My DD has been part of an extra-curricular thing for the past 8 years. The thing she does is fabulous value when you break it down to how much you pay per hour (works out at a couple of quid), but is bloomin' expensive over a year (over 300 per term, so over a grand a year). It didn't used to be, but it's now a lot of money for us to find.
This is probably irrelevant, but most of the other people who do this "club" are at private schools. She's one of a very few state school kids who does this in our area.
Through no one's fault, she's missed about 1/2 the classes since Easter. And (our fault) but she's heard me and DH muttering to each other about the waste of money. So she's announced that she doesn't want to do it next year. We gave notice to them, and they sent a lovely message begging us to reconsider. So I was totally honest and said it was great value, but a lot of money for us to find.
The lady running it has come back and offered to pay 1/2 the costs if it means DD keeps coming.
This is the loveliest compliment ever (and actually made me cry). DD is chuffed to bits that they want her (and I don't think she actually wanted to give up in the first place, although she'd never admit that - and her reasons for giving up were valid, as she starts GCSE course next year and is worried about how much work she'll have to do).
The thing is, I think we'd be morally wrong to take the money. To put it into context, when DD first started doing this we earned good money (well, DH did). We've managed to pay off our mortgage (amazing, I know!) and now we've both taken jobs that give us more time (to spend with DD), but low income. We had a period in our lives where we were able to take 3 holidays a year (which was AMAZING). This year we're still going away, but it's once, my DM is helping and it's for one week only because that's all we can afford.
But I genuinely appreciate that even having enough for a holiday is fabulous. I work with some genuinely poor people (who use food banks, and struggle to clothe their DC appropriately and have atrocious living conditions) so I see every day what having no money really means.
So I feel we should decline the offer. because we CAN afford it. But, tbh, it's accept and have a long weekend away next summer or reject it and don't. I know this is very, very first world. But WWYD?
We NEVER asked for any help. We just quit and then when asked explained why.
But if we take this money, are we depriving someone in proper need?
Would you accept this offer?
Sorry that this is so long!
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AIBU?
I know I am, but WWYD?
38 replies
whatamockerywemake · 29/06/2016 23:40
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