From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Not a positive response unfortunately. It's harder to help in a way as DS had to get back to the college /company but you have to rely on his interpretation of what was said. I think he's starting to realise that my many suggestions to work/revise are in his best interests to give him as many options as possible at the next stage. At least the one company has got back to him, the other hasn't contacted him at all and have simply relisted their vacancy with a new date. We have an information evening coming up soon so I'm hoping that will help.

On the plus side the scramble to get a moped sorted doesn't need to be done immediately .

Spendless

Sorry the job wasn't positive news.

Don't know if it's the same all over, but I know my DD's school tells them to apply for a college/sixth form choice as a back up as well as an apprenticeship. Don't know if that's to do with a lack of apprenticeships in our area though.

Honeysucklelou2

That's interesting Spendless and I'm sure it's good advice. Yesterday DS and I went to an apprenticeship information evening at the college that the DDs have attended. It was useful as they use completely different websites to process the applications ( we had just stumbled across the government webpage for the 2 he applied for) so at least we have new avenues to explore. I will encourage him to look anew at the various courses on offer. There seem to be quite a few apprenticeships in the catering industry but not so many in other areas.

Payday was on Monday and most direct debits have gone out. Today I've paid the quarterly phone bill which has, at last, started to go down! :T This quarter's was £60 less than the last quarter. I'm trying to make sure that we don't use the phone until after 7pm and trying to make sure that calls to mobiles are only done if essential. The older children have mobiles so are able to text or use some of their contract minutes to call anyone.

The nursery fees have also been paid today and £50 sent to family to go towards paying off that debt.:)

The puppies' eyes are now open. Children are still very excited by their presence. Given there are only 2 in this litter I can see the problem being that they will find it harder when they are old enough to be
rehomed.

Spendless

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

That's interesting Spendless and I'm sure it's good advice. Yesterday DS and I went to an apprenticeship information evening at the college that the DDs have attended. It was useful as they use completely different websites to process the applications ( we had just stumbled across the government webpage for the 2 he applied for) so at least we have new avenues to explore. I will encourage him to look anew at the various courses on offer. There seem to be quite a few apprenticeships in the catering industry but not so many in other areas.

Honeysuckle. I've copied and pasted below the info from my child's school re options after GCSEs. The school mine attend/ed doesn't have a sixth form, so staying on there isn't an option. (identifying details have been removed)


• Students seeking an apprenticeship must also apply to either College or 6th form as a backup plan. Competition for apprenticeship placements is extremely high therefore most employers will ask for a minimum of 5A*-C (9-4/5) with a minimum of grade 4/5 (C) in GCSE Maths and English. Employers will also ask <school name> for a reference therefore students need to ensure their attendance and attitude to learning grades are good.


Many moons ago when I left school, finding a job/training scheme was for those who hadn't got enough qualifications to go on to another educational course, whether that was at school or college. Now looks like staying on in some form of education is what you do, if you haven't got the qualifications to work.

Hope your DS finds something suitable. Have you got another school leaver next year too?

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you so much Spendless, for popping that up. I too had thought apprenticeships were more for practically minded children who found learning easier through doing something. I will chat through with him about options. Thankfully I have a year off from school leavers! DD3 leaves in June 2020 but she is completely different and is very focussed.

I really appreciate you taking the time to post that information, thank you.

Honeysucklelou2

Yesterday was so lovely weatherwise that I was able to get 3 loads of washing dried on the line. I had a fair amount of work to do (job) so had to content myself with only planting out the sweet peas. I'm hoping to have today off to be able to get into the garden and pot on the next batch of seedlings and to get more planted out.

Honeysucklelou2

A bit of a mixed weekend really. I had hoped to get out somewhere yesterday but a combination of juggling the teenagers' social lives combined with the ex not committing to see the children on given days but preferring to just turn up made it a little tricky. I need to ponder a wY through this as I'm trying to make sure he has opportunity to see the children but seem to be restricting myself by waiting to see what he wants...not sure if that makes sense. On a positive note I did get to the allotment and planted out some courgette plants and a block of sweet corn plants. These have to be planted in a block as they are wind pollinated and rows will not work. I have the calendulas and cornflowers coming on nicely and the cosmos will be ready to plant out soon.

Honeysucklelou2

Today looks to be a glorious day so hoping to get as much washing out to dry as possible. A couple of weeks ago I had an idea that one evening a week I take the children to the beach for the evening to have either a BBQ or a picnic type tea. I tried a couple of weeks ago which worked well. This Thursday we went and it was beautiful. The tide was right out so a huge expanse of sand and hardly anyone there. We were able to play games on the beach and cook tea on a little BBQ. It was so lovely watching g the children playing together while I cooked. I'm hoping to keep this going as it takes the frustration out of the weekend. So much of my time is taken up with work and then housework that there isn't a lot of time for anything else. I'm hoping that by carving out an evening will help me to have some quality time with the children which will help me to feel less frustrated with not being able to make weekend plans because of the ex just turning up...or not as he chooses. Hope that makes sense!! The added bonus of choosing an evening is that the parking is free after a certain time, so minimal costs ( and the ice-cream type shops are shut!!!!)

Finances wise, a cc payment has gone out for £30 so small steps. I've done a menu plan for this week and went shopping last night. I got it to £63 so hoping that I'll only need to top up on milk.

Exams start in Monday for DS1 who is doing so little revision it's frightening. I have talked to him over the last couple of years about having more choices at the next stage if you work hard now but he is apathetic to say the least. I struggle to understand this as he sees me go out to work and work in the evenings, he knows that his older sisters have worked hard to get to uni / course at college but still is ambivalent.

One DD has SATS next week too so hoping to cook som e treats for lunch boxes to help them through the week.

Mumoffourkids

I love your idea of going to the beach on an evening and having tea there. What a wonderful idea to spend some time with your children.

Good luck to your children with their exams as well. My DD1 starts her GCSE's next week as well but is not revising today as it is her 16th birthday so isn't doing much but doesn't want to revise. She is now panicing about what she is going to do next year as she is convinced she won't get the grades she needs!

Oh and you inspired me to start planting again so in the garden we currently have tomatoes, strawberries, lettuces and spinach and a solitary cucumber plant. I must admit I cheated and bought them from a garden centre rather than growing from seed as I was a bit late in starting. I also planted some Sweet Pea seeds which are starting to grow in one of my trellis pots. This week I have also planted some more tomato seeds and lettuce seeds so I can have a continuous supply! I will plant some more in the next week or two.

I just have to think about what to plant next!

Cherryfudge

I too love the idea of beach BBQs/picnics once a week - it sounds idyllic!

Re: revision, my oldest was never one for much academic committment. It wasn't that he wasn't able or didn't like school, but nothing ever grabbed his attention enough to pull him in. He left part way through the sixth form. Ten years on, he's doing a degree in his 'free' time. I really think the added maturity and having been part of the workforce have both helped. School looks like the only option while people are there, but it isn't. That's isn't to say they shouldn't revise of course. Personally I was quite a long way through secondary school when I found out that revision isn't cheating! I had thought that if you didn't remember things from being in class, you had somehow got it wrong and that exams were to test what you remembered from class. Somehow I got through it and got a degree but I might have done better if I'd understood the system better!