Anyone else a single mum doing a degree - how do you cope/afford it???? *whinge warning*

[pamplemousse]

Am in 3rd year (of 5) of doing my masters, started it with a husband who did have a job who would look after dd. Am now single looking after dd myself, doing the school run, trying to find a job so I can afford to live (claim I.S HB etc but seriously stretched) that fits in between 1 day a week in uni and the school run - which I think is impossible but I.S people seem to think I'm not trying or not being flexible enough. I can't be FUCKING flexible!! Ex had dd every other weekend while i'm at uni so that bit works at least.
How the hell do you manage? My course apparently is 75% of a full time one so can get some finance (the travelling alone is £25 a week) but don't know where to start...
OK I'm whining now I know but pleeeeease someone in similar situation, TELL me what to do...........

bumping shamelessly

I did my degree as a lp and the hardest bit was that the student loan was classed as income so I wasn't entitled to IS or full HB. Despite it being repayable . I'm doing my MEd now and work PT, under the 16 hours to kick me into the WTC bracket but I earn more than IS levels so I'm not claiming benefits.
Is your degree and Masters combined then, like the social work one? I'm not sure how that works for funding but you need to contact Student Finance soonest. Can your university not help you? There are also grants, bursaries and one-off awards - never much but I was always glad of them. Your university should have a help service for finding funds.

I am a lone parent doing a degree part time, I am in my final year. Well it's called part time, but i only have one class a week less than full time students

What age is your DD?

i have a part time job, and through a lot of stress, juggling and running about, I fit it all in to school hours, as i have no childcare. It's hard, but manageable. Would part time or spreading your MA out a bit, so you do less classes in the year an option?

I don't get any benefits other than WFTC, so can't really advise on that, but would second asking at your student advice/finance place.

Hi, thanks so much for your replies.
I dont get a student loan as have already done a degree, I am applying for anything available though as travelling is expensive and I hardly have any books!
Unfortunately I can't spread it out more as its a set length, I could take a year out but I think this would prolong the agony and not really help matters. It is part time.
Mentalist what line is your work in? I am running out of ideas as to what to apply for!
Unfortunately its a tiny college thats validated by a uni so getting the right person is tricky. I have tried asking the uni, they say ask the college. I tried phoning admin dept, but they are not there on thursdays - the day I tried! Will try again on monday.
Also trying to sell house. So slowly losing the plot.

"slowly losing the plot"......

A well known symptom of trying to deal with too many problems at once.

Strongly recommend that you contact the student counselling service. Tell them you are feeling overwhelmed, and that you need to see someone, not so much for therapy more for something like life coaching almost. If you talk it through with someone that could help to dispel panic and enable you to come up with a plan.

Regarding work, what is your masters in?

I ask for two reasons:-

1. if we knew the subject that might get you more focused advice. (For similar reasons what is the subject of your first degree?)

1. I am curious as a five year masters, even part time, is quite long so I was wondering what it was in.....

feel free to PM me.