I STILL want to be mortgage free - 2011!

pavlovs_dog

ooh twinklie i'm sorry to hear your news how about looking at your soa to see where you can trim back, although it's grim hitting hard times there's something strangely comforting in knowing exactly how the land lies, even if it isn't pretty, IYSWIM.

do you have anything that you could sell?

I know the Welsh NGFL will pay for original teaching resources. worth looking into if you have resources that you've made. Would marking be an option (although it's a l-o-n-g time to wait for the money).

Can DH get any other DJ work, or part time work of another nature - even if it's just to keep things ticking over?

I know I owe you an email - will send it out tonight xx

twinklie

Thanks petal. Yeah SOA is first thing on my list next week when I'm back home and can update my banking. I know there are things we can cut back on but it's not going to add up to much! Boo.

I have nothing of value to sell. Quite a few books, but no time to do a car boot and I don't make the money back on Amazon, ebay, GM etc. I already mark for Psychology - but that's only a May exam. Going to see if I can get something else as well...we shall see.

DH has been trying to get DJ work, but living where he lives there isn't a lot of places that would need a dj. He could go back to working as a doorman I guess, but he'd need to renew his badge (costs money) and I HATED him doing it!! I think he'd have to do it back home where levels of violent assaults on doorman are steadily going up! :eek: The problem with a part time job is him having the time to do it. The DJing was lots of money for very little time....he works a lot out at the farm so does long hours. Not sure he could get something where he is that would fit round his hours (but will look into it). And he'd have to get something AMAZING to justify him travelling back to where we live.

ARGH! I'm on the case though. Reading the Becoming a private tutor thread as I type.

Lois_E

Oh twinklie, I am so very sorry to hear about that. PhDs are depressing long slogs, I know, and living apart is no fun, so the two of you have enough on your plates as it is, and I wish you hadn't got this extra worry on top.

How far through his PhD has he got? What are his employment prospects once he's got it? What's your WTC situation - I don't know if a PhD counts as work in that context - I imagine not, in which case I guess you don't qualify for WTC, but do look into things and see if there is anything else you can get.

Really hoping something positive turns up soon.

Big hug,
Lois

cha97michelle

Sorry to hear that hon. Only thing I can think is as you are relatively richer in time now is you could do some of the better paying surveys and get in some cash but you would not have the time when back at school. Tutoring definitely seems best pennies for effort.

Sometimes the harder you try, the worse it seems doesn't it.

Hope it all starts to seem better when you are home.

gallygirl

Mrs Optomistic here, trying to find some positive angles.......

This could have happened in 6 months time & you would have had a larger mortgage and would REALLY have struggled then.

Go ahead with your plans to do the house up - it will be a nicer environment for you both to come to.

Em...... that's it really. Still pants

twinklie

Thanks kids. Going to look into WTC, but I don't think it counts as work. Doh! Also, can't do surveys whilst I'm in Wales because I don't have the internet, only my phone and the signal here is RUBBISH! And Gallygirl, I appreciate your always look on the bright side of life attitude. Thats what I'm doing.

That said, I'm applying for more marking. But was wondering if anyone had done some moderating before. How difficult/time consuming is it compared to marking?

twinklie

Right done a really rough cash flow budget plan but need to run it passes DH to find out if I have covered all his expenses.

Dug a tic out of Belles ear this morning. It was infected and very grim. Took her to the vets 2 months ago about it and they said it definately wasn't a tic. But it was getting bigger so I took the tweezers to it anyway this morning. Loads of puss exploded out of it. She looked so relieved. I feel like a bad mummy though for not making it better sooner. Poor baby.

summerday

Sorry to hear about OH's job . Glad you're thinking positively about what you can do. I do primary tutoring and have to say mostly I love doing it, far more rewarding than trying to teach a whole class. Could you also tutor at home or the kids' houses? Go fro the higher end of what you hope to charge, I've had no probs wit £25 an hour even for primary.

Sounds like you sorted out Belle's ear, not your fault you didn't realise sooner and by sorting it yourself you've saved vet fees

twinklie

I can't tutor at home...Belle wouldn't make for a constructive atmosphere. I'm not keen on the idea of going to pupils houses, its just weird. How do you know they aren't a complete psycho? Not sure how you can control that situation to protect yourself. Using my classroom after school would be ideal though. Are there other places people tutor? Also if anyone would care to share their experiences/ideas then please do. I would really appreciate it.

Eating_Daisies

My friend is a primary school teacher and tutors someone (or a couple) after school in her class room one day a week.

For the ticks you can get a de-ticker thing (I got one from our vets for £5) which is basically has two flat prongs that form a v shape, you put it flat against the dog's skin around the tick twist & pull they come out wriggling & get flushed down the loo! Very easy to do & safe for the dog as they come out alive so no chance of infection. I found 18 on Harvey in two days so it's been a life saver! Sorry I can't remember it's name ...