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?!

Enjoy it and count yourself bloody lucky that you're not in a job where you have no choice.

Sounds like a nice problem to have. I'm working from home, but with wraparound care cancelled at my dc's school, no childminders available and no family nearby, I have to fit my working hours into the school day and also work at weekends and in the evenings. I'm very envious! If you have a garden, can you establish a veg plot?

Volunteer

Go and help elderly or get involved with a charity ?

Count yourself lucky?

I’d love to have a few months off with my family. Sadly my workload is only increasing

Finally get around to finding my abs?

Read
Exercise
Bake
Travel
Study
Garden
Foster dogs
Write
Watch tv
Organise your life
Listen to music
Mumsnet
Make photo albums
Get a side hussle

I’m in almost exactly the same situation. DS forced to board full time at school.
This summer I have been mostly growing vegetables, doing diy, doing Centre of Excellence courses, taken up playing the violin again and watching quizzes and documentaries. If only pub quizzes still existed, I would be the star.

@Oblomov20

What I wouldn't give to be furloughed. Some staff have been furloughed since March, till March. A year off.

What I wouldn't have given for a year off.

I've been doing accounts. HR. Furlough. Paid staff. I've worked like a dog.

Agree entirely - I can't claim to have worked like a dog, but I've definitely worked at least as hard as when I'm in the office (legal/ financial). I have months worth of householdjobs to do, I've just had a couple of days off and filled that cutting back my garden and decorating (it wasn't enough time and I'm currently gloss painting in the evenings!). I could easily fill 4 months. I can't imagine the luxury of having that time off fully paid too.

Relax!

Take a course?

Write a book

I don’t understand why you aren’t being asked to WFH if you are in finance. Can you enlighten?

AnyFucker
Indeed

I wouldn't wish redundancy on anyone but speaking as a frontline NHS professional going into the hell of the 2nd wave do be careful your diamond shoes don't get too tight
That's pretty unkind.

No it's not 'unkind'.

Your posts are incredibly insensitive.

I could just about understand you asking for suggestions of how not to waste this opportunity, but not the way you've written your posts.

It's insensitive to front line workers in the NHS, teachers, lecturers, shop workers & everyone else working through lockdown 2 & beyond.

6 months on 100% wages (in finance, so that's probably decent money) , at least spare a thought for people not in your very privileged position instead of rubbing noses in it.

I've worked throughout, more hours than normal, no more pay.
Yes I have a (reasonably) safe job and I am grateful for it but I can't help but roll my eyes at this.
Some of us are working so hard, and we are supposed to feel sorry for people like you on furlough, as we look forward to tax hikes to pay the bill for decades to come. Ffs.

As a mum to a very energetic 3 year old with sensory needs, I just came on here to say I'm a bit very jealous. sneaks off to bathroom to try and get two minutes peace

In all seriousness, I agree with previous posters. Use the time to do something new. Learn a language, have a go at writing a book, go for hikes in a new place (socially distanced, etc. of course). You might never get another period in your life where you've got five months to literally do ANYTHING you want.

Come and babysit mine whilst I nap?

I'd read, do home improvements and relax. I'm a bit jealous (sorry!) as an exhausted nhs worker.

If you don't have anything to do at home for the next few months and you have financial experience, I'd seriously consider finding another job. What have you got to lose getting your CV up to date and going for some interviews. All while you're being paid in your current role. It's the best chance you'll get to possibly come away with a better paid job.

I find it bizarre that you can't think of anything to do.
Surely there must be something you've always wanted to do but haven't had time.
Is there no artistic or crafting activity which appeals?
Music?
A foreign language?
Books you've always wanted to read?
An era of history that you could immerse yourself in?

Upskill for your career in case you get made redundant, you probably won't but I'm speaking from experience and wished I'd used the time. There are online courses on Udemy and Coursera. Are there any things you would like to learn about outside work? Watch plays online. Read books you have always wanted to read. Watch travel documentaries for the places you would like to visit one day. Learn another language. Watch TV. Exercise, dance, yoga, pilates etc. Clean and declutter the house at the start, they aren't fun so get them out of the way and enjoy the rest of the time. Go for autumn walks.

I have small children. I dream of nothing to do

I am JEALOUS as fuck

I was furloughed last time. I updated my C V did courses and updated my continuing professional development portfolio. I also did lots of housework and gardening and volunteered a bit. I am now bored senseless !!!! and have accepted a new job as i want to work to contribute to this financial mess and not be so utterly utterly bored . I must admit rather than straight away furlough people these companies could offer to redeploy first

Get another job? Supermarket or school maybe?

Learn something new that you've always wanted to...
A language
Photography
Upholstery
Crochet
Painting
Plumbing
Car maintenance

That's what i would do

This is so wrong. Surely if you aren’t needed for 5 months then your company is not viable. It shouldn’t just trundle along using tax payers money to stay afloat, when it clearly can’t survive on its own.