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FWP - panicking about money and school fees

208 replies

Parttime1 · 08/04/2021 14:36

I know this is a first world problem but I wanted to get some outside opinions.

Sorry, this turned out really long.

My DH is pretty rubbish with money. He sticks his head in the sand, as long as there is money in the account he doesn't really care. I usually deal with finances and he doesn't really want to discuss this with me he just tells me everything will be ok.

We moved house last autumn, it's a lovely big house but I am slightly panicking that we didn't think things through and have moved as a knee- jerk reaction to lockdown and WFH etc. Our previous house was ok, needed a bit of work but was in a desirable area of London and sold quickly- I think we rushed into buying somewhere else. DH was the driving force behind moving because his job has become fully remote. I work 3 days a week, a mixture of at home and in the office in London.

We have moved out of London and have put our DC in private school (they are 6&4) mainly because we couldn't get state places organised in time but now we love the school they are in and so it is unlikely we will move them in the near future (plus 3rd school in 2yrs for DC?). Their names are down at our preferred state school just in case but last time I checked they had gone down the list, not up!

I am worried we have bitten off more than we can chew. Previously we had a small mortgage (£600 a month but we overpaid a few hundred each month) and childcare fees/ tutoring of £500 a month. Now we have school fees of £28k a year and a mortgage of £1,300 a month.

DH didn't get his bonus (which he usually does, it is contractual but there is a force majeure clause which his company activated despite their annual profits not being affected by Covid) which means we cannot save as much as we would like (we do not rely on it for living expenses but there were a few things we needed/ would like for the house which we will need to wait for now).

Our monthly net income is £9k - previously we saved about £2.5k into pensions and for moving/ renovation (my pension is poor but my DH has a decent amount put in by his company), DC went to a state school but the remote learning was basically zero so we topped up with tutors and we then changed to private school when we moved, until last August DD was at a private nursery costing £1,300 a month. Then we spent about £4k on bills and everything else.

I think lockdown made us feel richer than we actually are.

For the first couple of months we had additional moving expenses - all new uniform for DC, changing locks, having the alarm system updated, fencing repairs, some redecorating costs (paint is so much more expensive than I had realised!) and a couple of bits of additional furniture (this house is twice the size of our old one), new pans because the ones we had didn't work on an induction hob etc. The garden is massive so we still need a ride on lawnmower, oil powered heating which needed topping up when we moved in and will probably need a top up again soon(ouch!). It goes on...

Things have kind of settled down now but still I think we are going to find things a little tight which seems ridiculous.

Income: £9k
Outgoings:
£1,300 mortgage

£2,500 school fees (we have paid the remainder of this year's and so want to start saving for next and uniform costs and other extras)

£1,500 bills and food (our food bill seems ridiculous atm, this includes all essentials - council tax, water, oil, electricity, car tax, MOT, petrol (we drive a lot more), insurances, tv and internet, private dental (because we have never managed to get an nhs dentist).

£1,000 spending money - this includes things like clothes and shoes (I set aside £200 a month for all of us, it doesn't seem to go far and DH barely spends any of it), Christmas, birthdays - I set aside £100 a month for Christmas expenses (parties, extra food, clothes, presents for our large families) and £50 a month for birthdays - presents for us, friends and DC's party), DC activities (£200 a month, usually paid termly though so probably a little less), socialising (not much recently but perhaps £200 a month before?), my commuting costs (which are now £30 a day as it isn't feasible to buy a season ticket for ad hoc days, I probably do 5/6 days a month in the office, I paid £100 a month before) and £100 each to DH and me for small spends (for coffees/ bits for hobbies, my makeup etc) - this expenditure has been low during lockdown and we have been saving most of this/ spending it on the house but already things are creeping back - music/dance / swimming lessons starting up again, we all needed new shoes/ trainers and all booked in for haircuts next week etc. I don't know if it just because everything is coming up at once? I also feel like a lot of the DC's activities are costing more here - not much, maybe £1 a session but they do three things a week each so it adds up.

£1,000 pension and ISAs/ JISAs (I get the bare minimum through work so put an extra £600 in, £100 a month into each of our JISA and ISA) for longterm savings

£700 for holidays and holiday childcare (our holidays are usually £6k ish a year (less this year because we are staying in the U.K.) and then holiday clubs another £2k or so depending on what they do

£1000 - top up rainy day fund, car fund (our car is 10yrs old and will need to be replaced in the next couple of years, we might even need a second car) and to put towards some things we need and would like to do to the house - like I say, the house is big and has about 1 acre garden - nothing is immediately required and the kitchen and bathrooms are new. We didn't do much to our old house (because we planned to renovate) and so I would really like to keep on top of maintenance in this one as I know how things can easily slip if not kept on top of. Our rainy day fund (£15k) is down to less than 3 month's expenses which I know is more than some but we always had a decent buffer - I want to get this up to 6 months ideally. We do still have money in our ISA's too but this is supposed to be for the future - university, retirement etc. But I suppose if necessary we do have them there to dip into.

I tentatively plan to return to work FT - DH is not that supportive as it is generally me who does all the dropping and collecting of DC, housework and cooking - he likes the status quo Hmm but even then after deducting additional childcare costs and travel it would be about an extra £500 a month coming in - and some of that would have to go on a cleaner.

I guess I am just panicking about all the outlay after a few years of saving pretty hard.

Our original intention was to do up our old house - add an extension and loft conversion, it was when we got the quotes that we decided we may as well spend the money we had saved (£100k) and extend the mortgage (quotes were £250k + for our London house, it would have been a big job and so we would have moved out and rented somewhere for a few months too) for an already bigger house out of London. Then there was the stamp duty, agents fees etc - we have spent most of our savings and increased the mortgage. Our mortgage is £250,000 but we kept the term of our original mortgage, 18 years.

School - we were not happy with our DS's old school, even before lockdown and were thinking about private schools then. I distinctly remember sitting down and working out all the costs and it all seemed fine - but then moving has drained our reserves and everything just seems more expensive. Council tax is £350 a month. Water £50, electricity £80, oil - we just spent over £1k and I don't really know how long that will last. Food - I'll admit I have been buying more convenience food as I have been busy working, homeschooling and sorting out the new house but we are spending over £600 a month at the moment.

Then there was the kick in the teeth with DH's bonus - it is usually £25k after tax and we usually squirrel it away either in pensions and ISA's so I don't know why it is worrying me that we don't have it this year. I think it wasn't paid because the company claimed furlough money for other employees and it would seem wrong to give a bonus and payrises (even though their profits remained pretty unchanged).

Do you think this is all manageable? The house overwhelms me at the moment - everywhere I look there seems to be something needed to be done (lots of small jobs that we can do ourselves and also bigger things that worry me - it has a huge roof and although the survey said it was ok, if that needed doing it would be £30k at least). I feel like I knew our old house inside out and could forget about the small jobs, it feels different now.

School feels like such a massive commitment but DC love it there - I would gladly give up other things to keep them there (DS's first school just was not the right place for him and he is a different boy here even after a few weeks) but then the fee increase letter came through with the bills for next term and I got in a panic (4% increase when I had planned for 5% so I have no idea why it made me anxious).

Our jobs are pretty secure, I do not maximise my earning potential at all - I have been plodding along in the same old job for 10 years with one pay rise in all that time, DH could probably earn more too but he likes his current job and loves WFH.

Would you worry at this level of expenditure with our income?

OP posts:
Mn753 · 08/04/2021 16:39

[quote Parttime1]@Mn753 I don't really understand the comment about the car? We lived in London and didn't use the car much, it is 10yrs old and has less than 50,000 miles on the clock. It's a nice car though, not some old banger![/quote]
It wasn't sarky it was genuine. So many people overstretch themselves with two extortionate lease cars to keep up with the joneses.

fairydustandpixies · 08/04/2021 16:48

I'm sorry, but as someone disabled but lucky enough to receive and live off an ESA income of £512 a month, I'm staggered that you're struggling on £9k a month. I raised my two DS single handedly, they're adults now and have left home, but I know how to budget and work out what is a luxury and what is a necessity. You need to do the same OP, work out what is actually needed to survive and what is just frippery.

Namechangeforthis88 · 08/04/2021 16:52

I know @Northernsoullover! £6k holidays and stressed about money. Is it parody?

Namechangeforthis88 · 08/04/2021 16:53

I wouldn't know how to spend £6k on a holiday. Op, you can officially chill out.

Babyroobs · 08/04/2021 16:56

@Namechangeforthis88

I wouldn't know how to spend £6k on a holiday. Op, you can officially chill out.
Lol me neither. £60 on a sun holidays caravan park maybe.
Parttime1 · 08/04/2021 16:56

Our original plan was to extend our old house - it was a 3 bed semi and planning permission was granted for a part double, part single storey extension with loft conversion. We got quotes from £200k- £250k and were on the verge of starting work when lockdown happened.
We had £100k saved and an AIP for an extra £150k on our mortgage. The completed work would have added about £400k onto the value of the house. We planned to move out of London in about 4/5 years for secondary schools and had talked about the area we are in now because my sister lives here.

Then the whole school thing with DS and if the DC were going to change school and DH could work from home, why didn't we just leave London now and not have the hassle of renovating the house. It all happened very fast.

We started looking near where my sister lives for houses in May and this one came up the first weekend we looked - it was so big and so idyllic (and absolute top of budget) we got swept up in it, it really is a dream house. Our old house sold before it was listed on Rightmove, it seemed like fate, everything went through quickly and smoothly - we completed just as the DC started their new school.
It is a forever house, the DC are so happy here as they have loads of space, cousins down the road and a lovely school.

It just feels like a lot of change in a few months.

OP posts:
yellowdenim · 08/04/2021 17:03

You need to decide on your priorities. You’ll be fine but if private school is a priority then you will need to have less savings/smaller holiday fund etc to allow it.

If that bothers you then I wouldn’t continue with private as the fees only go up and dc get more expensive as they get older.

SwimBaby · 08/04/2021 17:06

It is a lot of change, schools, house size, area, pandemic.
Financially I think you’re ok. You need to work on changing your mindset about how you spend and save your money.
Even if you just save a few hundred a month it’s still savings or save any bonus etc. We used to use my DH bonus for our holidays, house stuff, Christmas and that worked out well. If the bonus was less than anticipated those things are easy to cut back on.

PremiumRoll · 08/04/2021 17:09

This reply has been deleted

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itsgettingwierd · 08/04/2021 17:12

You say "but all our income goes somewhere".

You put as much into savings a month as many have coming in.

That's after hobbies and expensive holidays saved for and private school fees.

Putting aside the huge amount of income you actually have your outgoings aren't that bad.

The issue seems to be you feel the need to save masses a month after budgeting to the nth degree for every eventually.

There is no evidence even with a bad period of needing to replace things or things breaking in a row you will be deciding between food, heat or school fees.

Please try and relax.

SwimBaby · 08/04/2021 17:13

Also I think the panicking about initial outlay and the ongoing expense of your new lifestyle are two separate things.
You’ve spent the money on the house move and the paint etc now so you should try and forget about that. Concentrate instead on a new budget that includes school fees and the bigger mortgage.
You also have the option to go full time at work. Would your DH be able to help with some of the childcare or housework if you needed to cut costs?

Viviennemary · 08/04/2021 17:13

How ridiculous.

Parttime1 · 08/04/2021 17:15

I know I need to sort out what we spend and I know that I am very fortunate- I did warn it was a first world problem.

£6k on holidays - I don't get the sense from friends and family that this is a lot, especially going in the school holidays? Also threads on here have some huge budgets. This is usually a week abroad (up to £3k All inclusive) and two weeks in the U.K. self catering (usually tied in with seeing the In laws, in Devon or Cornwall, we rent an apartment or cottage as there isn't space to stay with them, £2k ish) and a short break somewhere like center parcs with friends/ family £1k with activities and spending money. The apartment we have rented for Devon this year is almost £3k for two weeks as demand has ramped up hugely, I hope it calms down next year. We haven't seen my PIL since last August and even then we had to camp as we couldn't find somewhere reasonable to rent.

OP posts:
SwimBaby · 08/04/2021 17:18

OP we were spending 20k a year on holidays before the pandemic! We had uni costs but no private school fees.

13579db · 08/04/2021 17:18

What don you hope to achieve by going via private school prep for such young children? Could you wait until they're teens to send them privately when the education will really boost them more at that age?
Young children just need routine, nutrition, structure and a safe fun family life, not extortionate school fees to play in a sandpit or learn to count all day surely? They don't need huge holidays or expensive birthdays either. My DH went to a normal primary and normal grammar and is now top of his game earning a lot.

No school fees/fuss just old fashioned parenting and hard work.

LondonMiss · 08/04/2021 17:24

I don’t have your school fee costs but I understand your thinking!
I went from a 2 bedroom terrace mortgage free to a 4 bed detached. It took me quite a few months to adapt to the extra costs.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 08/04/2021 17:26

You need to prioritise. Is private school more important than holidays? Could you save less yet still be comfortable? A bit like someone else may need to choose between heating and food but a whole lot less of a decision really 🙄.

Your income is huge. Ours of probably half that and we save for holidays and Christmas in a similar way to you and run two oldish cars. However our children go to state school and savings and pensions are considerably more modest. You need to make choices.

Theunamedcat · 08/04/2021 17:29

Personally I would overpay my mortgage before I put extra into pensions

Parttime1 · 08/04/2021 17:29

I went state all the way through too, I have no issue with state schools.

We had a problem with my DC's school last year when lockdown revealed that DS had basically not progressed for a year. I knew he wasn't top of the class but I was pretty shocked at how low his ability was. His school basically deserted us. He got a few sheets emailed home and no contact from the school at all. They did have a high number of key worker and vulnerable children attending and so their attentions were elsewhere.
When he finally returned in June and I managed to speak to his teacher she completely fobbed me off - told me DS was at "expected" level when he was obviously behind, confirmed behind by the private assessment that I arranged. He was already under the SENCO there but I think because he was no trouble they just let him drift. He was really unhappy, was being bullied and hated school.
Like I say, we moved in a hurry. There is a lovely village school here where my nieces and nephew go - I would be delighted to send them there but there isn't the space. I also don't want to keep changing schools, particularly for DS.

OP posts:
Twoforthree · 08/04/2021 17:29

😂 many people would love just the bonus.

You can afford it op. But you can't spend and save what you did. You either need to spend less or save less. Not rocket science.

Theunamedcat · 08/04/2021 17:32

With all your money you could buy a caravan near your inlaws and holiday there for cheap

Private school and tutors for a four and six year old is pointless really

You got a bad deal on the oil look for a better one and buy when the price is low

Mn753 · 08/04/2021 17:43

@Theunamedcat

Personally I would overpay my mortgage before I put extra into pensions
Generally not a good idea at the moment with interest rates
PotteringAlong · 08/04/2021 17:49

£3k for 2 weeks in Devon is madness.

There are 4 of you! Hire a caravan! You can afford it so, in that sense, crack on. But if you increase your mortgage and start paying private school fees and still want to save then you actually have to make savings somewhere! You can’t keep spending money and then wring your hands about not having it.

FreeButtonBee · 08/04/2021 17:57

lol you e had a massive lifestyle change on top of the pandemic and you are just panicking. What’s done is done and in 6 months after a summer in your lovely garden you will feel much better. You may need to reprioritse your spending, reduce holidays (so not both centre parks and pricey Devon in the hols but instead look at less well known spots and an air B&B weekend away). The bonuses you’ve always tested as a bonus/savings top up so you’ve had a bit of a wake up call that you need to keep saving more each month in case of a bad year. Simplify life a bit in terms of expectations and watch the budget carefully for the rest of the year before committing to any big plans (house car or otherwise).

It is a FWP but it’s your life and it’s not nice to feel out of control. So just chilling out have a BBQ with your sister and don’t get sucked into private school politics!

KeyboardWorriers · 08/04/2021 17:59

This is one of the most ridiculous threads ever.
Just cut your cloth op.

And I say that as someone who is reasonably affluent!