*sigh* this may take a while

ladyholly

To put in my two pennorth again. I think many young people are being pushed into going to university whether it is right for them or not. My granddaughters had this from our local college tutors. She is not academic and eventually applied  despite  her parents pointing out it was not right for her. This then caused arguments as she accused her parents of not being supportive. Fortunately she did decide not to go but the pressure could have left her very unhappy and with a large debt. Uni is not the be all and end all for everyone neither does not going make you  a failure. 

Drawingaline

I totally agree with ladyholly here. I doubt my current yr12 boy will go onto uni, but for my daughter it is a definite benefit for what she wants to do, the contacts and network she will create will be the added bonus alongside study. 

Drawingaline

I must admit I think most parents are unprepared for how much uni could cost them. Just as child benefit disappears you are expected to find thousands of pounds. Babies really don't cost much (aside from loss of income/childcare) teens are expensive. Hoping my daughter passes her driving lesson first time. Just in time to start paying for the boys lessons. Two close together was great when they were small, not so much now!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

ladyholly said:

To put in my two pennorth again. I think many young people are being pushed into going to university whether it is right for them or not. My granddaughters had this from our local college tutors. She is not academic and eventually applied  despite  her parents pointing out it was not right for her. This then caused arguments as she accused her parents of not being supportive. Fortunately she did decide not to go but the pressure could have left her very unhappy and with a large debt. Uni is not the be all and end all for everyone neither does not going make you  a failure. 

Agreed... I would prefer her to do an apprenticeship or learn on the job really.  I think she's a bit undecided what exactly she wants to do when older, she's thinking along the accountancy/finance route.  Such a lot of debt to get into if not necessary... a lot of my friends went to uni and had an amazing time, making lifelong friendships etc.
I did go to uni, but not until my 20s and then only because my chosen career necessitated it.  I had already had my eldest by then and had 2 more children during my course, it was part time over 4 years and entirely flexible which was great.  It was an NHS job and therefore fees were covered, no debt acquired. 
DH did his degree alongside working (early 20s) and fully funded by his company and then he did an MBA also fully funded.
It may be why we're a bit  about the whole uni thing, because we both found an alternative route through it.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

So... in completely unrelated news, I keep getting emails from recruitment agents, it's rife in healthcare at the mo as loads are leaving the profession.  Anyone nearing retirement are going early, loads are going locum or moving across to private or industry. Hospitals are not nice places to work at the moment at all.  It's worrying actually, who will be left to xray/scan?  
Anyway, I'm on £20ph... these companies are offering £50-60ph.  Madness.  I'm not overly interested, I like my department, I like my hours as they fit in with the children.  They're incredibly pushy these guys and I don't particularly like that.  My colleague left a month or so ago and she now earns more in a week than she used to in a month.  It's a no brainer if you're flexible on hours/location.
I genuinely think the NHS's days are numbered, within a decade I can see it mostly privatised, the waiting lists are horrific, it's really sad 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

I've booked myself onto 2 extra shifts in November, only 6 hour ones so they fit in with school hours.  That will bring in an extra £360 which I'll pay into Next and PP.
Have also said I can do 2 in December, same hours, but they won't be confirmed until next month.  If they go ahead, that £360 will go into PP.
Between those shifts and the payments I was going to make already, that will definitely clear the slight CC/PP/Next hangover we've got by end of Dec

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Have said to DH, after that's all cleared, if I do extra shifts we should put them in a separate pot so they don't get swallowed up in normal monthly spending.  Could be the start of a uni fund pot 
I've remembered DD has one of those child trust funds due to mature when she's 18, I set it up with one of those £250 the government gave out at the time.  We never added anything to it, but checking the balance, it's at about £1300.  I told DD about it and suggested she could put it towards uni fund if she's going.  Her response was that she'd do 'whatever the f*ck' she wants with it.  Excellent.

Suffolksue

That’s  fine ,but if she’s old enough to have the fund (I know there is no choice it’s theirs to do what they want with ) then I suggest she is old enough to worry about supporting herself and you just need to top up her maintenance loan to the recommended max and let her get on with it .
suggest you stop paying for her phone if that’s her attitude .
I know it’s not pc or woke but my hand itches ,hearing about her !,

Suffolksue

Should point out I’m not suggesting violence 

Drawingaline

I told my kids early on that I would pay for driving lessons then they would give me the 1k trust fund when they got it to pay me back. Sounds mean but 1k wouldn't buy them a car or go far on anything major. however we are in a much better place financially now so will let daughter keep it and get her to set it aside for uni costs, or to use to travel next summer for a couple of weeks.

Tbh I would account for her having that 1k into her/your budget for uni costs. She chooses to spend it on something else her choice.

Good luck with the extra shifts.