It’s taken me a while to finally push myself into going for an IVA. My problems started about 6 years ago. I fell in love with a woman in Northern Ireland, and found myself making trips over there on a regular basis. I wooed her with meals, etc, etc – putting it all on the dreaded credit card. I was living beyond my means. Making minimum payments, the balance started going up from £500, to £1,000, to £2,000, £3,000 etc – I was not worried though, I should have been, but I wasn’t. Then we decided to get married, and move in together. More debt accrued, the furniture was bought on the new credit card I had got. I hadn’t missed making my minimum payment, so my credit was “good”. Before I knew it, I had debts of almost £10,000. I tried to make the minimum payment each month, but it was costing me £250+ a month just to pay the interest off. I then tried to do some work on the side – this ended up costing me more money. I stayed quiet and suddenly found myself unable to make the minimum payments. It all seemed surreal, I thought no-one would catch up with me. I ignored the letters, suddenly I got a £1,000 windfall just at the right time, and this shut the creditor I hadn’t being paying up.
 The marriage broke down (not through the financial difficulties I was in), and I was back with my parents. Surely, I could make headway on my debts? Well, yes and no. I repaid my smallest creditor off (£2,000 within the space of 10 months), but I was always borrowing at the end of the month just so I could go out and socialise with my friends. Add to the debts, I was verging on becoming an alcoholic. But I knew that would spell the end of my job if I did, so I managed to curb it in.
 I met a new girl, and the whirlwind romance started all over again. But this time it’s the real deal. But, it was weekends across to see her again, more expense incurred – but I was unhappy being single, so I had to do it. Sometimes it was a struggle just to get the train fare together to go over and see her. But I did it every weekend. Then we moved in together. That’s when the problems started and became irreversible. Nine months later and I haven’t made a repayment to 2 of my creditors (£14,500 combined). I have managed to keep up with the (newest and) smallest creditor of £1,500. I agreed reduced payment plans with the two largest creditors, but they inform me they are “temporary” and they will want, eventually, full payments to recommence.  That is something I could never afford (c. £450 per month). The IVA, I felt, was my only way out of the problem I had put myself in.
 So, I approached a firm, and a very nice lady has helped me through everything I need to do so far. The forms are coming out for signature today, so I shall be signing them, and sending them back. Hopefully by just after Christmas, I shall be feeling like a huge, huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It’s going to be a difficult 5 years, but I am confident I can find my way to the end of the tunnel, then I shall look forward to being debt-free FOREVER!!!!