SOA please offer advice.

undaunted

kimplus8 wrote: »

Other travel is for my 2 eldest to get to school it's £17 per week for each of them
We need the Internet, 3 of the kids are set homework online, it would be chaos for my to take them all to the library to do homework and they use the Internet far more than we would get out of tv.
I am cutting groceries back as we speak and will go without haircuts, I can shave off some of the entertainment costs too with careful planning. Sadly not much is free around here and if we all go somewhere together it's £15 in bus fair for us all and we can't all fit in the car,
Medical cost are dentist as there are no nhs spaces at moment where I live unless it is an emergency, and for glasses for 4 kids and myself, which the school have lost twice and I have had to replace.
Currently nothing in emergency fund but I have a fridge on its way out and a washing machine so to follow suit, I need an emergency fund for this purpose as I don't have a spare 2-300 pounds to replace an appliance at the drop of a hat.
I'm going to call CMO on Monday and start a maintenance claim. I need to just stop being such a fanny and do it, you are totally right of course and it's not helping anyone by me letting him walk all over me, I spent 10 years doing that in our marriage. :-/

Some of this you may be able to do little about but just a thought whilst a 9 seater plus will tend to be more expensive you can sometimes pick up a cheap 7 / 8 seater for the kind of money your parents are offering - example kia Sedona, fiat ulysse, citreon synergie, peugot 806 & the like & that may help reduce your travel costs on buses etc.


Good luck

kimplus8

undaunted wrote: »

Some of this you may be able to do little about but just a thought whilst a 9 seater plus will tend to be more expensive you can sometimes pick up a cheap 7 / 8 seater for the kind of money your parents are offering - example kia Sedona, fiat ulysse, citreon synergie, peugot 806 & the like & that may help reduce your travel costs on buses etc.


Good luck

that's exactly what I'm hoping for!!

Bouncybubbles

Hi KP8


I do not claim to know much if anything about benefits etc but would you be entitled to more help/ more benefits if you didn't work? I know this will be massively frowned upon by many but you could save money on childcare this way and maybe free up more time to batch cook etc therby saving money in that aspect? I apologise if I am completely wrong just an idea that popped into my head good luck!

[Deleted User]

undaunted wrote: »

whilst a 9 seater plus will tend to be more expensive

Also, depending on when the OP passed her Driving Test, she may not be licensed for more than 9 seats.

[Deleted User]

kimplus8 wrote: »

but I cant expect the 9 year old to walk all that way

Any chance they could be accompanied by an older child?

Does the school/Council, by any chance, operate a walking bus service?

kimplus8

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Any chance they could be accompanied by an older child?

Does the school/Council, by any chance, operate a walking bus service?

Theolder child could walk her at the moment but in sept she goes off to high school, The 9 year old is just not street savvy enough to manage the walk,Im hoping in sept she will be moved to the same school as my 4 and 6 year olds and wont have to walk or bus at all. No walking bus unfortunately from my house, there is one but its the opposite direction from school, Sadly the school she is at is not the closest but because of the lack of spaces in our area this is the closet one they could get her into when we moved house.
now I have siblings at the other school which is only0.3 miles from our house she should be top of the list to transfer.
The lady I spoke to today seemed hopeful that there would be a space come September.

kimplus8

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Any chance they could be accompanied by an older child?

Does the school/Council, by any chance, operate a walking bus service?

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Also, depending on when the OP passed her Driving Test, she may not be licensed for more than 9 seats.

I passed in 2008 so I believe 9 seats is my limit.

pebbles88

Hi KP8

Just wanted to say I'm rooting for you too.

Re school trips: I wasn't able to go on any in secondary school, at times I wished I could have, but me & my mum just couldn't afford it.
Think we managed 2 days out in the 5 years there, of course I bloomin enjoyed them, but not once have I looked back & thought unhappy that I couldn't go on more

For many families, whether it's from wages or child related benefits - schools trips ARE a luxury. Feeding, clothing & a roof over your children's heads is more important.

best of luck to you.xx

sherr

Hi Kim,
You mentioned a DRO, just wanted to say I had mine approved a few months ago and it was the best thing I ever did! Lots of help from the posters on the bankruptcy/DRO section here. Maybe call step change and go through your options. It's such a weight off your shoulders!
I wish you all the best for the future!
Kym

MandM90

I have nothing to add but good luck! I do think you need to reassess your entertainment budget, and put your foot down with the school re: school trips.

Our only regular entertainment spend is a National Trust membership. It would be £9.25 a month for all your family. Bring along jam sandwiches and a sense of adventure and there's bags to do all for the cost of fuel. We also use the library, go geocaching, free colouring in (I join in too!) and family movie nights with whatever is on iplayer and homemade popcorn.

Old Style should be your new bible for shopping and meal planning, we will welcome you there with a big warm hug!