Council would rather I put 2 children in to care!!

lazer

The obvious solution has to be
:
The box room is 7ft by 8ft so plently of room for a double bed (4'6" * 6'3" or if you want more floor space a small double - 4' wide)
For wardrobe space - get along side the bed - you have either 2'6" or 3'6" depening on which way the bed goes

(This wardbrobe is about 2'4" - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6303440.htm#pdpFullProductInformation)

(Or if you don't like this suggestion - get someone in to build in a wardrobe to make the most of the space)

The next room is 12 by 9

A small double for the 2 younger boys to share (4' wide) and single for the daughter (3' wide). (and for privacy - put the girls bed at the wall furthest from the door and get a partition - something like this along the bed http://www.naturalliving.co.uk/acatalog/wicker-room-divider-screen.html?gclid=CNSEje-jnbcCFUXJtAodXykA-Q)
Should be plenty of room for wardrobes in this room as it is 12ft in rone direction

And the 3 older boys share the 12 by 12 room.

Seems relatively straight froward to me.

And once the children get older - long term i suggest spilting the 12 by 12 room - into a small private room for your daughter (about 5' wide - enough for a single bed and bedside cabinet), and a 12 by 7 room for the 2 boys in bunk beds.

And for additional space etc - get sliding door wardrobes for the bedrooms and if possible sliding doors for the bedroom doors themselves (Then don't need opening room) and any time you buy a new bed got one with drawers for useful storage.

Frist and foremost you and your husband need to go into the box room - there is room for a double bed in it if you do it properly.

jellyhead

nearlysorted wrote: »

Yes, we did ask for either the extension or loft conversation. Apparently extensions are cheaper and easier then loft conversions.

When we were looking, a loft conversion was almost double the cost of an extension, so even though we lost most of the tiny garden we had to go with the extension. Loft conversions are tricky on an end terrace because there's less headroom.

However, with 6+ children I think it may be worth paying extra if you can, because they'll need the garden for playing in - and a summer house sounds good

Tiddlywinks

I'm just wondering...

OP - If you'd had a mortgage and a small house when you'd met your new partner - and already having 3 children between you - would you have had another 3 kids? If the mortgage and the bills etc were entirely down to you with no prospect of state help then I think you may have had second thoughts about having 6 children.

I think social housing gives too much of a safety net and allows people to carry on having children when most families in the private sector would not feel able to do so.

jellyhead

MrsE wrote: »

Why is it automatically assumed that everyone with children gets tax credits?
My DD & DSIL aren't highly paid, but they are not entitled to child or any other tax credits, nor any type of subsidised child care either (except the vouchers they purchase from their salary through their employer).

Do they have 1 or 2 children though, rather than 6? I don't get tax credits for my two, but I would if I had a 3rd child and certainly would with 6. I've 'taken in' a third child, and would get tax credits if his parents would play ball.

My teenager was astonished when I told him I used to sit on the stairs to read, in dim light from the bathroom because we couldn't afford to leave the other lights on. It's what you have to do for privacy though, or homework if there are 4 of you to a bedroom. I didn't want to watch soaps in the sitting room, and there was nowhere for a desk in any of the bedrooms. It was easier to do homework on the stairs. I understand why you want an extra bedroom, as I still remember us all falling over each other and not having enough storage.

OP could you add up the extra tax credits and child benefit, plus what you'll be saving in maintenance, and see if it covers the cost of an extension over 5-7 years or so? Would it be about 5k a year in extra benefits for the two children, then another thousand or so for maintenance? I am going to get flamed for this but I don't think it actually costs that much per year to keep 2 extra children if you're not factoring in the cost of extra housing.

Feel free to point out flaws in my calculations though

pinkladyof66

I am sorry but I am probably gonna get shot down for this but why on hell do people feel the need to keep breeding. Your hubbie had 2 children you had 1 surely that should have been suffice not to bring another 3 into this world (whether you could afford it or not) I think it is all wrong. Have 1 child together yes but 3 no I am sorry but I dont think this is right. As others have mentioned there was always a chance that his other 2 might have to live with you at sometime. This happens all the time did you not think this before you then went on to have 3 more. I am sorry but this is my opinion others may think differently but i dont.

lily76

Gigglepig wrote: »

Many couples save for years to be financially secure, have savings on hand and suitable accommodation before having one or two kids. Because kids are expensive. Without the benefit of subsidised housing. It seems slightly insulting to all those couples that you expect the state to sort things out.

:T:T

This is exactly what we did. We have been working for 10 years after graduation from uni before having our baby. The good thing is he can have everything the best. The downside is I become a mum at the age of 33, and when my baby turns 17, I am 50--an age when many women in this country could have grandchildren.

MrsE_2

lily76 wrote: »

:T:T

This is exactly what we did. We have been working for 10 years after graduation from uni before having our baby. The good thing is he can have everything the best. The downside is I become a mum at the age of 33, and when my baby turns 17, I am 50--an age when many women in this country could have grandchildren.

I don't think it's shocking to become a grandmother @ 50 or even a couple of years younger as I am.
I could understand eyebrows being raised at 30 something year old grandmothers.

Tiddlywinks

lily76 wrote: »

This is exactly what we did. We have been working for 10 years after graduation from uni before having our baby. The good thing is he can have everything the best. The downside is I become a mum at the age of 33, and when my baby turns 17, I am 50--an age when many women in this country could have grandchildren.

MrsE wrote: »

I don't think it's shocking to become a grandmother @ 50 or even a couple of years younger as I am.
I could understand eyebrows being raised at 30 something year old grandmothers.

I think you have the wrong end of the stick...

Brighton_belle

pinkladyof66 wrote: »

I am sorry but I am probably gonna get shot down for this but why on hell do people feel the need to keep breeding.

Well it's not my intention 'shoot' anyone down, but I do find that such an unnecessarily unpleasant expression.
It is frequently used on these forums and I always find it is a complete turn off from any relevant point the poster may or may not be making.

Tiddlywinks

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Well it's not my intention 'shoot' anyone down, but I do find that such an unnecessarily unpleasant expression.
It is frequently used on these forums and I always find it is a complete turn off from any relevant point the poster may or may not be making.

How about "reproducing another money making opportunity" instead of "breeding"?

Or, "reproducing another little person who will become someone else's responsibility".

Or just "I don't care 'cos it's me human rights innit"?