Steadying the ship - a perilous voyage across the financial middle

edinburgher

I am well aware that the benefits of free education are not to be sniffed at. There's also a real chance that it might go ahead, as several other managers have had similar funding.

I am, however, a little cautious about entering the world of academic again after a 20-year break. I have been giving quite a lot of thought to whether I might seek a private assessment for ADHD, as my attention span and ability to plan successfully are not what they might be a lot of the time. There's a lot more to it than that, but skirting around the topic as some privacy is nice 😊

That said, I already have an Undergraduate Masters and a PgDip, as well as a middle management job in a complex public sector organisation. So maybe I shouldn't do myself down. It is unclear to me what difference a diagnosis would make to me unless I was medicated, so my current line of thought would be to try strategies that might apply if I did have ADHD to see whether they assist. Things like strategies for studying and planning, that sort of thing. I am enjoying having access to a full licence for Copilot at work, it is helping me to do things like create prioritised to do lists across multiple communication channels and projects.

In any case, I could probably pursue both the course and an assessment in tandem, on the principle of "things can only get better"?

Nothing financial to discuss today, so humour me this little detour into real life.

South_coast

You also have family/pets/home/you to take care of, plus are still getting back to your true self after having a job that made you ill (I reckon it took me a couple of years to get over the battering I took in my old-old job, don't underestimate it). Add in the constant notifications which are our everyday lives, and anyone's attention would be all over the place. I'm obvs not trying to minimise your experience, I am not you, and therefore only you can know how you feel. Researching strategies sounds like a good idea.

As for the qualification, it doesn't sound like you need it (unless it's a prerequisite for the next step in your career - in which case, how much do you really want that?), so I guess it's a question of whether you want to do it? Is there a timeline for throwing your hat into the ring, or is it more of a rolling thing? With only recently having regained your evenings, only you can know if you want to add something more into your life.

No need to answer any of the above, just chucking my unsolicited thoughts into the internet ether!

edinburgher

Thoughts always welcome @South_coast 👍️

Lots of thoughts about why I do (or don't) want to consider the course. In terms of timings, the next intake would be September. I don't know if it's a one-off opportunity but I do know that a) my boss is leaving in October (supports my application) and their boss leaves next year (likes me, would likely agree to fund me if funding exists). So I feel a little pressured, not overly.

Pro - Helps to cement me into my new service (in theory I could be expected to return to old job next March, however unlikely), would help distinguish me vs my peers if I seek promotion (perfectly possible in the next 13.5 years, life is expensive), lets me see how far I can get academically/professionally as the "good" version of myself.

Cons - Extra effort (although I'd get a day a week of day release plus occasional study days included in my normal hours), no guaranteed reward bar the qualification itself.

It can be hard to distinguish yourself against people with xx years of experience. I have a different skill set, it has been welcome so far, I can do things that others aren't strong at. That said, the old imposter syndrome thinks this isn't always worth the same as time in the trenches!

KajiKita

Maybe have a look at the course content itself, to be sure it’s what you think it is (I once signed up to a self directed herbalism course and it wasn’t at all what I thought it was once I got into it …), and see how much of it resonates with or interests you. If more than 60% then it will have a natural forward momentum, if less, then it’s likely to be a slog.

KK

Baileys_Babe

In addition to helping cement you in your new/current service would having the qualification help in getting a future position with your current employer or others?

How long would it take to do the course?

Where would the course take place? Online? Local? How would your commute change on those days?

What support could be put in at home?

What do you and the family want to achieve over the time scale of the course? Is this still feasible?

edinburgher

@Baileys_Babe - yes/yes/2-3 years/online/doubt there'd be any support at home, but would seem to be less study time in evenings/weekends than overtime and/or surveys has consumed, not sure what you mean re. family? We don't have any short-term goals that fall in the next 3 years.

Surveys have definitely gone a bit quiet, managed to grab one AI one today. £6.11 withdrawn from Prolific, still waiting impatiently from my £50 from Y Live. Realised that I was already £5/£50 for my next Y Live reward, so tried to join 6-7 surveys from my inbox. 3 closed, 4 screened out 🙄

Mrs E gets paid tomorrow, thank goodness July is nearly done and we can budget for August.

Right! Just a flying visit - 5 1/4 hours of meetings today and I must prep for the next one.

edinburgher

Mrs E gets paid today, hurrah! Makes very little difference to my bank balance as she is setting aside £1200/mth in regular savers to make the most of our stooze pot, but all good 😊 Looking forward to July being an "up" month for finances after 3 months of plummeting cash in hand.

rtandon27

All Paydays are good days!

I was stupidly pleased when OH's Pension & AA came in on Monday even though I'm fully budgeted for August as it just felt good to replenish spending pots this month and set aside bills for September!

edinburgher

I am still getting used to managing a 12-monthly budget on 4-weekly salary and Child Benefit. A little down in the dumps as I cannot budget for Extension or ISA bridge for early retirement for August. Hoping that AVC reduction will be sorted in August, as that would make a difference of c. £175/mth in future months 😐️

£7.62 withdrawn from Prolific.

South_coast

I hear you. I am definitely sulky that I'm spending until April clearing the deficit in the car pot from making the final payment early. I mean, I've got the car to show for it, but I already had that 🤦‍♀️!