Single, six kids and going to be debt free!

wishingthemortgaheaway

I wondered about the small room becoming a study too, but didn't think it would work.

Mumoffourkids

Unfortunately it is a townhouse and is top heavy. I only really have one room downstairs and a conservatory. So i can't turn a room downstairs into a bedroom. If I could then I would do that and it would all be sorted.

I think turning the small room into a study could work if the oldest was willing to share, but she isn't and the moaning I would get and arguing just isn't worth forcing it.

Unfortunately I rent otherwise I would convert my garage. I have spoken to my landlord about doing it and he didn't say no straight away but said he would ask a few questions about doing it. So that's a good sign. If he did do it, it would solve all my problems. He wants me to stay in the house so is willing to keep me happy.

If I have to sleep in the living room then I will do and I will focus all my efforts on clearing the debt and then saving for a house deposit. The holiday at new year will be our last big holiday and we will holiday in the UK from now on to save money.

Spendless

If it makes you feel better mumof4, my 2 are boy aged 18 and girl aged 15 (tomorrow!), have always had their own bedrooms and still 'hate' each other. Siblings will always find something to fall out about!

I sat with pen and paper to try and work out your bedroom/children conundrum but afraid I got lost trying to think of a suggestion.

Are you the last to go to bed? If your 16yo stays up later than you, or might do once GCSEs are over then you sleeping downstairs may not be ideal.

From going back to my notes, I think the bottom line is neither of the older girls wish to share, but given your bedroom:children, there isn't the space to give them their wish.

Though this doesn't solve the issue of the older two, the room that 9yo boy is currently in. You've said this is too small for a standard bed, would it be big enough for the 2 littlies (3 yo & 19mo) to fit in? Perhaps in cot beds, I know my youngest slept in her cot bed (with sides removed) for a few years.

Don't know what sort of beds you've got for the other rooms, but my friend once looked into having triple bunk beds. Funnily enough I dreamt about that last night - must have known I was going to wake and log on here. Doesn't solve the bedroom issue, just a space saving possibility. Am looking forward to hearing what possibilities you find, you seem such a problem solver. Shame there's no additional room downstairs. The same friend that looked into triple bunks created a bedroom last year for her youngest by turning their dining room, which you have to walk through to get to the kitchen, into his own room by the strategic placing of 2 bookcases. Everyone thought she was nuts, but a year on it's worked!

Verbatim

Yes I was wondering about bunk beds in the tiny room but I don't know if you can get small sized ones. Ideally you'd get small sized bunks which can grow to full size and be separable into individual singles for later. If these don't exist someone on here should design and patent them and make a fortune. With the small room sizes of many modern houses there must be a demand. I know you can get full sized bunks which separate into individual singles and small sized beds which can extend but not if anyone has put the two concepts together!

Spendless

Shorty bunk beds, I'd not realised they existed. I think there's recommended guides on what age to use the top bunk, so that might restrict who you'd place where.

Drawingaline

My mil had short bunk beds in her smallest room otherwise they would have blocked the window. I slept in them for a nap, but couldn't stretch out fully. I have three boys in one room, I have one set of bunks and one single bed. Not ideal, but no choice really. We swapped so they have the biggest room,we have the middle room (with large wardrobe) and daughter has the small room.

It's a tough one. Can they manage until after your daughter's exams and then revisit? It's not fair that she has her own room really, but I would maybe hold off any moving/disruption until her last exam. Put any change in place from then and she will have time to adapt over the summer before starting any A levels/further education.

Mumoffourkids

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have today been moving kids rooms around.

So the eldest has moved into my room as it is the next smallest room.

The two boys have moved into the top room and the younger boy has actually fallen asleep in his own bed tonight. That will be the first time in about six months! Let's hope he stays there. The boys have their toys up there as well and I am hoping to move a few more toys up there tomorrow. It has cleared some of the landing and the living room.

The seven year old has moved into the small room with her stuff and she can't argue with anyone in there!

And I am in the larger double with the baby and the 12 year old. I already had a triple bunk which has a double on the bottom and a single on the top. I am in the double and the 12 year old is in the single.

I know some of you will say I am mad to give up my room but it will save the arguments and moaning and hopefully it will mean I can clear the downstairs a bit of toys.

So tomorrow's job will be to finish sorting out toys in the boys room, and sort the landing out. I am also going to try and move the dining table to the conservatory and tidy the toys in the living room.

I also need to attack the washing mountain that has arisen from sorting out the kids rooms!

So it was a busy day today and will be a busy day tomorrow as well. Then Sunday my dad is coming to see me and the kids, so I won't do any sorting then.

I also need to get listing items for sale again. I have nothing on eBay at the moment, so I will try and do some listing tomorrow.

Spendless

I don't think it's ideal the only adult in the household not having their own space, whilst 2 others get theirs, but I realise you're in a 'needs must' situation. The larger the household the more compromise on space there is. I hope your kids are very appreciative of what you've done for them and remember not to make your life more difficult than it already is.

Mumoffourkids

So the week's list hasnt gone too well. Busy week at work and manic evenings has meant I haven't got much done. And then with the room change rounds yesterday!

So I am doing a list for the weekend before I go back to work on Tuesday!

Get passport photos for DD2
Take DD2 to Essex rugby training Saturday morning
Tip run
Get shelves for garage
Get plastic unit for Lego bricks
Sort out toys in bags in boys room
List 15 things for sale on FB and eBay
Go to bank to give in PPI form and ID
Fill out passport form for DD2
Go to gym once
Wash whites
Wash towels
Wash sheets x 4
Wash colours x 5 (I am guessing at how many washes I need to do!)
Check work emails
File paperwork
Post two eBay parcels
Cash out PayPal balance

Right I am sure I will think of more stuff to do over the weekend!

Mumoffourkids

Spendless wrote: »

I don't think it's ideal the only adult in the household not having their own space, whilst 2 others get theirs, but I realise you're in a 'needs must' situation. The larger the household the more compromise on space there is. I hope your kids are very appreciative of what you've done for them and remember not to make your life more difficult than it already is.

Thanks Spendless. I don't think it's ideal either but needs must. It will hopefully stop a lot of the arguing and moaning. And gives me an incentive to buy my own place. So I at least have another room downstairs that I can turn into a bedroom.

I only really sleep in my room so I can do that anywhere. The only thing I need to sort is to find somewhere to put the few bits I had in my room like photos of the kids.

My youngest boy didn't stay in his own bed all night and instead came down and slept with me for a bit.

Part of the move round was to try and encourage the three year old to sleep in his own bed and the only way I could do that was to put the two boys in together and create a proper boys room. I am hoping that as the nights go on, he sleeps more and more in his own bed!

Let's hope I don't regret giving up my room!