Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

EchoDelta

I went to a crap school, I'm pretty sure it's motto was "leave your life at the door" :rotfl:I got 2 x A*, 6 As and 2 Bs. I went to a local FE college (my school had no 6th form), I got 2 As and 1 C at A Level. I went to one of the best universities in the country and got a 2.1. I have completed post grad training while working and am chartered, head of department in a law firm and pretty well paid.

I think that my rubbish state school did me proud to be honest. Engaged parents who expected me to achieve are the most important thing.

My university had a very high proportion of private school kids and they did no better than us (apart from having a slight head start in Latin - that got them a term of cruising one class).

I don't get why you would choose a "mediocre" school for Mini K just because it's private?

Why not a decent state school and spend some money on extra curricula activities?

You say you want what you had for Mini K but it doesn't seem to have made you very happy?

Anyway, I'm a couple of glasses of fizz down so am probably rambling.

Congratulations on the further debt busting - you ROCK! Nearly there. :T

May 2014 bring you peace, happiness and solvency!

patanne

That's a good way to start the New Year with debts almost 60% gone! Not bad at all for 4 months. At this rate you will have all the rest cleared by the end of March. I'm looking forward to seeing that. I'm really pleased for you. I would just like to wish you a happy new year - cos you deserve it - as do mini K & Mrs K.

mum2one

thats brill news about the 2nd f+f. a good way to end 2013 and a positive start for 2014. xx

7roland8

Alex - just heard on radio 4 about how good CBT is - how its not what happens to us that affects us - so much as how much we ruminate on it afterwards.
We should practice being mindful - observe a thought but do not buy into it - just observe it and them replace it with a positive one.

Happy New Year to you all.

LannieDuck

Another state school person here. Grade 7 flute, grade 5 theory of music, distinction in Young Enterprise exam, played netball, represented my school in athletics, went on to get 5 A grades at A-level, a degree at Oxford and a PhD.

...but I guess I'm just another lucky one who had a good state school?

There are certainly 'bad' state schools, but the majority are fine or even good. I agree with those who say parental attitude is vital.

AlexLK

Happy New Year everybody!

I will respond to your responses tomorrow as I'm rather piddled right now after a wonderful party.

EchoDelta

Sounds like a good night! Just wanted to say that it's pretty hardcore to save 12k and not dip into it. Goes to show that you do have the soul of a saver after all!

AlexLK

slowlyfading wrote: »

Hmm. I've got some questions for you.

1) You say your wife is keeping the leftover money for whatever, when she already has a spending budget in there? You both are entitled to "fun".

Our spending budget doesn't really account for much "fun". She's planning to order a new M235i in April so needs to save the remainder of her deposit for that. I have to stop spending so much money on things I don't need.

slowlyfading wrote: »

2) Got those things on Ebay yet?

Not as yet. It will get done before the end of the week though.

slowlyfading wrote: »

3) As someone who went to a state school and now teaches in one, I feel sad that you have just a bad view on state schools. A child will not care where they go to school, so long as they get the chance to experience things, excel at others and make friendships. I get the feeling you will never see your son in a state school, am I right?

Yes, you are likely right, I don't like the idea of him going to a state school at all, nothing to do with the teachers, more to do with the environment and that I don't think state schools provide the same experience.

slowlyfading wrote: »

4) Do you think you are better than your wife, because you went to a private school and she didn't?

Not at all, in fact if anything she's "better" as she's got a lot further with her life than I have with mine.

slowlyfading wrote: »

5) You've changed your sig - you've paid more off?

You can be a very frustrating person at times.

Yes, paid the second Full and Final yesterday, no more debts with collection agencies now.

Not sure what that is meant to mean. However, I do dread to think what I wrote on here yesterday as I had far too much to drink, starting far too early. So sorry if I offended anybody.

slowlyfading wrote: »

Also, when you are debt free (notice the when, as I do believe you'll do it) you should join this thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4844519

Thank you, I will join anyway with an aim of £1,000 - I'm sure I can make an extra £20 per week.

AlexLK

VJsmum wrote: »

I went to one of the worst schools in the country. I eventually got three rubbish A levels and went to what you call a "second stream" university ( it was a poly when I went there).

But I got a degree, I am chartered and in the last few years acquired a masters with distinction in law

I have worked hard for everything I have. My OH went to a private school, he earns more than me but isn't a better person than me. He wouldn't keep part of his earnings for himself.

My DD went to a bog standard comp - it's ok but not a "top" one. She got 2A* and 8As at GCSE, she is predicted A*AA at A level.

Why are you so hung up on private education? Especially at a "mediocre" school? Most people I know who went to one (apart from OH) are ars*s.

EchoDelta wrote: »

I went to a crap school, I'm pretty sure it's motto was "leave your life at the door" :rotfl:I got 2 x A*, 6 As and 2 Bs. I went to a local FE college (my school had no 6th form), I got 2 As and 1 C at A Level. I went to one of the best universities in the country and got a 2.1. I have completed post grad training while working and am chartered, head of department in a law firm and pretty well paid.

I think that my rubbish state school did me proud to be honest. Engaged parents who expected me to achieve are the most important thing.

My university had a very high proportion of private school kids and they did no better than us (apart from having a slight head start in Latin - that got them a term of cruising one class).

I don't get why you would choose a "mediocre" school for Mini K just because it's private?

Why not a decent state school and spend some money on extra curricula activities?

You say you want what you had for Mini K but it doesn't seem to have made you very happy?

Anyway, I'm a couple of glasses of fizz down so am probably rambling.

Congratulations on the further debt busting - you ROCK! Nearly there. :T

May 2014 bring you peace, happiness and solvency!

I do believe people that go to state schools and succeed are the minority - the exceptions to the general rule. Admittedly, I'm one of the exceptions but not for a good reason - the one who had a good education and failed in the real world.

Thank you re. the debts.

patanne wrote: »

That's a good way to start the New Year with debts almost 60% gone! Not bad at all for 4 months. At this rate you will have all the rest cleared by the end of March. I'm looking forward to seeing that. I'm really pleased for you. I would just like to wish you a happy new year - cos you deserve it - as do mini K & Mrs K.

Thank you. I've set myself a target of being debt free by Christmas 2014, would like it to be before but don't wish to set myself targets I cannot achieve as that usually sets me back.

AlexLK

mum2one wrote: »

thats brill news about the 2nd f+f. a good way to end 2013 and a positive start for 2014. xx

Thank you, hope you had a nice New Year.

7roland8 wrote: »

Alex - just heard on radio 4 about how good CBT is - how its not what happens to us that affects us - so much as how much we ruminate on it afterwards.
We should practice being mindful - observe a thought but do not buy into it - just observe it and them replace it with a positive one.

Happy New Year to you all.

Thank you. I can believe that as I've come across people who've had things much worse than I but are still positive.

I'm going to speak to the doctors about this on Friday.

LannieDuck wrote: »

Another state school person here. Grade 7 flute, grade 5 theory of music, distinction in Young Enterprise exam, played netball, represented my school in athletics, went on to get 5 A grades at A-level, a degree at Oxford and a PhD.

...but I guess I'm just another lucky one who had a good state school?

There are certainly 'bad' state schools, but the majority are fine or even good. I agree with those who say parental attitude is vital.

I guess you are and I'll bow to your clear superiority (Cambridge reject here, looks like I never did get over that).

Are you going to be sending your children to a state school, then?