Is it me or is it getting colder really quickly this year? As the dark nights draw in, I've managed to prepare a little and get lots of extra blankets .

My 15 year old who is oblivious to any of my money struggles and the cost of surviving, looked over at me while wearing hotpants and a crop top pyjama combo the other day. She said, mum can we put the heating on I'm cold 🤣🤣.

Today she's in fleece pyjamas and a jumper dressing gown thing 🤣🤣 she's learning.

October is a hard month, both my highschoolers attend different schools and their half terms are on separate weeks which means double cost of everything and more taxing them about.

Also had a appeal person from PIP contact me yesterday (despite me telling them welfare rights are going to be doing all the correspondence). Anyways today I received a notification that they have now made a decision and I'll hear in the post. For someone who has major anxiety , why didn't they just send me a copy online instead of making me wait for the post? What a ridiculous system when they make you sign up to their online portal anyways .

It’s been another struggling month. Several things have happened. We are owed money from my partners work from expenses and still waiting. This has had a huge impact on us. Then the frustrating thing is one month he can have a good wage and the next not. But it makes a difference with universal credit. So when we get the bad month we get a bad universal credit too. We end up missing out. I’ve maxed out credit cards this month to make it work. I wish universal could be done a different way. I get I could try save but most of times what money we have is used on bills, food, and when we have a little extra is used to buy things for the house like a new bed, towels, clothes etc.

When applying for jobs why is it they don't give training to get more staff? Wouldn't this make things easier instead they want people with 5years+ training when people are wanting a challenge or a change. Labour should make this as a law where employers should give at least 1 week training.

Last night’s writing workshop was very thought provoking, listening to someone being so honest and open about struggles they have faced throughout their life, and how brave they are to share these experiences.

Some of this is unimaginable to most, but brings to mind both near and far memories of things that I have felt the need to do or been through, locking them away in my own mind never intending to share, being too ashamed and embarrassed.

In the past I have written down stories about my past, but have never kept them long in case someone should find and read them. After listening to the session I now know how important it is to document these stories, and gained some useful tips on how to go about this, in a safe manner so as not to put blame on myself or others. Thank you

Everything feels very autumnal here already...the weather, leaves on the ground, son back at school, us back to our busy term-time jobs in education. Feels as if the hope of summer is gone in the blink of an eye. And while there are still some chinks of hope occasionally (some pay rise union disputes are now resolved, the odd glimmer of sunshine, the pension rises for April 2025), there are still some worrying signs of difficulties to come (the ongoing world conflicts, the next expensive holiday period - i.e. Christmas - and the cuts to winter fuel allowances for pensioners), even though some of us are still trying to buy school uniform (can't get trousers in son's size for love nor money at the moment) for the academic year ahead. Its seems as if we've segewayed all too easily into the shorter days, longer nights and preparation for celebrations many of us can ill afford. I wish that helping people for a living (i.e. working in Education, in the NHS, serving the public somehow) was better valued to allow keyworkers to meet the cost of living and some extra for the odd treat, to keep up with the fast pace of this rollercoaster we call life.

In NI the summer is 9 weeks. It’s long to have your children off school for that length of time. I didn’t even know the date or the day most times. It was a struggle to find exciting things to do in the wet weather. It’s over now and I’m glad of the routine for my 2. This was the first summer I had to choose my sons education over day trips, paying for a transfer test summer scheme so he had the same opportunities as others.

I love routine and so do my children. I am so thankful that they are back to school and routine can begin. I moved my son schools last year and it was the best decision I ever made. For the first summer ever he said ‘mummy I can’t wait to go back to school’ his new school see the person before the behaviour. They have nurtured him and catered for his needs. They deserve an award as he is a very challenging child. I’m just sad that he only got 2 years out of this school. I wish he had of been there from Primary 1 right through.

Of course as soon as the children go back to school the weather picks up. Isn’t this always the way. Typical really. Such a horrible and miserable wet summer we had and it was awful for parents trying to entertain their children when the weather was so bad. The first day my children started back on Tuesday the sun begins to shine.

Another challenge that the school holidays presents is also when you have older children at University (as well as young children).

This is because when they come back home during the holidays (as much as we're happy to see and embrace them, because we haven't seen them all year) they are still an extra mouth to feed, and with the fact that their student loan would have been well and truly spent by this stage and if they don't have a job, it is back down to us as parents to support them - and where is the extra help?

I pay 39 a month for my sons bus pass but in other areas you get travel for free but because he's in a west Yorkshire school and not Barnsley then I'm not entitled, I really don't think it's fair at all

Well cant wait kids go bk school been nightmare lol x baby clothes sorted as started besting and am 34+4 weeks now.

Things have been quite difficult so far in 2024. In march I was fired from my part time job. During that time I was waiting 2 months for my DBS check therefore I couldn’t work. I attempted to ask for an advance from universal credit but they told me I would have to not work for at least 6 months to get an advance. I am now working but I financially support myself and I have no safety net to fall back on apart from UC. It is worrying.