Being a mature student, a very skint one..

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Hi there wellylass. Just spend a lazy Sunday morning reading your diary in bed.
Sending you lots of positive vibes and big hugs.

I qualified in 2003 and like you I was a mature student (32).
It is a really hard degree and even harder if you haven't studied since school. I forgot my pin number which I'd been using for over 10 years within my first week of starting Uni as my brain was so full up.
It should be 4 years to take into account the placements we do too. I seriously questioned my sanity at some low points during my degree,but I got there in the end.I am a big worrier too.

A few phrases helped me through like,
Don't get it right get it written.
Just enough is good enough.
Highly academic OTs don't always make the best OTs (from a lecturer). I work with someone who got a diploma back in the day before degrees!!
You only need to get over 40% to pass.It's hard when you are in an academic environment and everything is about the marks. When you are qualified and out in the word of work, it disappears and you are judged on your practical and emotional skills.

Is there anyone at Uni who you can study with. We were a group of 5 who planned free periods to revise. Everyone was given a subject and they had to produce a one page summary of their topic with the main points. We then discussed it with each other to retain and clarify the knowledge.

I put on loads of weight as I comfort ate and drank to help with the stress. Made it better that I had some really lovely friends,who I am still in touch with now.

Keep going as it is the best job in the world.

Take care and enjoy your day.

JLS1901

Thanks Alicia they are !!!!!!s, I really struggled that first term of my first degree and it really affected my mental health.

BabyStepper yes there was from their top person and a personal phone number if I had any more problems after intervention from the secretary of education. I laugh tho still as when I applied last year I had to do a paper form as it wouldn't let me do it online.. not to mention how often the site is down..

Mrs_Boo_Boo wrote: »

Hi there wellylass. Just spend a lazy Sunday morning reading your diary in bed.
Sending you lots of positive vibes and big hugs.

I qualified in 2003 and like you I was a mature student (32).
It is a really hard degree and even harder if you haven't studied since school. I forgot my pin number which I'd been using for over 10 years within my first week of starting Uni as my brain was so full up.
It should be 4 years to take into account the placements we do too. I seriously questioned my sanity at some low points during my degree,but I got there in the end.I am a big worrier too.

A few phrases helped me through like,
Don't get it right get it written.
Just enough is good enough.
Highly academic OTs don't always make the best OTs (from a lecturer). I work with someone who got a diploma back in the day before degrees!!
You only need to get over 40% to pass.It's hard when you are in an academic environment and everything is about the marks. When you are qualified and out in the word of work, it disappears and you are judged on your practical and emotional skills.

Is there anyone at Uni who you can study with. We were a group of 5 who planned free periods to revise. Everyone was given a subject and they had to produce a one page summary of their topic with the main points. We then discussed it with each other to retain and clarify the knowledge.

I put on loads of weight as I comfort ate and drank to help with the stress. Made it better that I had some really lovely friends,who I am still in touch with now.

Keep going as it is the best job in the world.

Take care and enjoy your day.

Thanks so much Mrs Boo, I needed to hear that. I do struggle with the academia it's hard. I'm lucky in the sense I already have a foundation degree which I graduated with in 2014 so I understand what they need but it's still hard when your not academic.

I'm also lucky that I have a group of great friends and we regularly study together, thanks for the support I appreciate it.

I got all the housework done, sorted the dogs out and OH says he'll be home for tea so I best get something on..

Enjoy the rest of your weekend peeps

Welly x

JLS1901

So just had a long busy shift at work, doing 4 hours tomorrow then off till Saturday.

Just doing some sums now I have my student finance entitlement and I've redone my budget and it looks like with my finance and my wages I should be able to pay off at least £600 a month off my debt.

That's insane. What's also insane is what I could do with that money if I wasn't using it for debt repayments. Alas this is the motivation I need


Hope you've all had a nice bank holiday.

Welly x

JLS1901

So it's pay day tomorrow.. I know how much I'm getting as got my pay slip a few days ago.

Does anyone know how I can stick to my food budget? I always seem to go over. Part of it is I think doing a monthly shop isn't the ideal way to go. I used to do a monthly shop when I lived on my own but obviously things are different now.

I just looked on my monzo app and saw how much I spent over the last 6 months in the co op.. granted some of that is fuel but it's not ideal not at all. I seem to end up there as it's convenient.

I've written a list of things we have in and things we need, I'll probably go to a!di tomorrow and asda for a few bits. Thinking a weekly shop might be easier when I'm back at uni.

I feel like my over food shop comes from having nothing at times growing up so I feel like I over compensate.. sounds silly doesn't it.

Welly x

DebtFreeMonkey

Makes perfect sense, honestly. I over compensate for things because if a similar reason bug I think just knowing it can sometimes, somewhat help.

I give myself a weekly allowance for food and that helps. It makes me so much more mindful when I have the cash in my hand and know that this is all I have for the week. I usually end up keeping some back after the first shop of the week for 'emergencies' and then end up saving... That might help but equally, it might not. You'll find something that works for you.

Hope you have a good Friday and weekend.

BabyStepper

Meal planning helped me, one week at a time. Shop with cash and not your debit card. Stick to your shopping list and only change your meal plan if there is a yellow sticker offer that will save you money. Good luck!!

JLS1901

Thanks both of you.. I've just got back, I went early to miss the rush I can't stand it when the shops are busy. I'd put my list in my bag last night so I didn't forget got only what was on the list.

Also found a few months ago I found a farm shop (no idea how I didn't know it was there when I lived in the town for 8 months) anyway they do some really good deals on meat and it's much better quality than in the shops and it's slaughtered next door (I'm a big advocate for buying local quality produce but we are farmers, I'd be a hypocrite if not) so I got some bits and the freezer is now full too.

All under budget just going to see if I can pay a bit extra towards the credit card. I've decided to clear this first as I can just throw the money at it as and when I have it then I'll do the car, I think it's somewhat psychological.

Anyway hope you all have a lovely day

Welly x

JLS1901

It's Sunday, I'm up at a decent time. OH going through some rough times with money and family politics. I hate that I feel like I can't do anything to help him and it's shocking that he's allowed to be treated how he is by the people who are supposed to be family. Anyway I'm not going into detail about it.

I'm going to go through my stuff to see if I can sell anything I don't need. Then anything I make will be going straight to the credit card. I think I've truly had my LBM, it's taken a while but this debt is going. End of.

Have a lovely Sunday..

Welly x

JLS1901

EEP just completed my registration for uni for my second year.. it's coming round quick.. 20 days to go!

I'm looking forward to getting back into the routine.

Bit annoyed at work they keep putting me down for more hours and playing the emotional black mail card.. said I do a shift on Thursday and I've found out I'm opening up on my own (there's always 2 people) great!

On the plus side I'm 6lb down from when I decided to try loose some weight.. hoping to have lost 2 stone by christmas.. Got a party to attend at the end of October hope I can have gone down a dress size by then.

Welly x

JLS1901

So since I left my full time NHS job last year I've been desperately trying to get back into the NHS, I can't get on the HCA bank as I don't have my level 2 diploma or NVQ (the fact I did 3 years as a HCA on a surgical ward then 3 as a porter doesn't seem to count for anything).

Anyway I've got an interview for a bank housekeeping job at the little hospital down the road in a few weeks, unsure of weather this would fit round uni or not will have to see.

Applied for another domestic job at the bigger hospital in town this morning, again wasn't sure if it would fit round uni but just had an email to say the advert has changed and it's 15 hours a week and weekends only so it would be perfect, this one is also employment by the trust itself where as the bank one is a subsidy company so weekend enhancements should apply which would help massively.

Fingers crossed I can get out of retail and back into a hospital environment.

Other than that I'm having a lazy day, had cauliflower cheese for tea last night and subsequently had a night of night terrors and hardly any sleep (I'm also stressing about the work situation tomorrow) I hate myself sometimes. I wish I was normal.

Have a nice afternoon,
Welly x