PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.

Which course would be most useful for OS living?

sanfrancisco
sanfrancisco Posts: 645 Forumite
in Old style MoneySaving
Hello all,

I want to increase my skills. I am going to take a local adult education course.

Which course would be the best overall to improve my money saving ways?

Soft furnishings (curtains blinds cushions)
Quilt making
Mosaic making
Some sort of car maintenance
Picture framing
Anything else anyone can think of?

I am sahm mum of 3 small children.
«13

Comments

  • missbiggles1
    missbiggles1 Posts: 17,481 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker
    sanfrancisco wrote: »
    Hello all,

    I want to increase my skills. I am going to take a local adult education course.

    Which course would be the best overall to improve my money saving ways?

    Soft furnishings (curtains blinds cushions)
    Quilt making
    Mosaic making
    Some sort of car maintenance
    Picture framing
    Anything else anyone can think of?

    I am sahm mum of 3 small children.

    Car maintenance. That's an ongoing need and essential, the others are skills you only need occasionally and are non essential.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    Car maintenance is nigh on impossible these days as the engines are controlled by computers. When I was younger and dated a mechanic we'd be hauling engines out and fixing stuff at the roadside all the time. Couldn't do that these days!

    I'd go for woodwork..... because you learn lots of really useful skills, mostly how to use a drill and basic tools. If you can cut things, join things and make things stay up on walls (e.g.shelves) then you can fix a lot of other stuff round the house just because of the confidence that gives you. e.g. putting up curtain poles/fittings and stuff. Not to mention being able to make some basic furniture and storage boxes out of old scrap wood etc.
  • thriftwizard
    thriftwizard Posts: 4,666 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    Quilt making! A quit will keep you warm when all else fails, and can be made from scraps & reclaimed stuff like cotton bump from old curtains, although some courses insist on using all-new materials; however once you have the techniques, you can adapt them. The stitching & other skills you will learn will enable you to tackle virtually any soft furnishing project you care to mention! It'll also give you an insight into how mosaics work. You'll find that once you get started, it becomes easier & easier to see how other skills "work" and far less daunting to have a go.

    However, car maintenance is probably the one that'll save you the most money in the short term.
    Angie - GC April 24 £432.06/£480: 2024 Fashion on the Ration Challenge: 10/68: (Money's just a substitute for time & talent...)
  • GreyQueen
    GreyQueen Posts: 13,008 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    :) I'd agree about woodwork. And a bit of plumbing know-how never goes amiss, either.

    Most modern cars aren't fixable without a lot of techy equipment so the amateur isn't going to be getting so much use out of a car maintenance course, unless you're going to be running 30-40 year old vehicles.

    IT stuff, too; it's not going away and if you can do some bits yourself, you can potentially save a lot of money. Good luck!
    Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.
     John Ruskin
     Veni, vidi, eradici
    (I came, I saw, I kondo'd)
  • sanfrancisco
    sanfrancisco Posts: 645 Forumite
    Wow so many great thoughts.

    My husband is pretty handy round the house. So carpentry feels like a bit of a waste.

    Am inspired by the quilt making.

    Hadn't considered that car maintenance could be useless.

    So much food for thought. Thanks.
  • sanfrancisco
    sanfrancisco Posts: 645 Forumite
    My IT is pretty good so don't feel I need to improve on that.
  • SailorSam
    SailorSam Posts: 22,754 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    I've always fixed my car myself i've got a garage full of tools but these days you seem to have to have specialist tools so i don't think that would be best.
    Anything that gives you the confidence to do jobs around the house, i've done plumbing; electrics; bricklaying all sorts and i'll try anything.
    I don't want this to sound sexist but something like dressmaking, especially have you have kids and you can sit in a nice warm house doing that instead of working outside in a dirty cold garage.
    Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
    What it may grow to in time, I know not what.

    Daniel Defoe: 1725.
  • meritaten
    meritaten Posts: 24,158 Forumite
    I don't want to sound sexist either! but if your husband is handy around the house there isn't much point duplicating his skills, and I agree car maintenance IS rocket science these days. then perhaps go for more traditional homemaking skills.

    Soft furnishings can cost an arm and a leg these days! and quiltmaking can give you the basic sewing skills, which could turn into 'dressmaking' or making curtains or cushions.
    Once you have done a course the venue often run 'intermediate' or related courses.
    Whichever you choose - do it because it interests you!
  • honeythewitch
    honeythewitch Posts: 1,094 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    I took a basic sewing course when the children were tiny so I could make nativity costumes etc, and alter charity shop clothes to suit.
  • honeythewitch
    honeythewitch Posts: 1,094 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    thriftwizard wrote: »
    Quilt making! A quit will keep you warm when all else fails, and can be made from scraps & reclaimed stuff like cotton bump from old curtains, although some courses insist on using all-new materials; however once you have the techniques, you can adapt them. The stitching & other skills you will learn will enable you to tackle virtually any soft furnishing project you care to mention! It'll also give you an insight into how mosaics work. You'll find that once you get started, it becomes easier & easier to see how other skills "work" and far less daunting to have a go.

    However, car maintenance is probably the one that'll save you the most money in the short term.

    I wonder why some courses insist on new materials?

    Quilting is something I have been intending to learn for a long time, and I have got a mountain of old clothes ready for it. :o
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 343.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 235.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 608K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 173.1K Life & Family
  • 247.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards