"Simply not solvent!

chevalier

[quote=Seaxwyn;8332991

OH has resolved things at the college, and they've agreed to pay him for some of the marking and paperwork he was doing for nothing. So he should be well paid for the next three months at least (so far he is only booked up til the Easter hols).[/quote]


This really made me cheer! Because he actually tackled it. I get the impression that in the past he would have just given up the job. So well done Mr Seax

Ref the £37.50 hmm tricky one. I would want to know what the money if for first. We do have to pay for some trips (but not all eg the one to the science fair was free), but then those are to places like the Butterfly farm, ie commercial places. But on balance I would want to know how come their finances are so bad that they need the money? If governement funding follows the child, then they should not need donations just to keep going...
chev

SarahNeedle1872

Hi Seax, sorry ur totals have gone up, but as Taxi said, u have made agreat start with ur tax savings, which will be big help in June.....
As for the £37 'general funds' I would definately say no again this year.... perhaps u could ask them what exactly constitues a 'general fund' and what it pays for, esp if u have to pay for trips etc seperately - at the end of the day, if u cannot afford it, u cannot afford it. They shouldn't pressure u into paying it....... I'll get off my soap box now!

Seaxwyn

Thanks Chev - yes OH is a changed man in some respects.

Part of the justification of the £37-per-child levy is that the school has a swimming pool which costs £11,000/year to run (this includes paying a swimming teacher). Parents fundraising has to cover the pool. We are always being told how lucky we are to have this pool, BUT it's open air, so they only use it from May to October, and even then there are often periods when it is closed due to some malfunction. And not five minutes walk away there is a leisure centre with two pools, which other schools use. I would like to see a cost comparison with having swimming lessons there.
The Fund is also used "to buy extra equipment, pay for visiting speakers and performances and subsidise school visits". However we are always asked to pay for trips, visiting performances etc.

I don't have the energy - or the desire - to make an issue of this, but I don't want to pay £75 and I don't like to think of all the other parents struggling with the same feelings.

I'm just back from the meeting about the job (which has now turned into 4-5 months, not 3) and still no wiser about whether I'll get it, they have seen other people and will decide on Monday. I think I will be relieved either way - if I get it or if I don't.

chevalier

So it is really to pay for the pool then. Have they not tried to fund this another way? What about someone sponsoring it? Ie someone who runs a health business or something can advertise there, and they pay for the privalege?

ps seax you have a pm.

taxi73

I still don't think its justifiable to pay that amount and I wouldn't pay it nor would I feel guilty for not paying it.

hypno06

Hi Seax, I am sure that whatever the decision about the job, whether it is their decision or yours, will be the right one x

As for this month's increase in the debt total, take yourself back 12 months - year on year you are well on track. You are doing well, and will continue to do so xx

I hope you all have a good weekend x

Seaxwyn

I've had a lovely weekend.

I did a thorough spring clean. The house is not tidy by any normal person's standard, but it's good by mine. You can even see the floor in places.

I also sorted my accounts filing, a mammoth task. Five years' worth of receipts, payment info and tax correspondence were all jumbled together, now it's neatly filed year by year. Sorting all the paperwork was quite therapeutic, as it reminded me of all the work I've done, all the many clients etc etc, and I see that my recent worries about work drying up are groundless really.

I was staggered to see the size of the tax bills I've paid too. Thank goodness I've finally woken up to the fact that tax has to be saved for.

In between, I took DS for a walk and a play in the park, did some cooking with DD1, and we had a little bonfire for Imbolc (celtic new year ceremony), so it was a nice family weekend with not much tv or fighting for a change.

Now I'm going to do a bit of admin and go to bed early with a book. Tomorrow I'm at the post office, and should hear whether I've got the p/t job I went for... kind of hoping not, to be honest, but if I've got it I've got it.

hypno06

Sounds like a perfect weekend. Sleep well, and well done on the "seeing the floor in places" bit........mine is a long way from that right now!

Sea78

Sounds brilliant Seaxwyn - and you sound much more chilled out!

taxi73

What a lovely weekend and you def sound chirpier.