It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

mardatha

Sorry, meant to ask - is 0845 quite dear to call ? I thought that was a local call number ?

AnnieG

Hello
I've got a random light that oeriodically comes on on my dashboard, then goes off again. I've got no idea what it is, it comes and goes.. fortunately it wasn't on when I had my last MOT... although the bill for that came to about £1000 so I don't wxpect it would have made a lot of difference!
I've got a lovely day planned today... the house is clean and tidy, washing's all done so I'm going to sit on the sofa with my book and a pot of coffee and not worry about anything. I had a frantic day yesterday, sorting the house out, did the meal plan for the next 4 weeks, 2 loads of washing etc.
Has anyone been listening to 'Can Pay Will Pay' on Radio 4? It's interesting, about why certain jobs attract higher salaries than others and whether it's justified. WOrth a listen imo.
Have a lovely day everyone :j

purpleheather2810

Morning all. Lots of activity here printing off letters to take to nurseries and schools to try and get customers for my language tuition business. I've got to try and make this work, although I find it incredibly hard to stay positive. I'm also working on getting people to book Partylite parties - I have a few booked now which is nice. I'm so tired of being skint - I've got to DO something!!

jackieglasgow

Good luck with that PurpleHeather, my children learned French at nursery through someone like yourself, and then she started an afterschool class too, which they went to for several years until she decided to go back to Uni to train to be a teacher, they loved it but unfortunately there is nothing else at all nearby, I would need to drive about 16miles from 3.15 til 4pm to find one, across the centre of Glasgow! Which is just not ever going to work! My SisIL is trying to start something similar up just now herself, where she lives in Germany - of course English lessons are much more "normal" over there for littlies than language classes of any kind, here.

AnnieG

Purpleheather I was thinking of starting something similar - I don't know if you're with the same franchise organisation that I was looking at, but they seemed quite good. I don't know if I'd be any good at the marketing side though as I can be quite shy sometimes. I'd also worry about how it would affect my benefits and can't face having my money mucked about. Maybe if I can find a part time HR job, I could do that on the spare days.... sorry, thinking as I typre here!

purpleheather2810

This is my 3rd academic year. I'm with LJR, AnnieG. Yes, it would affect your benefits as you are classed as self-employed. I have to say it has never earned me very much money at all but I do enjoy the teaching side of it and the course materials, songs etc are excellent. I do Early Years and KS1 (There is not much call for KS2 as most schools are teaching it in curriculum). I'm just finding that there's a tremendous amount of work involved for very little recompense and it stresses me out and takes me away from my children (my youngest is not at school). If you don't have small children to think about though, it would be a lot easier to juggle...

lambanana

mardatha wrote: »

Sorry, meant to ask - is 0845 quite dear to call ? I thought that was a local call number ?

0845 is a local rate number

Kitcaboodle

JenniO wrote: »

I always thought it was disgraceful that the JSA has a 0845/0870 type number! Last year when OH was on JSA, I tried calling to cancel his signing on coz his father had just died that morning and he was on his way to hospital and it took a lot of dialling to get through. Charging people money who are on the dole to call - shameful! :mad:

However, will just quickly add lady on the phone was v. nice about OH's situation.

I think the Jobcentre has it agreed with some of the major mobile companies that they won't charge the premium for calling some of the numbers ( http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/01/mobile_call_cha ). I believe loads of the staff as well as the customers pointed out that the people who claim benefits are the people most likely NOT to have a land line!

(I've been on both sides of the fence, claiming for a year despite having excellent qualifications & experience and applying for loads of jobs & also working for a Jobcentre, which was the only place I could eventually find a job! One thing I can tell you is that the entrance criteria for a job there are set very high - they are harder to please than high-flying London companies!)

kezlou

hi everyone!

Annie56 :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: at your ex-OH's jumpers, so uplifting hearing your stories! the bank though is shcoking, hope the co-op works out well.
hellsbells, glad to hear your kitty is pulling through.

My personal opinion regarding fresh tap water at school is that it is a good idea. I remember being at school and not being allowed a drink until lunch time. My children's school expect children to bring a reusable bottle of fresh tap water every day. The bottles are kept with the children and can refill them as many times as they wish with the schools tap water. Fresh fruit is availavle to all children from nursery through to year 6 with no extra charge. Milk is free and available from nursery through to Year 1, so its pretty good.
The headteacher believes all children should have fresh fruit/carrots and water every day.

Well we have spent a fortune on booze, food, transport and the boys this week. Funeral on WEdnesday which was awful experience but really good as the speeches given by our departed brother and two of our really close friends were fantastic, they even managed a few jokes so it was really good.

Had a meeting at Secondary school, so scary but good.
Now today my plan is to pick some tomatoes, sort the house out and finish this beanbag. Heard from some of the parent form the school that snow is expected here at the end of September brrrrrrrrrrrrr:eek:

AnnieG

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

This is my 3rd academic year. I'm with LJR, AnnieG. Yes, it would affect your benefits as you are classed as self-employed. I have to say it has never earned me very much money at all but I do enjoy the teaching side of it and the course materials, songs etc are excellent. I do Early Years and KS1 (There is not much call for KS2 as most schools are teaching it in curriculum). I'm just finding that there's a tremendous amount of work involved for very little recompense and it stresses me out and takes me away from my children (my youngest is not at school). If you don't have small children to think about though, it would be a lot easier to juggle...

That's the company that I looked at. I think I'll leave it for now though, I really don't need any more stress and it seems a bit daft to muck up my benefits and take myself out of the permanent job market for something that's not going to make much money... I don't think I'd be able to stand it, not being sure whether I could pay the rent each month (been there, and have no desire to revisit).
Is there a 'middle class' area where you live, where you could tap into the yummy mummy market? I'm sure it's the thing that those who like to keep up with the Joneses would go for... just a thought!!