Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know what to do next

108 replies

tryharder100 · 18/08/2015 21:48

Really struggling to make ends meet.

My breaking point today was my daughters shoes rubbing and making her foot bleed due to being too small.

I have really decluttered in the last month and sold everything that is not essential to get us by but getting going back to school stuff has cleared me out again.

I need to come up with a plan for long term as can't go on like this but does anyone know if I could just walk into a clothes bank or something similar to get me by or if I would need to be referred and how do I do that?

Hate the thought of taking that help away from someone in more need than me but maybe need to shallow my pride a bit as clearly it's not helping my kids.

OP posts:
ijustwannadance · 18/08/2015 22:45

Do you need age 2-3y still or 3-4y clothes for DD? What size shoe?

Original poster
tryharder100 · 18/08/2015 22:46

I hope it's right then? its an academy school not sure if that makes any difference? I have a meeting with them in a few weeks about her starting in November so assume will be after half term?

OP posts:
lavent · 18/08/2015 22:48

I don't want to be negative but they may well be able to offer her a place once she's 3 but it's the funding that you need.... Could they be expecting you to pay?
Best check it out anyway so no surprises.

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 18/08/2015 22:50

When my two children have started nursery they have received the funding immediately.

My youngest started in April after his second birthday was in March and received funding.

Hope you get sorted op, and in a few months/years are in a much better position.

SocksRock · 18/08/2015 22:50

My DD has been offered a place from September but I have to pay for this terms fees myself. Jan she will be free. But this sounds like a school rather than a preschool so they may have their own pots of money for funding. There may be details on their website of funding arrangements, or there may be details on your LEA's website. Check that she isn't eligiBle for 2yo funding (same rules as free school meals) as then you would be covered now for funding for sure.

happyelf · 18/08/2015 23:00

When my youngest turned 3 she got her nursery place funded from the Monday after her 3rd birthday. So her funded place started mid November. That was at the local nursery attached to the primary school. In Scotland though so might be different but it's the norm here umless your child is 3 after the end of Feb, in which case they start the following August

Kafri · 18/08/2015 23:04

Ginger - the funding starts from the beginning of the next term after their 3rd birthdays so April was the start of the summer term

It's worded that way in the gov website so please do check with school re funding when you have your meeting or give em a quick call to check so you can plan.

It's lovely to see so many offers of help and mums pulling together!!

Kafri · 18/08/2015 23:13

www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Don't think the link will work from my phone but I'm guessing you can copy and paste???

Original poster
tryharder100 · 18/08/2015 23:44

I just wanna dance clothes wise she is mostly in 3-4 now and going into size 7 shoes. I really appreciate if you have anything I am happy to try and cover postage once I get paid. Thank you.

When I put her name down they said 3 years and 3 months but I have known a lot of mums whose child have started anytime from 3 depending if they have space and child is dry. They are quite good in general and even met my friends son stay both morning and afternoon sessions when she was poorly.

OP posts:
RainbowRoses · 18/08/2015 23:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fatmomma99 · 19/08/2015 00:00

Tryharder, do you qualify for pupil premium for your older child? If you're not sure, speak to the school secretary once term starts. If you qualify, you'll be eligible for all sorts of help, and you'll find that you'll be able to talk to the school 1:1 with issues like shoes/coats etc and they'll prob be able to help you a lot (although, I don't know if this is true for academies, but worth checking).

Good luck. Flowers

LazyLohan · 19/08/2015 00:03

svp.org.uk

Those guys are worth a look. You don't have to be Catholic to use them and they won't try and convert you!

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 19/08/2015 00:03

Would a pair of clarkes brown leather girls boots help?
Size 7. Now outgrown.
Some jeans, age 2?

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 19/08/2015 00:06

Sorry, it's a crap picture, no flash on phone

To not know what to do next
WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 19/08/2015 00:07

One other thing you might need to look at
Our nursery place is only funded for term times.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 19/08/2015 00:08

Zips for getting them on/off

To not know what to do next
ijustwannadance · 19/08/2015 00:10

Tryharder100 my DD is 4.5 and I still have lots of her 3-4 stuff I can send no probs. Decent stuff. Have black patent clarks in 7.5G too. Be too big now but may fit in a few months? PM me. Won't be able to sort til next week though as working then away this weekend.

Original poster
tryharder100 · 19/08/2015 00:18

rainbow roses and why can't I I have put you. Thank you so much. I only pay childcare in term time at the min as need to book holiday from work to look after my son so hopefully that will stay the same.

Lazylohan we are actually Catholic anyway so will check the link out. Thank you. xx

OP posts:
Original poster
tryharder100 · 19/08/2015 09:04

Ijustwannadance I have sent a pm.

I hope I am right about the nursery place as was going to get a few bits for Christmas with the savings.

I need to re juggle everything to see if can save money. I am off work today so will get on it.

I struggle to manage money for shopping as I want to try and feed kids healthy food but some weeks don't have a lot to spend on shopping. I am going to try and do meal plans today to see if I can save any that way.

Thanks for everyone's comments and help you don't know how much it means.

OP posts:
lavent · 19/08/2015 09:19

I struggle with food shopping too - a couple of things I do which really help is only eat meat 3 times a week (ish) and bulk stuff out with veg/pulses and then divide in 2 & freeze half for the end of the week.

Also we eat pasta based meals about 3 times a week as cheap, filling and the kids love it.

Original poster
tryharder100 · 19/08/2015 09:48

Thanks lavent for the tips. maybe need to try aldi, it's a bit further away and I don't drive but will try and make it fun for kids by going to the park on the way.

It's always household stuff like wash powder etc that eats the weekly shopping money up. £30 doesn't go a long way these days!

OP posts:
RainbowRoses · 19/08/2015 09:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
tryharder100 · 19/08/2015 10:00

sounds like a good idea rainbow roses. I will look into that. Thanks

OP posts:
lavent · 19/08/2015 10:03

Re washing powder I've switched to Soap Nuts (£10 for 330 washes). Clothes are clean 99% of the time esp if you line dry the sun gets most stains out anyway. Still use a dash of fabric softener though to get that "fresh" smell.

Re Aldi - yes good idea. When I had to walk I used to go with a big rucksack and carried stuff home on my back....

Buttercup27 · 19/08/2015 10:04

Are you eligible for the new for 2 (if it's still called that) funding ? It might be worth looking into as it's 15 hours funding from 2yrs old.

Swipe left for the next trending thread