uni student/ low income partner, expecting wins! advice needed!

[Kimblurry]

Hello everybody!

this is my first post after sleuthing for years so please be kind!

I am a 2nd year nursing student and I am 14 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins, as well as a 4yo son. I am currently trying to figure out how I will be able to return to uni with my nursery costs doubling!

There are no twins in our family so this was not something we considered would be an issue. Our son starts school in September so with the expected (singular) child it meant we could carry on as we did before with our nursery arrangements, of which we were able to break even and live off what my partner earned after paying bills etc. This is not possible with a second nursery place to pay for, even with child tax credits as it is minimal as it goes on just my partner. The university does have some childcare schemes for if you don't receive tax credits (I'm not sure if you can cancel tax credits to receive their funding which would be a lot more, but if I can do that without it being officially dodgy I don know as it feels like that would not be acceptable), as well as hardship funds for childcare, however these are not guaranteed and would leave me anxious during mat leave.

Essentially I am asking for any advice from students who have been in similar situations or parents of twins who have made it work.

I don't know what is best to do, I want to complete my course and work as a nurse which will alleviate some longer-term financial worries, as well as not have made the last few years go to waste, however I could end up in a serious financial pickle if I cannot get help with my childcare from the uni etc.

thank you guys for any advice offered

Take a year off from your course by which time your son will be in full time school and costs will be lower. Then you'll just have to somehow get through your last year of training - use tax credits or Universal credit for help with childcare. Some childminders will offer sibling discount. Once you are qualified you can maybe do mainly weekends or nights to cut down on childcare costs. this is what we did with 4 under seven ( no twins but similar situation ). As it is your second pregnancy which has resulted in twins you should still get child tax credits or the child element of Uc for 3 kids even though the cut off is now 2.

Can you defer your third year of your course for any longer than a year?

Thats great advice thank you .

Im hoping i can have 2 years off withought it affecting my course but that will depend on if i can do some form of work in that time when im not on mat leave fingers crossed

thank you for your advice, i hope some perks of twins are the child tax etc, hopefully we can find a good nursery with discount!

I think whatever you do you must try to get your training finished even if you have to borrow or ask for a mortgage break for a year or so. It will be worth it as Nurses salary is not too bad and with extra duty payments/ enhancements on top you will manage and with a Nursing qualification you will never be without a job and can fit shifts around your kids in their early years. I am no longer working as a Nurse much as my kids are teenagers now but it did work well for us when we had 4 kids under 7 and has meant we didn't have to pay much out in childcare !

Do you claim the child care element of your student loan as it can be applied for more than one child?

That is hopefully going to be what we do regardless if its not too wreckless in practice closer to the time. Glad to hear it worked for you and can be done!

I do get the childcare element and i think im at the top of my funding bracket so didnt think additional children would change it. I will be adding them when the time comes so will be curious to see if it does change things, thanks