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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend family money on my own education

57 replies

Citycat1 · 20/01/2022 06:38

I want to retrain and no matter how I try, I can't find any way to pay for it, other than to get a bank loan. It will cost around £14000 and we simply don't have that money. Getting a loan means no holidays for me, my DH and 2 DC for quite some time. We might need to get a new car too and will need to borrow money for that too. DH keen for me to retrain as I've considered it for ages and he knows how passionate I am about it. But I feel like I'm making everyone else sacrifice for it. AIBU to retrain and get us into debt for it?

OP posts:
Darbs76 · 20/01/2022 06:39

Will it lead into a specific job that’s going to mean your family will have a lot more money once trained? If so then I think it’s worthwhile training and making some sacrifices for a few years

Ikeptgoing · 20/01/2022 06:43

Happy mum happy wife = happy life

If your DH thinks it's a gods idea, and is prepared to share in sacrificing holidays and limited budget for few years, then he's supporting you to do this!!!

FridaRose · 20/01/2022 06:43

Yes absolutely.
I'm currently studying myself and it's an investment in the future as I'll be able to work for myself and second more time with the family.

Study and education are everything. Especially if you study a good skill that is highly regarded.

Ikeptgoing · 20/01/2022 06:43

... So go for it!!!

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/01/2022 06:43

If it’s a degree course or equivalent, can you take a student loan? Don’t think there’s an age limit.

MichelleScarn · 20/01/2022 06:53

What type of course is it? Could you work pt in current job alongside it, or get an evening/weekend job?

Ovenaffray · 20/01/2022 06:55

What sort of retraining is it? What’s the course in? Will it definitely lead to secure employment?

Tohaveandtohold · 20/01/2022 07:04

Is it a sort of degree you can do part time whilst working part time as well. That’ll be my first choice because it’ll mean the family will be making less sacrifices, you can use your part time job to pay the instalment for your studies.
Also, make sure it’s a degree that you’re sure will lead to a job

Loopytiles · 20/01/2022 07:09

What’re your current job / pay prospects, and what might they be if you do the education?

Are there opportunity costs’, eg lost wages if you study full time.

How much is the ‘time cost’? Eg X hours week for one year.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 20/01/2022 07:10

It totally depends what the training is and your prospects at the end of it. Can you take out a student loan?

Catfox1 · 20/01/2022 07:10

You count as part of the family so go for it!

Original poster
Citycat1 · 20/01/2022 07:13

It's to train as a children and young people's counsellor. Not very well paid but not too bad either. I currently work in the NHS with young people that have a chronic health condition. I already give emotional support but I think being an actual counsellor would be so much better. Work can't help. I already have a degree so can't get student loan and it's not a masters so no post grad loan. I looked at all avenues of finance. None appropriate. If money wasn't an issue I'd retrain no problem! You are all so positive though and have given me a boost I need! Thank you x

OP posts:
Morechocmorechoc · 20/01/2022 07:18

Do you have a mortgage? Mortgage rates are very cheap personally if you do I would take an additional borrowing on the house. Prices have gone up so its probably possible if you do.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 20/01/2022 07:19

I’ve just applied for a role that means retraining. I don’t need to take a loan out but it’s a pay cut for me so we wouldn’t be able to afford some of the things we’d like. The earning potential in the long run is significantly more than I earn now or could earn in my profession.

If your DH is on board and you wouldn’t be barely surviving, I’d say go for it.

Original poster
Citycat1 · 20/01/2022 07:19

I'd not thought about that. Yes, I do have a mortgage, will look into that. Thank you

OP posts:
LiterallyKnowsBest · 20/01/2022 07:19

Take a look at some threads on the Mature Study and Retraining board, OP:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mature_students

The variety of circumstances from which people begin will surely reassure help to clarify things for you.

Flapjak · 20/01/2022 07:22

I am fairly sure there is some funding available to train as a child and adolescent CBT therapist under the IAPT scheme. Check out HEE.

Bagadverts · 20/01/2022 07:23

Do employers such as NHS have entry requirements for the job you want? Will they be covered by the course? How many years will it take to recover the costs of the course through employment and are there jobs available?

Tardigrade001 · 20/01/2022 07:25

Can't you do a masters in councelling? It would be better - time and qualification-wise - than starting from undergrad level all over again.

Mercedes519 · 20/01/2022 07:26

Can you squash the thought that comes through of you not ‘deserving’ this or you should ‘sacrifice’ your dreams for the sake of your family.

If you would do this for DH or your kids then the same rules applies to YOU.

monkeysox · 20/01/2022 07:27

Is there an appropriate apprenticeship?

findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/635?location=TR7%202FD

LiterallyKnowsBest · 20/01/2022 07:31

I agree, if there’s an equivalent (or close) Master’s qualification for which you could get a Postgrad Loan that might be a less painful option.

Are you sure that a qualification that attracts no funding option would be well thought of in the profession?

You should definitely retrain if that’s what you want, but do continue to assess all possible routes to where you want to get to.

Jayaywhynot · 20/01/2022 07:37

No brainer for me, its short term pain for long term gain.
Go for it, good luck

sashh · 20/01/2022 07:44

I'm here to do an impression of a fairy godmother, the government will give student loans to part time students studying a science subject. There is an approved list.

I'm doing maths this way with the OU.

They have a psychology with counselling degree.

www.open.ac.uk/courses/psychology/degrees/bsc-psychology-with-counselling-q84

There are other providers obviously and you can mix and match so get funding for some units and pay for some yourself.

In addition to this you might get some funding via charities / grant making trusts.

I know everyone at uni knows about 'the book' that lists grants but no one ever does anything about it, well when I was at uni I did look up 'the book', there are options online now but there are loads of places you can apply, I had various amounts from a £10 note put in with a 'sorry we can't help you' letter to the odd £1000 cheque.

www.dsc.org.uk/publication/the-directory-of-grant-making-trusts-2022-23/

Some of the wording is rather archaic, I found one that was to 'help the impotent of the parish' because a lot were set up by Victorians and have aims to 'educate young women in a trade', basically to give you the skills to stay out of the workhouse.

The book is available in most libraries as a reference book and also in uni libraries.

monkeysox · 20/01/2022 07:45

Not sure which area you're in but I saw this vacancy.

beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9346-22-2749