IA's 'Does my bum look big in this Debt?' Diary

immoral_angeluk

woohoo! Ste's £50 from topcashback for the SS offer has tracked
We've also aquired £20 of boots vouchers from my 'dad'. :rolleyes: At least they'll come in handy for xmas presents.

earwig

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Bad teachers, not interested then? The kind of calculations you are now doing, probably because interested and found your own way of thinking about things, are easily GCSE maths. I was unfortunately maths tutor and I've got kids with the personailty and ability of turnips (old, rotting turnips but with rich mummies and daddies) up to the GCSE C standard. Just because you got a D grade years ago doesn't mean that's your natural limit and it's something very easy to redo if motivated. People are very quick to say I can't do maths but nobody ever says I'm so bad at reading I struggle with spelling my own name, they misidentify not understand the method something was explained with as intrinsic lack of ability. If you can do interest/minimum payments, loan terms etc you aren't bad at maths and could get a grade C. So you didn't get how one maths teacher taught you several years ago, does that mean because you didn't get how to use credit cards and racked up some debt that you'll forever 'be bad at' money?
Maybe it isn't for you but don't pidgeon hole yourself in an artificial comfort zone, you may not want to do that kind of job, you may have no interest in redoing a maths GCSE but it's your choice not to do it not lack of ability.
On my maths is misunderstood mission, for anyone else in similar position if the lack of GCSE in maths is stopping you get certian jobs or considering them, there are a lot of college schemes and bursaries with childcare particularly if young and/or parents.

i didnt even take my math gcse had more importants thing to do at the time like caring for my mental ill mother would i get help if i went back to collage to do it now my oh works full time but i dont work at all i have two kids age 3 and 8 do you think i would stand a chance lol

Spendless

Agree with BB . I didn't get maths either, then for the year I spent in 6th form got a teacher who taught me in a way I understood. Unfortunately not enough to raise me any higher than the CSE 2 I'd already got. I know from a college tutor that funding is going into maths courses this year, so it may even be free or cheap. Def look into it, I know I've always needed something 'adult' that was mine away from looking after the family.

good luck

immoral_angeluk

HAve looked into a few courses but there's no way I could afford them.. even the part time ones are really expensive!

Spendless

Try looking up nvq level 1 and 2 maths as a starting point rather than GCSE (these are free in my area). Or try women's centres (YWCA).

DisillusionedAnna

If you receive Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits most of the courses are subsidised and if you can get to Cannock Tech College they have a creche that guarantees a placement for 4hrs a week for 2 children so you could do a course there and have the children in the child care facility they have atached to the colege. A quick phone call to them might clarify what your entitled to.
Love your diary..keep up the good work,
Anna..Disillusioned but hopeful lol x

Ellidee

Hi Sarah, I got a job in a bank WITHOUT 'O' level Maths as it was in those days.I totally agree with Barnaby Bear about your obvious capabilities. Go for it girl ! xx

Spendless

Just had another thought, but when I only had eldest, his mum and tots group had a course ran by the local college and they fetched staff with them to run a creche for the little-uns whilst the mums did a course in an adjoining room. The courses weren't 'academic' (at least they weren't then). The ones I remember were top to toe (how to do manicures, facials etc), aromatherapy, first aid.

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

Hi IA
Just to boost you a little at 42 I'm justing starting the 2nd year of a BA in childhood studies and have just signed up for GCSE Maths and science. for the degree I get finance (student loan and grant) and the science is free, just have to pay for the exam, the maths is £128 plus the exam fee but checking it out to see if I may get it free/reduced. Check out your local adult education (generally on your local council website) and see whats available!
IDA
x

Yorkielass

we've had several adult education brochures though our door recently - these obviously wouldn't be any good to you but I'd email your local colleges and get all the brochures, there were definately discounts for people on tax credits and some courses were free.

I'm a real one for education and learning (but as a qualified teacher who currently promotes higher education to people from 'non traditional backgrounds' I should be!) and if you want any advice I'll do my best to help!

Hope you've had a good day.