Paying fees on VERY moderate income, how can it be done?

[Onthesedgeofoureats]

Dd has been accepted at the Prep I have wanted her to go to from being born, and I am over the moon, as I thought it was a pipe dream. I have no real idea why I entered her, as I knew it was a pipe dream until we start earning properly. It is a selective academic, and she totally fell in love with it. Even the school admitted it seemed like the perfect fit for her. She was a high scorer on the entrance exam, and the school seem as delighted as we are.

However, both dp and I are still studying for the next two years, so have a combined income of £1,500 a month, which is lovely, but not enough as the fees are £1100 a month. We have some equity in the house, but cannot realise it through re-mortgaging as we have hit our max allowed, and have the "cheapest" house available within 15 miles, so would have to move a long way away to downsize, which we can't do as dp needs to be near his lab. We're not going to get a bursary are we? I know I'm trying to have my cake and eat it, and that we are going to have to turn down the place, but I was just wondering how people on incomes like ours did jiggery pokery to try and manage the fees. Straws, clutching, etc.

Any input gratefully received.

OH's colleague does just this. They live in a small house, don't take holidays much, don't buy clothes much (he wears freyed shirts to work) and he cycles about 5 miles to get his commuting price down instead of going to the nearest train station. He brings a packed lunch everyday. I dont know what sacrifices the rest of the family are making but it's clear they save every penny. Both his DCs are thriving in a fee paying school.

It depends how determind you are and what you're willing to give up. Not everyone can be this sacrificial. Look at your incomings deduct essentials and ungive-upable luxuries and see what's left, see if that covers the fees. And obvs stuff like bursaries, scholarships, kindly relatives, charities etc etc

PS ask the school if there's any kind of assistance. My bro had a charity pay most of his school fees because of dyslexia and family circumstances at the time. I think the school suggested this. It's worth a try then if you look at everything, do your costings etc and still cant do it, you know you did your best by your DC.

Dont forget if your DD is bright, she'll do well anywhere (neighbour's DD got 15 A* GCSE's from local mixed comp, and has just got 1st class degree at Uni). The other choice schools may have a good extension programme for bright DCs that could help her achieve her best. Good luck

skandi1

You think that you cannot afford PS when (just) your DH earns £200k+

Do you live on planet Earth????????????????

1. I'd be asking for a bloody refund with those GCSE results!!!

2. Does anyone in RL OVER 18 actually quote their GCSE results??

We have a very similar income to yours, OP, but have gone down the state route. Our dcs' schools are "good with some outstanding features" rather than the kind of school parents move house to get into. The advantage with this from our pov is that it leaves us a comfortable bit of money left over to support dcs' education. What we have found is:

it is true that our local state schools do not have the same wonderful sports and drama facilities- otoh we can afford the fees for very good local drama classes and could afford sports coaching too

music tuition is actually very good at the state school (shame about my children...), so we wouldn't need to go elsewhere for that

it is true that not all dcs' classmates have parents who support education- but I am not sure they need that either; it's enough for there to be some children who care, a supply of enthusiastic teachers and a supportive home environment of our own

a home full of books is a very good educational incentive- and books cost money, so it's handy to have some over

the same goes for theatre tickets, museum visits, days out in the country- they are educational advantages that we can offer our children because we do have the money

I am also putting aside money for university every month- dd certainly looks as if she might be needing it

So I would say all is not lost even if you do find you can't afford the fees. There are always other ways.