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What would you do if you suddenly had a few days to yourself each week?

taliwillow
Posts: 415 Forumite
I am just interested to hear what people would do if they suddenly had extra time to themselves?
My situation is that I work part time and have 2 young children. I had told myself that when both children have started full time school then I would try to get another part time job to fill some of my remaining hours or if I could get something started then I would do something on a self employed basis. This was all still in just the ideas stage as my youngest is not due to start full time school until Sep 2013. Then due to various things not going to plan re schools for my eldest this year we had to consider a different school and this school takes children full time from the term after they are 3 so both of my daughters will now be starting full time school in 2 weeks time. This was only arranged a couple of weeks ago and we are now on holiday in the South of France so I haven't had much time to think about it but now it is just a few days until we go home I am starting to think about it. I have applied for 3 part time jobs online today but I know the market is competitive at the moment so it could be a while before I find anything. I am not one of these mums who feels like life ends when the children go to school. I love my children but I am seeing this as the beginning of a new exciting chapter for us all and am just trying to think of all of the things I can do with my 1 full day and 3 mornings that I now have available.
So what would you do with this extra time?
Taliwillow
My situation is that I work part time and have 2 young children. I had told myself that when both children have started full time school then I would try to get another part time job to fill some of my remaining hours or if I could get something started then I would do something on a self employed basis. This was all still in just the ideas stage as my youngest is not due to start full time school until Sep 2013. Then due to various things not going to plan re schools for my eldest this year we had to consider a different school and this school takes children full time from the term after they are 3 so both of my daughters will now be starting full time school in 2 weeks time. This was only arranged a couple of weeks ago and we are now on holiday in the South of France so I haven't had much time to think about it but now it is just a few days until we go home I am starting to think about it. I have applied for 3 part time jobs online today but I know the market is competitive at the moment so it could be a while before I find anything. I am not one of these mums who feels like life ends when the children go to school. I love my children but I am seeing this as the beginning of a new exciting chapter for us all and am just trying to think of all of the things I can do with my 1 full day and 3 mornings that I now have available.
So what would you do with this extra time?
Taliwillow
Current Debt - [strike]£38000[/strike] [strike]£32000[/strike] [strike]£28500[/strike] [strike]£22000[/strike] [strike]£16000[/strike] [strike]£10000[/strike] [STRIKE]£1500[/STRIKE] £14000:eek:
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Volunteer to get more experience to make yourself more employable? Don't wait for part time jobs to be advertised, send out CVs are tailored covering letters on spec. Do a part time college course?Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️0
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Enrol on a course of study for a career path which may interest you later.
Volunteer.
Go into school as a reading listener.
Join a gym
Take up a new hobby.0 -
I work part time. Last September I started a college course and began learning Spanish. I am continuing with it from this September at the next level as I enjoyed it so much.
I use another free afternoon each week to do the weekly shop. So much easier without having kids around. A darn sight cheaper too as I can think straight and only things on my list go into the trolley.
May sound boring but I also use another free afternoon to stay on top of keeping the house nice and do things like the washing and ironing.
Keeps the time I have with the kids stress free and I can focus on doing fun family stuff with them.The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own, no apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.0 -
Ha!, I had such plans for my days once the littlest started school- I was going to do voluntary work every week (done), finish a patchwork quilt (not done), take myself to the cinema (not done), take myself round some of the many local museums (not done).....
I think the way forward is to work out what you want to do and actually schedule it into your diary, so that life doesn't get in the way. That's the way I've been able to do the volunteering.They call me Dr Worm... I'm interested in things; I'm not a real doctor but I am a real worm.0 -
Funny you should post this! I found that out this week! my DIL is taking a couple of weeks off work so I havent been minding my 4yr old grandson. Its been bliss! I have read more books, have no ironing or washing mountain and best of all - I have got out my Parchment craft tools and Parched to my hearts content! Now all I have to do is steel myself to turn out and clean all my kitchen cupboards next week and I will be a happy bunny!0
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Well so far my plan is to spend the first week or two getting our house to look almost as it did (clean and tidy) before we had children. I have already offered to do some volunteer work in a couple of places but at the moment they haven't said when they would like me to do that. I would like to do some studying but I have always found that the cost seem to make it impossible for me. So I figure if I could start my own small business I may be able to afford to study but then whenever I look into my ideas for self employment there seem to be fees and insurances involved that make that difficult too.
I'm sure I will find a way to do something constructive. Maybe I can do a bit extra on our allotment while I'm figuring it out. Just thought it would be interesting to hear what others would do.Current Debt - [strike]£38000[/strike] [strike]£32000[/strike] [strike]£28500[/strike] [strike]£22000[/strike] [strike]£16000[/strike] [strike]£10000[/strike] [STRIKE]£1500[/STRIKE] £14000:eek:0 -
I don't work as I am my disabled son's carer. When he is at school and we have no appointments scheduled, I often catch up on sleep. I also do some voluntary work which fits in around my caring responsibilities.
You can often find free courses at community centres. Our local centre offers accredited courses and leisure courses, and many are free. Some are a full school year, others a few weeks, and some just a day. Some are clubs rather than courses, but you fcan learn from those as well - watercolour painting in a popular club, and I attend a craft club, where members often teach each other new skills.
Libraries also sometimes have courses, so they are worth checking out as well.
If you are thinking of more serious study, have a look at the Open University as well as local colleges. Depending on income and previous qualifications, you might be able to get some help with funding.0 -
I'm with marisco on this one. When I worked part time (bliss) I used that time to do housework, laundry, shopping, food prep so that the time that I had with my family was relaxed. I also worked voluntary and studied knowing that I would return to work full time at some point.
If I worked part time now I would do the same with housework etc and then spend the rest of the time reading, knitting, swimming and doing stuff for meand then when my daughter returned to work after her maternity leave I would probably take on childminding duties and run myself ragged :rotfl:
The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steve Biko0
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