I've been furloughed until March! Kids aren't at home. What now?!

[MrsMiaWallis]

I've just found out I've been furloughed until March.

Two kids at uni and one at boarding school (this has all happened in the last month, dc bursary kid at local independent, wasn't supposed to board but due to covid he has been offered a full boarding place as the day option would mean he couldn't do the thing he went there for - music).

So I have the weird feeling of having nothing to do with my life until March!

Any ideas on what a 54 year old woman can do with her life until then?!

Kondo!

@StealthPolarBear

If people are furloughed on full pay they can get another job and earn extra, really?

No, I don't think they can

@MrsMiaWallis

Thanks for so many fantastic ideas.

Great, so what time you coming to collect one of my kids and do you want T1 or T2?

Absolutely.
This forum is full of people who are on their knees with exhaustion, working long hours and managing a family. Also people who have lost their jobs and are worried about paying their bills. So coming on here presenting your dilemma - full pay and unlimited free time - is pretty insensitive.
And people doing lockdown alone with no family, delaying IVF bad adoption etc. So presumably any parent discussing being locked down with kids shouldn't post. Or those morning about working when others have lost their jobs.

Exactly who can post on here?

@dangerrabbit

Would learning something like coding be useful for your industry?

Yeah, because learning that can be done in a couple of months!

Yeah, because learning that can be done in a couple of months!

I could do some basics!

Some bitter af people on here today. Read the room? Its her fucking thread fuck off if you dont like it.

Everyone seems to think furlough is amazing. Im furloughed from my 2 part time jobs. Was furloughed on one for 8 months so got a 2nd and yesterday was furloughed from that on 80%pay. Furlough has been pretty sucky. I wrote a whole list of stuff i wanted to achieve and guess what in 8 months all i suceeded in was not killing myself and even that was hard. Keep a routine and structure op. Its very hard when the days blur into one with no structure. Dont sleep all day it messes you up. Take the. Dog for lots of nice walks find new routes. Gardening anything thats acheivable. Even if you cant leatn code in 2 months you can look up basics and find courses you can do longer term thats great.

I would rather be working than on furlough like my dm who has worked every day since march working her arse off and hasnt been allowed to take any holidays. At least she gets to talk to people and has a routine as she says.

I trained as a crisis counseller for Shout. They always need people. It's a text service so you never actually talk to anyone, all contact is via text (them on their phones you on your computer). Very worthwhile and you can do as much or as little as you like.

Just to say I was furloughed for 2 months and really enjoyed it, ran every day, did Adriene 30 days of yoga (strongly recommend), walked my dogs for miles, binged Netflix box sets, cooked lovely meals for my family. Lush.

Maybe you could open a unicorn sanctuary op, or train some flying pigs? So many options.

Do Some quality online cheese.

@AldiAisleofCrap

Maybe you could open a unicorn sanctuary op, or train some flying pigs? So many options.

Do you honestly not beleive people are being furloughed for a year?

Is that what you are implying by this comment?

Litter pick on your dog walk or on a separate walk.
Do shopping for people who can't do their own
Volunteer at food bank
Create resources and activities for local cubs or scouts to use on zoom meetings as a lot of the leaders are working full time.
Yoga and mindfulness colouring
Rewatch all your favourite old movies do one a day.

I volunteer for a local charity. Our treasurer is looking to retire due to ill health but won't until we find a replacement, so a financially literate person who could even just tide us over until the new year would be great. Also once lockdown is over you could try charity shops - where DH works several elderly volunteers didn't return after the last lockdown as they felt it was too risky, so they're having difficulty filling their rota at the moment (Scotland so they're still open for now).

Not sure why everyone's having a go at you about a decision your employer has made when you clearly aren't happy about it yourself. I'd love a paid break to spend a bit of time on some voluntary stuff but I don't think you covering yourself in sackcloth and ashes will help me get one

A voluteer opportunity in my area has diisappeared in the half hour I wasn't attached to my phone.

Maybe you could open a unicorn sanctuary op, or train some flying pigs? So many options.

You been at the crackpipe?

Not sure why everyone's having a go at you about a decision your employer has made when you clearly aren't happy about it yourself. I'd love a paid break to spend a bit of time on some voluntary stuff but I don't think you covering yourself in sackcloth and ashes will help me get one

Nope people think we on furlough should not receive our wages and only receive enough money for bread. Because you know, clearly we decided we wanted to stop going to work.

@Shaniac

Not sure why everyone's having a go at you about a decision your employer has made when you clearly aren't happy about it yourself. I'd love a paid break to spend a bit of time on some voluntary stuff but I don't think you covering yourself in sackcloth and ashes will help me get one

Nope people think we on furlough should not receive our wages and only receive enough money for bread. Because you know, clearly we decided we wanted to stop going to work.

And if you're going to take my hard earned tax to squander in your new lifestyle of laziness, you can be bloody miserable whilst doing so. No fun is to be had in the money I am giving you 🙄 (I'm not, I don't work 🤣)

@sleepingstandingup . I mean persinally my flat is so clean as a result of furlough the nhs could operate in it so maybe i should d get more money for helping out in a crisis

Personally

You could get a job and take advantage of getting some free money for the next few months.

Change jobs? I would really struggle with that although could no doubt occupy my time.

You could get a job and take advantage of getting some free money for the next few months
I wasn’t allowed to take another job.

@Ideasplease322 no I do believe people are being furloughed for a year. What I don’t want to believe is those furloughed on full pay with dc on full bursary etc would write this post on mumsnet when people are struggling to pay bills on 80% at best or zero income for many.

Make a plan to start on healthy eating/exercise.

Are you interested in family history at all? I've spent a lot of furlough time researching my family tree.

Are you near a beach? Fossil hunting is great, particularly on your own (other people just get bored I find).

Learn a new skill - Mandarin/Latin/Spanish, crochet, knitting, making chutney, gardening, houseplant growing, sewing, carpentry etc etc.