DP wants to retrain as a nurse but I don't think we can afford it.

[Fressia123]

DP has no real qualifications and has realised that to get a decent pension he needs to train in something. I'm on a low salary but not because of lack of qualifications but rather than well paid jobs in the SW are very rare to find. We've found an apprenticeship that will pay £13k the fort year, MW the second and from the third onwards he'd be on band 4. It does sound great, but how can we live with a £10k reduction in income? We have a mortgage and baby which are our biggest non negotiable expenses. I think it's a smart move BTW and want to support him but also want to think this very thoroughly.

He wants to be a nurse I'm the one who's more worried about a pension/income. I also come from a corporate background so I'm slightly more pragmatic. we'll look into the access course, but aging him being him I think he'd prefer a more on the job approach to getting qualified.

Band 4 is a HCA, RGN starts at Band 5 and the training is done through University. Money will be very tight for the duration of the course, but many students pick up bank shifts in the local hospital for experience and of course money.

I did a nursing degree with a 6 week baby as a single parent with a mortgage and no benefits. It was the hardest thi g I ever did but so worth it. One of you or both in turns need to work at the weekend though. I worked all the way through .y third year on my days off with the help of friends. It was really hard but doable.

Echo what previous posters have said, if he wants to be a nurse he should do the degree, the apprenticeship is for NA not a RMG/RMN. If he qualifies as a nurse he will start on band 5 and has far more scope for progression. I trained in my late 20's and at least 50% of my cohort were older students, and a lot of them did the access course to get on the degree. He could do the access course whilst still working and would give you time to to save a bit too.

I trained in Wales were there is still a bursary - works out just shy of £400 per month. Every student nurse I knew worked band shifts as a HCA in order to live. We also got a maintenance loan of around £2500 per year. You might be able to apply for tax credits too, as the bursary and maintenance loan do not count as income, but any income earned from bank shifts will be taken into account. It's a slog for 3 years but if his heart is in nursing it's definitely worth the commitment, there's a lot of scope for various areas of work, career progression and good job security.

I already work OT to help pay for childcare and we have three older children and no help from friends nor family, but I think it would also be best for our family. Looking at AC Vs apprentishship it does seem an apprenticeship is at least two years longer. I'm unclear about the funding but it looks like it's only £5k.

When it comes to pensions, anyone can start a self-invested pension so I wouldn’t have that as a main consideration.

We currently don't have the money @JoJoSM2 . I know he could get a private one but also he has no real career prospects so paying for his pension isn't high priority ATM.