So my middle son is going to college to do A levels and a BTEC in september.
Absolutely amazing and so chuffed with him as out of all of my 3 boys he is the least academic,but my nagging to apply himself more seems to have got through to him this last year in school and has made more effort to drag his grades up to a reasonable level.
Don't get me wrong he's no A* student (too scatty and laid back for that bless him),but he should get mostly C's and maybe a B or two which is enough to go on to further education,which he is now really looking forward to having got in the 'student' frame of mind lol.
Now although I am really pleased with his efforts and decision to carry on in education I am getting rather worried about money.
When my eldest son went to college I am sure he got EMA,and I assumed it was still available,although I had heard it had been reformed,but it's been totally done away with in England!! I clearly was not keeping up to date there as I normally do with current affairs etc,but am now a bit concerned as to what students do for money??
I am aware I still get child benefit for him same as I always have,BUT I now need to find bus fare each week for him to get to college so that will take most of that up,then there's books and any equipment etc plus I still have to keep him of course,and I assume when he's at college he will have quite an active social life and need money to go out,phone top up,clothes etc.
He's a really good kid generally and hardly ever asks for money,and is very careful with any he does get.Compared to my eldest one and most other teenagers I know he's very cheap to keep!! I don't want him to miss out though on the next stage of his life and all that goes with it because he has no funds to do anything.
I am aware BTW that the obvious answer is get a job,and any other time I would agree,BUT this is Devon,jobs are scarce (as they are most places at the mo I know),and any that are available are very low paid and often seasonal.We also live in a village a few miles from Town so location and transort is an issue,especially with evening jobs when buses are not frequent.
I know loads of people looking for jobs of all types and all hours,none of them are having any luck,what chance does a 16 yr old no experience with anything have of getting one??
I am also concerned even if he did get a job could he fit it all in and would it be fair to ask him to?? Like I said academia doesn't come easy him and he will be doing either 3 A levels and one BTECH level 3,or 2 of each,will he have time for everything??
So worried about all this.My eldest lad dropped out of college for various reasons (we had a lot of issues with him at one time as some of you will recall,although is doing very well now and has a job he enjoys:smile,but one reason was lack of money,and that was with EMA,would hate for my middle one to struggle so much it becomes difficult for him to see it through.
Sorry for long winded whining post,just found out about the EMA thing and wondering how the heck will manage.My partner is self employed and has been very effected by this recession,work has been really,really slow.I only work part time and TBH with the job market as it is and the fact that have been in my job a while and is fairly secure,I am reluctant to start looking for a new job at present.
Am thinking this was really not a good time to buy a second horse,even a cheap one:unsure::redface:
How has anyone else managed?? Positive got through it stories would be much appreciated!!
ETA: Meant to mention in case anyone thinks of it that we are not entitled to any help financially in regard to bursaries etc.Already looked into it,even for travel you only get help if your annual household income is less than £16000 per year,that's including everything like child benefit,tax credits etc AFAIK not just employment income.Although we are on a fairly low income,especially at the moment it's not quite that low,and am guessing that really only applies if you're on maximum benefits like income support etc??
Absolutely amazing and so chuffed with him as out of all of my 3 boys he is the least academic,but my nagging to apply himself more seems to have got through to him this last year in school and has made more effort to drag his grades up to a reasonable level.
Don't get me wrong he's no A* student (too scatty and laid back for that bless him),but he should get mostly C's and maybe a B or two which is enough to go on to further education,which he is now really looking forward to having got in the 'student' frame of mind lol.
Now although I am really pleased with his efforts and decision to carry on in education I am getting rather worried about money.
When my eldest son went to college I am sure he got EMA,and I assumed it was still available,although I had heard it had been reformed,but it's been totally done away with in England!! I clearly was not keeping up to date there as I normally do with current affairs etc,but am now a bit concerned as to what students do for money??
I am aware I still get child benefit for him same as I always have,BUT I now need to find bus fare each week for him to get to college so that will take most of that up,then there's books and any equipment etc plus I still have to keep him of course,and I assume when he's at college he will have quite an active social life and need money to go out,phone top up,clothes etc.
He's a really good kid generally and hardly ever asks for money,and is very careful with any he does get.Compared to my eldest one and most other teenagers I know he's very cheap to keep!! I don't want him to miss out though on the next stage of his life and all that goes with it because he has no funds to do anything.
I am aware BTW that the obvious answer is get a job,and any other time I would agree,BUT this is Devon,jobs are scarce (as they are most places at the mo I know),and any that are available are very low paid and often seasonal.We also live in a village a few miles from Town so location and transort is an issue,especially with evening jobs when buses are not frequent.
I know loads of people looking for jobs of all types and all hours,none of them are having any luck,what chance does a 16 yr old no experience with anything have of getting one??
I am also concerned even if he did get a job could he fit it all in and would it be fair to ask him to?? Like I said academia doesn't come easy him and he will be doing either 3 A levels and one BTECH level 3,or 2 of each,will he have time for everything??
So worried about all this.My eldest lad dropped out of college for various reasons (we had a lot of issues with him at one time as some of you will recall,although is doing very well now and has a job he enjoys:smile,but one reason was lack of money,and that was with EMA,would hate for my middle one to struggle so much it becomes difficult for him to see it through.
Sorry for long winded whining post,just found out about the EMA thing and wondering how the heck will manage.My partner is self employed and has been very effected by this recession,work has been really,really slow.I only work part time and TBH with the job market as it is and the fact that have been in my job a while and is fairly secure,I am reluctant to start looking for a new job at present.
Am thinking this was really not a good time to buy a second horse,even a cheap one:unsure::redface:
How has anyone else managed?? Positive got through it stories would be much appreciated!!
ETA: Meant to mention in case anyone thinks of it that we are not entitled to any help financially in regard to bursaries etc.Already looked into it,even for travel you only get help if your annual household income is less than £16000 per year,that's including everything like child benefit,tax credits etc AFAIK not just employment income.Although we are on a fairly low income,especially at the moment it's not quite that low,and am guessing that really only applies if you're on maximum benefits like income support etc??
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