001.

My Husband held a Factory Foreman position until redundancy in 2001.  He was earning almost 30,000 per annum at the time of being made redundant; my income was approximately 10,000.

Since redundancy my husband has never been unemployed but always employed in a position that paid a lot less.  Our commitments forced us to borrow more money just to live.  Each month we borrowed from Peter to pay Paul and this has continued through 6 years.  Every year borrowing more, consolidating one thing and saying this is enough we must stop.   I can confirm wholeheartedly we have no luxurious items in our house nor were we ever living a lifestyle of going out all the times etc., we were just living.

During 2005, I had to work part-time for several months as I brought my terminally ill father home as he did not want to die amongst strangers and we converted our front room into his room.  All his care was provided free of charge but one of us had to be there and as husband worked shifts, I had to drop to part-time hours, staying at home on the opposite shift. 

I have been married previous and have 3 children with ex-husband.  July 07, my daughter  (23) got married.  my ex-husband was financing the wedding totally.  During April/May 07 Daughter and her biological father had a falling out and this resulted in him pulling out of the wedding plans and withdrawing all monies.  The wedding costs then fell onto our shoulders.  Instead of saying ‘no’ we can’t help, we took a loan and helped to save the day. 

Our children know nothing of the financial situation we are in, we have one fourteen year old daughter who is dependant on us and one son aged 20 living at home who contributes to housekeeping.

I have just taken out our names but apart from that, it went to my IP who said it was a fine background statement.

Hot water went again this week….I rang him Sunday night when it happened, I rang him Monday, I rang him Tuesday, I rang Wednesday, he finally answered and came out on Thursday!  I had to work so daughter was here, he fixed it but so far had no feedback as to why it went wrong!  I’ve tried ringining him twice for feedback but again no answer…why have a mobile if you’re not going to answer or return a call?  The mind boggles….anyway fixed again for now.  I never mentioned money, he never mentioned money and as the forum has advised, it should be in with the original invoice.  That wants paying as agreed with hm by the 27th (when I get paid).  Are you all still awake as I know it’s a boring saga?

 I started my part-time job…01/04/08 and until last night I felt like a spare part but last night they let me actually do something!  The time flew and I think I might end up enjoying it!

 Does anyone ever feel guilty for spending money?  I do…how strange a feeling is it after years of credit card spending…I needed a new jacket desperately and kept putting it off and putting it off and wearing my coat!  I was getting warmer and warmer with the inclement weather we’ve been having, so decided last Friday that a new jacket had to be sourced!  Off I went shopping, found my purchase and went in and out of the shop at least half a dozen times, picking it up and making sure it was the one for me as I know I won’t get another all spring/summer!  I’m sure the security people had their eye on me!  I did eventualy purchase it, then tried it on another dozen times parading up and down at home before removing the tags to make sure I really did need/want it!  How bizarre!  I actually have clothes in my wardrobe and on a clothes rail (yes two!) that don’t fit me and still have the tags on them from pre-IVA days, I feel guilty about them now!   All I need to do is lose weight and hey presto and I’ll have a brand new instant smart wardrobe!  

 Finally took Granddaughter to zoo on Sunday, thanks to the forum member who told me about the kellogs cereal tokens.  Paid for two adults and took my Granddaughter and daughter in for free!  A whole day out for £19.00 entry fee and the diesel to get there, fantastic, we had a lovely picnic and the weather was very kind to us.  She was 4 and had an amazing time.

Well it’s just the 11th April, it’s 00:40!  For some reason I can’t sleep and this is the first time this week, I’ve been off work this week as I work in education and we’re off this week!  Why can’t I slep tonight I’ve no idea!

 Well I won Blog of the Month!  Who would believe it? I was astounded to say the least, I didn’t get my email advising me that I was a winner, Andy posted on the forum for me to check my emails, I couldn’t find an email at either email address so I used the contact Andy facility to send him my name and address…..do hope he received it, looking forward to receiving the vouchers…unsure how I’ll spend them as yet.

Well last Friday as you know I got THE bill,  I emailed Melanie with an idea of how I could pay the bill and the IVA, basically I am going to reduce my IVA payment this month to £240 and the £300 defecit will be made up by paying an extra £60@month for the months of May, June, July, August and September thus making my payments up to date.  Almost straightaway, bearing in mind it’s almost midnight..I got the reply saying that was acceptable.  How’s that for service as per one of my replies to a post this week which I think the poster was saying they were having a problems contacting their IP, I wasn’t gloating just praising my IP by saying, how many people can say they can communicate with thir IP at midnight on a Friday evening……I can!

I am so grateful to Melanie for agreeing to the way I suggested to pay the bill.  This way I will still have a very small buffer left for absolute emergencies and won’t feel totally wiped out.  I realise all my contingency will go on paying back the defecit but I will survive. 

We are lucky in the fact that Mother in Law owns  a static caravan so hopefully we’ll get away there for  a few days break during the summer and all it costs us is our shopping which we can take with us.  There is nothing on site, we’ll just walk the dogs on the beach and my husband fishes!

Just a quick update.  I mentioned yesterday I hadn’t received the Plumbers bill, well I got it in the post that very morning as I suspected I would all £809.10 of it!  To be fair the Plumber has been a star on this and will certainly use him again if necessary (let’s hope it’s not for a long while).  I was anticipating a much larger bill the amount of time he spent here.

I sat last night working out a way to pay and came up with something I thought was ffeasible, I posted on the forum telling Melanie I would email her  a proposed repayment of any missed IVA payment due for April 08……remmeber this being almost midnight and lo and behold two minutes later Melanie is emailing back saying my payment plan to repay any monies owed to IVA by Sep 08 is acceptable.  I know so many people from reading the forum have trouble contacting their IP be it by phone, email or letter.  I can honestly say that I consider myself to be very lucky in the respect of having chosen Melanie for my IP.  Service beyond the call of duty by Melanie as always, replying at midnight on a Friday evening, no worrying over weekend for us………all sorted.  Huge thanks go to Melanie!

Another week has passed another payment made…3 payments in now…57 to go!

I started a new job on Tuesday (April Fools Day) only a part-time position tutoring IT, very different to my full time position I already hold?  Do I like it?  Ask me next time as I’m not sure!  But I need the money so need to do it!

Just a quick one about the *B* word (boiler)…only to say still no bill?  How very strange? Is he going to forget and let me off?  I wish!   Now I’ve said this it will be in todays post ….sods law!

 I have such a peaceful time now with no creditors calls/letters, the security of the IVA is priceless to me.  Several on forum been accepted over the last few weeks and I do sincerely hope they experience the same feeling as I do.  My very good friend kandh got runner up in the blog of the month!  woohey! way to go kandh,  I won’t tell you what she’s going to buy with the vouchers!

I’ll end this post on that note as such a positive week nothing much to say.�

It’s done…it’s all fixed…it’s all working…  that’s the boiler..yes I know we’re all sick of hearing about it…still waiting for the bill though!

I start a new job next Tuesday 1st April, I have been working in a local college for 24.5 hours and supplementing my income by doing an accounts job for 6 hours a week, a local training agency head hunted me a couple of months back and now I’m going to be setting up an IT training department for them!  I’m excited but at the same time nervous as it seems a big project for a person who until the age of almost 40 had no qualifications and worked in a factory her whole life!  Just goes to prove never too late to get qualified though doesn’t it?  I have briefly told the person dealing with my IVA but will email my IP direct over the weekend, I cannot imagine there being much of a change in the money as it’s the same money as the accounts job and although 3 hours more per week, the diesel money will see off most of any surplus, but it’s all good experience for me and you never know where it may lead for the future do you?

I have been ploughing every penny of spare money into my Smile account as I need it to pay this big pending bill, I’m living on the bread line for a few weeks as I really do not want to miss an IVA payment if at all possible.  I’ll pay the payment to Mel’s team tomorrow but if I have to miss a portion of Aprils then this has already been ok’d by Mel but you never know!  Tomorrow will be my 3rd payment!  How time flies. 

I am still enjoying the IVA lifestyle and find it a real challenge to find things cheaper each week, I might be what some consider a sad person as I do eat/sleep/breath IVA but I’m sure I’ll let up at some point.

 My sister-in-law has given my daughter a little cleaning job so that will relieve the pressure from me of buying her make-up and phone credit etc., it’s only 30 mins work and she gives her a fiver but it helps her, she bought some foundation yesterday!  She’s gone to London on a school trip today, to visit the Imperial War Museum and HMS Belfast.   Come to think of it, that job of her’s equates to £10 per hour, maybe I am in the wrong profession!

Well here I sit again at 5am! Been up since 4am.

Plumber came again yesterday and we now have heating and hot water!  I had my first bath of the year last night!  Haven’t posted this information on the forum as I feel everyone (including me) is sick to death of my boiler situation.  Now all I have to do is wait for him to bring my new part and all is fixed.  Next step is to sort out payment for bill and when this is settled I need to contact my IP to ask her advise about getting boiler cover as I don’t want to put myself in this position again.

Had plans for the Easter weekend but they’ll all be changed due to the lovely weather, even predicts snow!  I have an easter egg tht my boss gave me so I can curl up on Sunday in the warm and eat my egg.

My daughter got full marks on her textiles project so the cost of it was worth it in the end.  I don’t want her school work to suffer becasue of my money issues and so far they haven’t.  Embarking on her GCSE is a big point in her life, she has just completed her IT GCSE two years early, so will be awaiting the results with interest.

 Daughter is going to Belgium (WWII) trip in Juy and we’ve decided to take a few days off work and go away.  Money is obviously an issue but if we can get a travelodge for a couple of nights we’ll go somewhere just to chill out.

The Frugal Friends meet is in Birmingham and just that bit too far away for me to attend, I actually feel a bit peeved as I would love to go, but with issues surrounding the boiler cost it’s not practical this time, although beware I may well attend the next one!�

Well here I sit yet again, 3am and writing a blog!  One day I will sleep, I’m sure!    Why can’t I sleep this time, still worrying and fretting about the boiler……..this word is becoming the bane of my life.  I’ve decided that I will take up boiler insurance cover with the consent of my IP when I have finally settled this bill.  My heating is working fine now and appears to be much more efficient than previous!  I had to turn it off last night as I was so hot!  Just the hot water to sort out now!

kandh have now begun a blog and I would like to tell you all what a great supportive friend k is.  We talk most days, we’ve met face to face once as my graddaughter is the same age as her son and had a lovely afternoon out with the children.  She is a rock to me in my times of need and just recently they are many!   It is so nice to have a really good friend with whom you can share your concerns and worries  in respect of anything and k is a really good friend, who admittedly I’ve not known for any great length of time but you would never guess by the tone of our communication. I’m sure people would think we’ve known each other for years and I feel more than comfortable confiding in her about anything!  Poor girl what has she let herself in for!

Daughter has finally made her GCSE choices and hopefully she’ll get her first choices, although I do realise there is no guarantee.  She’s just finished her bag for her textiles project and in comparison to my needlework ability she has a lot of talent!  I struggle sewing a button on!

The forum continues to be my godsend and at least now when I’m up for hours upon end in the night I get to write a blog rather than watch repeats of daytime TV!

Only yesterday I posted but feel that I want to express how grateful I am to the forum and my IP.  Yesterday plumber came out again and needs to do more work on the boiler, I think the bill as it is stands at £600 so I’m guessing a total bill nearing £800-£1000.  I was distraught when my husband told me and just thought, no way can we have this work done, let’s get the bill paid and then save again for the rest of the work.  I posted on the forum as I was feeling so down and Melanie comes along and advises we take a one month payment break, this equates to £540 so with the money I already have I can pay my plumber, I may yet get hot water and heating again.  It’s been so long, I’m not sure I know what it’s like to be warm and have certainly lost any memory of having a nice hot soak! 

 I have a provisional plan that we can have the missed payment of £540 brought up to date by Christmas 08.  I like to be straight, says she who is in an IVA!  

 I am so glad I found this forum for all it’s valuable advice and support, I feel I’m boring people to tears with my boiler saga as I know I bore myself but I’m so desperate and frustrated to get it fixed and working safely and properly. 

Once again a big thank you to Melanie, a very people friendly IP where you are not just a number you are a person with needs.  Thank you Melanie.