family of 5 living in SE on £30K can we afford £6K per year for ds1's school or am I bonkers?

[thenewgirl]

I have done the sums and I think we could survive month to month.

but

we are currently on 51K per year.

for ds1 to go to this school we have to move house (and to another county) housing costs would be the same but we would have less money due to change in job and have the school fees to pay.

it would not be forever as I am currently a sahm and will have earning power one day. also dh's new job would earn him more in years to come.

does this sound do-able?

I'm well up for it!

please tell me if I'm looking through rose tinted specks?

I've just saved you 6k

now now ladies, I'm not asking for your opinion on MY choice of schooling for my lo's...

I happen to be in love with the idea of sending my kids to steiner school, the same school that my dh went to and his siblings (all very wonderful and sucessful siblings I might add) and also the school that my lo's grandad teaches at...

but can I afford it? thats the question???

Why not wait until you can afford to send him there?

Some people aren't too impressed with Steiner schools (turns out Steiner was a big old racist) -

www.waldorfcritics.org/active/articles/NJP_WhatEveryJewishParent.html

correct that -net income WOULD be £2600 WITH NEW JOB

i KNEW i SHOULD HAVE LEFT STEINER OUT OF THIS!

Not unless you really want to be so tight on money it would be really unpleasant. And unless you know that in the very near future you're going to be able to add on a significant amount of income from both yourself and your h for the additional school fees and cope during holidays, school runs etc, etc.

still bonkers
away with the fairies
nuttier than squirrel poo
on a one way ticket to la la land

No, you can't - really.

RENT 1000
BILLS all 150
COUNCIL TAX 120
POCKET MONEY dh and I 200
FUEL 100
KIDS EXTRA 100
CONTIGENCY 100
FOOD AND HOUSEHOLD 400
SCHOOL 420
----
2590

£150 all bills - you mean utilities? OK, maybe
£120 council tax - presume that's fixed
£200 pocket money - cancel that.
£100 fuel - for cars? What about insurance, servicing etc?
£200 kids extra and contingency? £4 a week for everything?
£100 a week food and household? Never!

No. It's not going to work.

you are nuts

I could not give a flying fig, what sort of school you are considering sending him to, your figures do not add up.

Message withdrawn

Sorry, re the £200 kids extra + contingency, that was per month, not per year, wasn't it?

Still not nearly enough though.

steiner schools are shit too

I can assure you elizabeth that that is not the opinion of any of the steiner teachers I know, nor ex-pupils for that. and they should know.

but please, enough about the school!!

I feel that it would be easier for ds to cope with the move now rather than after a few more years of forming friendships etc moving at, say 11 could be hard work to make good friends.

plus we do want that education for our kids, far over state education so why should I let money put us off?

horses for courses and all that.

look, do what you want to about the school. but you have asked for advice about money, and it has been given. leave it at that.

thanks for that twiglet

hey everyone back off on the steiner stuff, that isn't what she's asked about poor girl

lets just tell her that she is a nutty nutter on the money front

seriously - why don't you send him slightly later when your cash is more sorted? honestly they make friends just as easily later on, especially at 11 when everyone is moving around.

if there is a load of equity in a house waiting to be released in a couple of years then perhaps you aren't as nutty as all that

but I think on your actual income it is v tight and allows for no contingencies at all

I just don't see how you could afford it.

Because the lack of it will make your life so hard and what if you can't afford it after one/two years and have to pull him out? Most children move schools at 11/13. WE have two children at a private school and it is a HUGE investment and commitment unless you're incredibly loaded.

you're welcome newgirl .. please do a search on steiner on mumsnet and pay particular attention to the comments of those who are, or know, adults who attended steiner schools

I think there is much to be applauded in the steiner philosophy tbh but on balance having looked into it all I'll go with my initial assessment

and anyway they should means test you