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Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

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Comments

  • milann
    milann Posts: 11,495 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I seriously considered teaching in my late 40s but I’d worked in school and saw the stress and pressure the teachers were under and decided to stay doing what I was doing. I know a number of qualified teachers who have opted out of teaching to be TAs because they want a good work/life balance so I think you’re doing the right thing HHD. I got this job at 56 - so there’s hope for you yet;)
    You’ll be surprised how quickly you pick the names up.
    January spends - £587.58
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 5 September 2019 at 9:10PM
    milann wrote: »
    I seriously considered teaching in my late 40s but I’d worked in school and saw the stress and pressure the teachers were under and decided to stay doing what I was doing. I know a number of qualified teachers who have opted out of teaching to be TAs because they want a good work/life balance so I think you’re doing the right thing HHD. I got this job at 56 - so there’s hope for you yet;)
    You’ll be surprised how quickly you pick the names up.

    Thanks Milann :). It's good to know that they will consider employing someone in their fifties. Although competing with teachers makes it harder to get a job :(. Sometimes I think I'll never get a TA job, but I mustn't give up I suppose. Keep plodding as Beanie says.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • Thanks Milann :). It's good to know that they will consider employing someone in their fifties. Although competing with teachers makes it harder to get a job :(. Sometimes I think I'll never get a TA job, but I mustn't give up I suppose. Keep plodding as Beanie says.

    If your current school has any sense they'll snap you up as soon as a vacancy comes up:). You volunteer several times each week and also have a paid lunchtime job. They know you and how reliable you are. They can see how well you fit into the 'team'. Not only that but you are doing well on your course.

    Do you need to have the qualification under your belt before you could be employed as a TA or would they consider you while you're still training? With the recently announced Government funding increases for schools there may be scope for them to employ more staff which would work in your favour:T. It looks as if they are going to spend more on SEN. Have you considered working one-to-one with a special needs child? My friend did it and found it really rewarding. I wonder though whether all these recent spending announcements will come to nothing in all the Brexit and political uncertainty:(
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,531 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Great news on the on the gate & the skirting boards :j
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.

    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.
    ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • but it was like rounding up cats today as they're not used to our year two routine :eek:.

    :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
  • Glad to hear you're pleased with your new gate and skirting boards. Positive renovations will buck you up and spur you on with your de-cluttering. Any decorating on the horizon?

    I'm with you on the work front. As I've got older I think if I stopped work now for a couple of months and then had to go back, I wouldn't be able to do it - what with the extra stress these days and the commute! Staying on the treadmill has kept me going!
    Finally Debt Free! - July 2016 🌟
    Finished Emergency Fund- £10,000 April 2017
    🌟
    RETIRED: MAY 2021!!!!😀🎆
    My diary: “Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!”
  • A teacher has has started volunteering in my classroom now and also had taken on a meal time assistant job. If a TA job comes up then they're bound to give it to a qualified teacher and not to me :(. Sometimes I despair of ever getting a TA job. I feel quite despondant today :(. But I'm not sure what to do other than what I'm doing for now. I need to get my level 3 and I can only do that if I'm in a classroom for four sessions a week. Once I've got my level 3 then I think I'll seriously consider going on the supply register if nothing has come up at my school, or if a job comes up and they give it to the teacher. I don't want to be a dinner lady forever, I need to earn more money :(.

    Apart from that I had a good morning and felt more on top of things. I had a good night's sleep so was less tired which helps. It's been a bit drizzly this afternoon but was dry at lunchtime luckily.

    Now it's the weekend I can sort the house out a bit too. I've pulled out a big box of books from the cupboard under the stairs and the new bookcase has swallowed them up with room to spare, so I can forage for some more. I also want to try and go through my mum's photos and reduce them down a bit more. Not to mention get on top of the washing and ironing.

    We do have a very fine back gate and skirting boards on the kitchen walls instead of the floor so that is something to be thankful for :).
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • Scrimpess wrote: »
    If your current school has any sense they'll snap you up as soon as a vacancy comes up:). You volunteer several times each week and also have a paid lunchtime job. They know you and how reliable you are. They can see how well you fit into the 'team'. Not only that but you are doing well on your course.

    Do you need to have the qualification under your belt before you could be employed as a TA or would they consider you while you're still training? With the recently announced Government funding increases for schools there may be scope for them to employ more staff which would work in your favour:T. It looks as if they are going to spend more on SEN. Have you considered working one-to-one with a special needs child? My friend did it and found it really rewarding. I wonder though whether all these recent spending announcements will come to nothing in all the Brexit and political uncertainty:(

    Thank you Scrimpess :). It depends upon who else applies that's the trouble. There's seems no shortage of well qaIifie people :(. I was hoping that because I'm doing the level 3 they might employ me, now I've got my level 2. I would be very willing to work with a SEN child if an opportunity came up.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • beanielou wrote: »
    Great news on the on the gate & the skirting boards :j
    Thanks Beanie :).
    Glad to hear you're pleased with your new gate and skirting boards. Positive renovations will buck you up and spur you on with your de-cluttering. Any decorating on the horizon?

    I'm with you on the work front. As I've got older I think if I stopped work now for a couple of months and then had to go back, I wouldn't be able to do it - what with the extra stress these days and the commute! Staying on the treadmill has kept me going!

    Thanks SSG :). Yes I'm not sure six weeks holiday has done me any good at all really, not that I relaxed during most of it with my de-cluttering etc. It is hard to step back on the treadmill once you've stepped off it.

    We do need to do some painting in the kitchen, but we both feel exhausted and I still need to finish sorting out my Mum's photos, so I'm not sure when it will get done.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • A teacher has has started volunteering in my classroom now and also had taken on a meal time assistant job. If a TA job comes up then they're bound to give it to a qualified teacher and not to me :(. Sometimes I despair of ever getting a TA job. I feel quite despondant today :(. But I'm not sure what to do other than what I'm doing for now. I need to get my level 3 and I can only do that if I'm in a classroom for four sessions a week. Once I've got my level 3 then I think I'll seriously consider going on the supply register if nothing has come up at my school, or if a job comes up and they give it to the teacher. I don't want to be a dinner lady forever, I need to earn more money :(.

    Apart from that I had a good morning and felt more on top of things. I had a good night's sleep so was less tired which helps. It's been a bit drizzly this afternoon but was dry at lunchtime luckily.

    Now it's the weekend I can sort the house out a bit too. I've pulled out a big box of books from the cupboard under the stairs and the new bookcase has swallowed them up with room to spare, so I can forage for some more. I also want to try and go through my mum's photos and reduce them down a bit more. Not to mention get on top of the washing and ironing.

    We do have a very fine back gate and skirting boards on the kitchen walls instead of the floor so that is something to be thankful for :).

    It's also our wedding anniversary today, 33 years married and we've known each other for 37 years. Now I feel old :eek:.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
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