I want a family

MrsTinks

OK - having known a fair few fosterers... my tuppence worth
You have little to no say in what children you get... they cannot guarantee you a "long term" foster because the situation could drastically change in 6 months. The child might want to stay but the parents could have convinced SS that they are again fit to look after them... How would you cope with handing back a child you are probably not going to be allowed to contact again knowing they wanted to stay and they might not be going back to a very nice "home"?
Would you be able to deal with "damaged" children? By that I mean kids with behavioural issues, emotional issues and VERY possibly anger management problems? Even ones with health problems and learning difficulties?
All that considered I know 2 foster families - one specialises in kids with anger issues, they're a younger couple, he's "cool" and works with cars, they have a son of their own and only ever have 1 foster child at a time. They are highly specilialised and the kids stay anywhere from a few months to a year with them...
The other family have a LOT of foster kids - I think over the years they have had over 50 - some from babies (including one that was born addicted to drugs and had to be treated for drug dependency) and some short term and some till they left home, had kids of their own and settled down. The one thing that shines through is that they never ever knew how long they had the children for and just got on with loving them all equally along their own 4 kids (the first foster was an "accident" lol) - that HAS meant that there is no 100% guaranteed income - in some cases it could be months without any foster kids and thus any money... Whilst you have this level of debts I think you need to be careful that you don't rely on the foster income only to find that it might not always be there to rely on...

DarnIt_3

I have looked into foster caring seriously as this something I would love to do, have wanted to for the last 8-10 years. I even began the process but then fell pregnant. So now I am waiting until my youngest child is at least 5.

I believe that you are not allowed to foster if you are in financial difficulty. This is because people would see pound signs at looking after children otherwise. Also, you have to spend a certain percentage of the funds DIRECTLY on the child, ie clothes, entertainment, christmas, bdays etc. So you wouldn't actually have as much as you think any way.
In relation to long term placements, this is not always the case, even if they begin with a long term, circumstances can change, for example a family relative may decide they would like to care for them. The first child you will foster will be the most special I am afraid, and it's known fact that SS are very very strict when it comes to a foster parent adopting the first child they foster, I have friends that have had to fight again SS when they wanted to adopt their first foster child. So it may be a few children before you actualy get a long term placement. Your home is an open door the second you begin to foster, SS can drop by whenever they like, you can't go away without written permission and court hearings, you may need to take them to meet their real parents who have been vile to them and sit and smile whilst you are there. Fostering is not easy. This is why I have spent so long thinking about it, making sure that it right for me. Do not get me wrong, it is 100% right for me, I entered my marriage stating to my OH that I would at some stage foster, it was given, there is no way I wont do it. Have you thought about age ranges?

I am really sorry to hear that you cannot have children, you sound like you really would be the best mum you could be. I think you should be looking until your debt is managable. Children are VERY expensive do not see a pound sign when they walk through the door, because the truth is they will cost you more than you are paid. If you can't afford to give up work, then I strongly suggest you do not do it YET. Wait, save and pay off debts, you will be able to enjoy the child without the stresses of money and debt.

Good Luck