want to study degree p/t but no help with tuition fees? any suggestions?

Oldernotwiser

Are you planning to be a primary or secondary teacher?(Sorry if I've missed it.) Both the BEd and degree + PGCE routes are possible with either, although the BEd is more common with primary. If secondary, you should normally have a degree in the subject you want to teach, for primary it's usually recommended that at least 50% of your degree is in a National Curriculum subject. If you want to do primary then it's essential that you get relevant classroom experience as entry at this level is very competitive.

I still don't really understand why you're not studying with the OU - I know you've mentioned your credit rating but I can't see where that comes into it.

brians_daughter

Hi i am looking at primary - hence the english.
re classroom experience i am just looking into how this is possible now. How would i gain this? simply be volunteering for a set period of time? I ma goignt o see someone at Edge Hill over the next few weeks but when i had a lengthy conversation over the phone all they can seem to say is by doing it this way you will ultimately reach your goal...

I have phond OU - in order to use their budget account scheme you need to pass a credit check, unfortunatley due to the default on my credit file i have failed to fulfill their criteria..see copy and paste below

for register now - pay later it states..

major changes took palce in March 2008 regarding OUSBA accounts
Like other credit arrangements, the credit provided by OUSBA is subject to the individual meeting the status criteria set by OUSBA, and OUSBA retains complete discretion over whether any loan is advanced to pay for fees.


I didnt pass the credit check so i cant use this method, and i simply dont have the full amount to pay upfront - if anyone has other solutions please let me know!!

Oldernotwiser

Oh right, the budget account. I wondered if that might be what you meant.

Unless you're in a position to take a job as some kind of classroom assistant, volunteering for as long as possible would be the normal way to get the experience.

I appreciate that your OH has a lot of committments but can't he lend you the money for the course fees with you paying him back every month? The Level 1 OU course you would start with is just over £600 which isn't a lot of money for someone earning £37K.

brians_daughter

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Oh right, the budget account. I wondered if that might be what you meant.

Unless you're in a position to take a job as some kind of classroom assistant, volunteering for as long as possible would be the normal way to get the experience.

I appreciate that your OH has a lot of committments but can't he lend you the money for the course fees with you paying him back every month? The Level 1 OU course you would start with is just over £600 which isn't a lot of money for someone earning £37K.

we have gone through this last night - his finances. I am shocked to say the least in what he pays out.

He wage after mandatory deductions are about £2250 - out of this he is actually paying almost £800 towards the kids when we account for childcare, maintenance and money towards their activities, his mortgage is £750 a month (he bought his ex out of the house so mortgage has gone from £340 to £746) so minus these 2 major expenses he is left with £700, it costs him £200 a month in travel to/from work so he is actually only left with £500 - his half of the bills inc his life cover etc come to £400 he is actually only left with £100 a month!! He has seriously looked into moving, but we need 3 beds, ad only live in a 3 bed semi as it is!

His 2 children are at the moment fighting to come living with us, to be honest if they did we would be better off i think! how 2 kids amount £200 a week when they also have a mother that should contribute to them is beyond me, she earns a simular amount to oh so in my eyes it should be 50/50.

Even looking at the CS calculator that says he should be paying about £500 but thats for another forum and another day i expect!

bestpud

I don't want to labour this point, but I think you would benefit from re-posting your SOA.

I am almost certain you can reduce your living costs, as they are very high for a 3 bed semi!

Or just copy the old one into a new post if you don't want to start from scratch. You wouldn't need to be logged in as your brother - you can just copy and paste.

Honestly, you are paying too much for something, if not many things.

I know budgeting is a pain, but if it gets you what you want in life, it has to be worth the effort, doesn't it?

brians_daughter

yeah, i will do been looking for the SOA link but cant find it as of yet!
I would be better re-doing it as things have changed

soco1

I am almost at the end of 4yrs FT study at uni and have worked PT during the academic yr (24hrs/wk) and FT in the summer.
Being FT I have been able to get the student loan (£18K in total) but have also had to maintain a £750/mth mortgage on top of utilities, food, diesel etc.
If I can manage that on my own (with no support from anyone except the Student Loan Company!) then you should be able to manage too.

Incidentally, if I had a partner I'd hope that they shared my aspirations and would therefore financially support/assist me through the course either by arrangement to repay or in the 'we share a home and our lives so I want to share this burden with you' sense!

ps I would die if I was paying as much for gas & electricity as most of you seem to be paying.
3 bed semi - £56/mth (though going up to £70ish next month) & I don't do being cold either. Especially when studying through the night.

Good luck with your studies whatever you end up doing, make the sacrifice, it'll be worth it in the end.

brians_daughter

right found soa calc - will post soon

brians_daughter

Any points that i am aware are high i will put note beside them

Joint SOA
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 4 - put 4 kids as oh's 2 are here 2/3 nights a week
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1185
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2273
Benefits................................ 32
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3490

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 732 - could now get better deal, but tied in and the erc doesnt make financial sense
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Hire Purchase (HP) repayments........... 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 140 - checked in right band etc
Electricity............................. 70 capped and switched when martin said to
Gas..................................... 90 as above
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 23
Telephone (land line)................... 20 needed for work
Mobile phone............................ 60 2 contracts tied in for 13 months - but on correct tarrif etc
TV Licence.............................. 10
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21 in contract til November
Internet Services....................... 10
Groceries etc. ......................... 200 this is for 2 adults, 2 kids nd additional 2 kids 2/3 times a week, grow own veg etc
Clothing................................ 70 this takes into account 4 kids uniforms and shoes very year - average uniform plus pe kit is £120 inc shoes
Petrol/diesel........................... 360 needed for work - both have diesel cars
Road tax................................ 40
Car Insurance........................... 89 cheapest by far
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 20
Car parking............................. 24 needed for my work when at had office
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 500
Other child related expenses............ 530 maintenace and childrens swimming and activities toal minus maintenance is £40
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10 prepay so best option
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 12 3 cats so very cheap
Buildings insurance..................... 12
Contents insurance...................... 17
Life assurance ......................... 23
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40 saved every month - remember 4 kids!
Haircuts................................ 0 sil is hairdresser so lucky here
Entertainment........................... 30 This is our 1 night out a month so could go if needed, but is it realistic to NEVER go out?
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 20 - put into savings account until something breaks!
Total monthly expenses.................. 3173[/b]


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 175000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 20000 OH wage includes car allowance so needs a certian standard of car.
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 195000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 130000...(732)......5.65
Total secured & HP debts...... 130000....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
loan...........................2000......56........6.65
cc.............................5000......97........18.8
Total unsecured debts..........7000......153.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,490
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 3,173
Available for debt repayments........... 317
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 153
Amount left after debt repayments....... 164

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 195,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -130,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,000
Net Assets.............................. 58,000

as you can see we have about £164 pcm left. this is actually slightly more as council tax payment is over 10 months etc - didnt think of that when calculating!

I will also post on DEBT FREE board, but if anyone can assist please let me know!
the only thing i can see is geas and elec, which i am working on ie energy bulbs, lights off, just insulated attic etc

By far our biggest out goings after mortgage is fuel - but unless we changed jobs we cant do anything about that - both need car for work due to site visits and if i took the train i wouldnt get back in time for nursery closing! And, the childcare and child support, we know oh is paying too much in support as his ex earns simular amount to him, but he feels he needs to pay it as kids will suffer.

We could cut the childcare costs if all kids went to same care provider, but there are no spaces where partners kids go and partners ex will not change their kids provider to ours so we are stuffed in that respect - the kids want to come live with us but this is on going battle

bestpud

brians_daughter wrote: »

Any points that i am aware are high i will put note beside them

Joint SOA
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 4 - put 4 kids as oh's 2 are here 2/3 nights a week
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1185
Partners monthly income after tax....... 2273
Benefits................................ 32
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3490

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 732 - could now get better deal, but tied in and the erc doesnt make financial sense
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Hire Purchase (HP) repayments........... 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 140 - checked in right band etc
Electricity............................. 70 capped and switched when martin said to
Gas..................................... 90 as above
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 23
Telephone (land line)................... 20 needed for work
Mobile phone............................ 60 2 contracts tied in for 13 months - but on correct tarrif etc
TV Licence.............................. 10
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21 in contract til November
Internet Services....................... 10
Groceries etc. ......................... 200 this is for 2 adults, 2 kids nd additional 2 kids 2/3 times a week, grow own veg etc
Clothing................................ 70 this takes into account 4 kids uniforms and shoes very year - average uniform plus pe kit is £120 inc shoes
Petrol/diesel........................... 360 needed for work - both have diesel cars
Road tax................................ 40
Car Insurance........................... 89 cheapest by far
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 20
Car parking............................. 24 needed for my work when at had office
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 500
Other child related expenses............ 530 maintenace and childrens swimming and activities toal minus maintenance is £40
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10 prepay so best option
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 12 3 cats so very cheap
Buildings insurance..................... 12
Contents insurance...................... 17
Life assurance ......................... 23
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40 saved every month - remember 4 kids!
Haircuts................................ 0 sil is hairdresser so lucky here
Entertainment........................... 30 This is our 1 night out a month so could go if needed, but is it realistic to NEVER go out?
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 20 - put into savings account until something breaks!
Total monthly expenses.................. 3173[/b]


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 175000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 20000 OH wage includes car allowance so needs a certian standard of car.
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 195000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 130000...(732)......5.65
Total secured & HP debts...... 130000....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
loan...........................2000......56........6.65
cc.............................5000......97........18.8
Total unsecured debts..........7000......153.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,490
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 3,173
Available for debt repayments........... 317
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 153
Amount left after debt repayments....... 164

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 195,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -130,000
Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,000
Net Assets.............................. 58,000

as you can see we have about £164 pcm left. this is actually slightly more as council tax payment is over 10 months etc - didnt think of that when calculating!

I will also post on DEBT FREE board, but if anyone can assist please let me know!
the only thing i can see is geas and elec, which i am working on ie energy bulbs, lights off, just insulated attic etc

By far our biggest out goings after mortgage is fuel - but unless we changed jobs we cant do anything about that - both need car for work due to site visits and if i took the train i wouldnt get back in time for nursery closing! And, the childcare and child support, we know oh is paying too much in support as his ex earns simular amount to him, but he feels he needs to pay it as kids will suffer.

We could cut the childcare costs if all kids went to same care provider, but there are no spaces where partners kids go and partners ex will not change their kids provider to ours so we are stuffed in that respect - the kids want to come live with us but this is on going battle

I'm no good at these things but they are on DFW so it is a good idea to post it there.

Re the maintenance:

I'm sorry but your OH is being unreasonable. Times change and it is perfectly reaonable for him to reassess the situation when the need arises.

He needs to suport his children, nobody would argue with that, but he does not need to overdo the support at the expense of his new partner and other children.

I think you need to have some stiff words with him!

Don't you receive child maintenance for your children?