The Mental Debt Struggle...

in_need_of_direction

Would it be worth seeing if, for example, the bookkeeper qualification exempts you from part of the accountancy course?

Keedie

Do you know what @in_need_of_direction, that was great advice and I don't quite get why it never occurred to me to properly look at it before...

If I do the AAT Bookkeeping course, both Levels 2 and 3 are half of the required units for the accountancy qualification, as at the end of the Level 3 accountancy, you're a qualified bookkeeper so you sit the same bookkeeping units and exams for both qualifications . Bookkeeping has 2 units at Level 2 and 2 units at Level 3. Whereas the accountancy has 4 units at Level 2 and 4 units at Level 3, and 2/4 of both levels are bookkeeping qualifications. So both l'd be exempt for 50% of the accountancy qualification at Level 2 and Level 3 from what I can work out, but I need to contact AAT to see if my understanding is correct. Ultimately, I want to be a self employed bookkeeper and this would require a bridging qualification with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) to get a practice licence.

I'm torn between the traditional bookkeeping/accountancy (AAT) that can lead to employment or just going with my heart and becoming a self employed bookkeeper with the ICB. I want to work from home on my own terms and in accordance with my physical and mental health and not be at the mercy of companies relocating across London or whatever they choose to do.

It's a lot to think about and I need to diligently work out a plan for funding the courses. I can either do it qualification by qualification to lessen the financial impact of the course. Or I can do a 0% finance option and pay for all qualifications and get a discount for bulk buying the courses. Decisions, decisions...

Makingabobor2

Definitely seems better to be self employed. Would suit you much better. 

Keedie

Makingabobor2 said:

Definitely seems better to be self employed. Would suit you much better. 

Yes I wholeheartedly agree @Makingabobor2. I think if I can make enough to financially sustain me and my son, I could actually enjoy life. I would have a mental and physical reset and better balance. I just feel depleted all the time. But if I could actually earn a living doing something that I love, playing around with numbers, I'll be so much happier. I've disliked working in HR since my son was a toddler, and he's now officially an adult. I've stuck with it as it gave me a stable income. But I'm looking forward to the chapter in life where I actually work doing something for me and live somewhere that is better suited to me.

I've come to the conclusion that I'll be doing the ICB course to get to self employment. There's no sense studying AAT, only to then do a conversion course, when I can still be employable with all the ICB courses and it's quicker to get a practice licence as I won't have to do different courses, I can just follow their pathway to self employment.

I have visions of being able to freely attend daytime mental health support groups and not having to work around hospital appointments and treatments.

So that decision done, leaves me with a funding issue. I need to work out whether or not I will pay it upfront via 0% interest finance which is cheaper overall but more pressure to meet the payments. Or I pay for the courses as I go along and save for the first one, and then whilst studying, save for the next level and so forth. More expensive to do the second option, but psychologically kinder to myself perhaps? 🤷🏾‍♀️

I got a foodbank delivery today. I've never had one before. But I was very grateful for it. The lady at the carer's hub arranged it for me. I refused the offer at first, but she said that because my son is unable to help me with shopping because of his knee surgery and I am struggling to do what I can in between my carer's weekly visit, I should take it as it will help me. So I swallowed my pride and accepted it and there was so much stuff in there, I felt a bit tearful when I saw it. Luckily my carer was just leaving as the guy delivered it, and she brought the box and two bags into the kitchen for me. It was so handy, as we had the new potatoes and vegetables for dinner with the chicken breast that I had in the fridge. And as my annoying moths have completely gone, I'm able to have seasoning in the cupboard again. It makes such a difference. My son and his girlfriend were very happy with a home cooked meal and they scraped their plates in record time 🤣.

beanielou

So glad that you accepted the FB delivery 

Keedie

So am I @beanielou and my son was very excited as well. We got some teabags and he ran to the shops to get sugar 🤣. We've not been able to have tea for months as the moths liked eating coffee granules and teabags. So he's very happy. 

I shared some of the stuff with my sister as she came over this evening, and the things that neither of us will eat, I'll put in the foobank donation basket in Tesco over the weekend, so that they can go to someone who will use them. 

KajiKita

Your course plans are sounding coherent (and exciting!). I would go for the self-kinder option of paying for each course as you go along. It will be less of an overall mountain then. I assume that you will be studying alongside working still? I hope the thought of having an exit plan will help offset the extra energy needed, as it seems from the outside that a lot of the energy drain of your current role, is down to feeling trapped in the job ….? 

Yaay for the FB delivery ✨❤️✨ I’m glad you accepted it and I love your responsible attitude of sharing on what you won’t use 😊👏 

You snuck in a mention of a son’s girlfriend… How long has this been going on? 😉❤️

KK

Baileys_Babe

Regarding the course fees would a hybrid of both options work for you?
Save up for the first course, once you have done this buy the course on the 0% finance and budget to pay it off monthly, using the saved money as a safety net/ buffer. That way you would save money on the course over all but with our the same level of stress. Also as your savings will be gaining interest and the course is charging 0% you will be adding to your wealth without it costing you extra.

I hope you can make sense of my jumbled thoughts and you find it useful to at least think about even if you decide this isn't the route that will be best for you.

in_need_of_direction

Have you thought about investigating work related grants for people with disabilities? This is your way against enforced reliance on benefits. 

Keedie

Yes I think it is the kindest option to pay it slowly, course by course @KajiKita. But I like the idea of saving for the Level 2 course first @Baileys_Babe, and then doing the finance. That is actually the best of both worlds with less pressure. I'll have to see if the actual finance is a viable option, in terms of how much I'll be locked into paying each month. But the more I am able to save, the larger deposit I can put towards it. 

I'm torn between two course providers, so I am going to order a sample course from them both and see which one is easier to understand. I've been on Facebook groups and have been asking former students of both training providers if the would recommend them. It's been interesting, and I've also been given some tips on self studying and working out how to balance everything and where to get extra resources etc. 

And I'll look into grants etc @in_need_of_direction, so thank you for that. It never occurred to me to do this. I know of Access to Work but nothing else, so I do need to look into this. 

The food bank parcel was great, it even had toiletries. I can't use the shampoo that I was given as it would completely dry out my afro, so I will definitely repurpose that. 

I went to Cambridge today to meet my friends for lunch. It was so nice to see them. We managed to go for a (very slowly at my pace) walk up to the canal/river after lunch. There was lots of students practising on those long boats (that I don't know what they're called), doing lots of rowing. It was rather interesting to watch them. You could see the difference in those that were finding their feet and those who looked so professionally competitive. 

I ended up sending £350 to Barclaycard today. Things keep coming up that I've not expected and I didn't want to start dipping into that money, so I've just sent it to bring the balance down and remove temptation. 

As for the girlfriend, she's been around since early summer. They spend all their free time together and go to the same college and sit next to each other in their maths and English classes. Their devotion to each other has meant that I need to adjust my budget slightly for food, as she is here a lot and sometimes stays over. But she's a really nice girl and he seems really contented and happy with her. Can't ask for more than that really. I hadn't even realised that I'd not mentioned her, considering she's a pseudo housemate at sometimes 🤣! She's been really good with him and supportive throughout his surgery and recovery. She met my mum, my sisters and some of my nieces and nephews when we went out for a family meal for my son's birthday. She was terrified bless her, and really shy, but she seemed to be okay with everyone considering that there were 14 of us in total 😬.