Rat problem

[AnnieP]

Bron, when I broke my arm after Christmas and couldn't drive for 6 weeks it nearly killed me being so out in the sticks, so I do empathise with you. Tessa is right, you need to find a great friend or, in fact, anyone, who is willing to let you have a go in their car to gain the basics and then to practice in between proper lessons. I started my driving career on a disused airfield.

[Guest]

Maybe people get more spent on them for birthdays etc than they do in my family. Two lessons would be more than the cost of a normal present here and that’s not enough to learn.

Sorry I sound really bitter don't I? I don't mean to be its just upsetting as I am very much stuck in the village and reliant on dh which is even worse as he can use it against me.

 

lol don't worry some people are really lucky and get everything paid for them including their car!

 

But my parents/family haven't helped me financially at all either. Apart from as you say small presents at birthday's/Christmas. They can afford it though because they are pretty well off, but they want me to struggle and achieve everything by myself.

 

I can see their point and am not bitter about it, I know they love me in their own way! lol

 

Life always seems to be a never ending struggle for us to! The cost of everything keeps rising and the amount of service/products it buys keeps dropping. The divide between the rich and the poor is getting greater in my opinion.

 

The boiler broke over the winter so we have been without central heating for months, we will have to save up over the summer in order to repair it for next winter.

 

We are fairly good with our finances though, but I just don't know where all the money goes as we certainly don't lead extravagant lifestyles.

[Cate in NZ]

Good grief, I might actually be saving some money on something in this whole emigration process

 

Youngsters learn to drive at 15 over there, lots of very rural locations and poor public transport, so driving is pretty much a required skill for anyone. Driving lessons aren't too expensive from what I can see and insurance isn't complusory

 

I started learning to drive at 17, can't remember what the lessons cost, but I remember that I got 10 lessons as part of my 17th birthday present, after that I had to pay for them out of my Saturday job earnings. Unfortunately I failed my first test then didn't bother for a few years as I went off to uni and couldn't afford lessons, then to London for my training and didn't need to drive, so I didn't try to learn again until I was about 23, married and living outside central London. Hubby taught me then, we went out for a drive most days (and I sometimes wonder how the marriage survived as we had some highly dramatic disagreements when I misinterpreted his instructions ). That said I've now been driving for over 20 years and would feel really stuck if I was unable to drive now.

 

Good luck to all the young people just learning to drive.

[chickencam]

I am not looking forward to this, ED will be 17 in two and a half years, then I have two more children to follow. I don't want to think how much it is going to cost to help 3 children learn to drive. They are going to have to pitch in by getting a job. Must find gainful employment for eldest

[missuscluck]

Bron, I know how you feel which is why I am so desperate for them all to learn. I can drive and paid for my lessons out of my saturday jobs etc when I was at college. I sold my old banger when we moved in together as we needed the cash and had no car for some while and it drove me nuts as we were not really near to anything worth mentioning. Did a lot of push biking!!.

She has had lessons for birthday presents, unfortunatly this dosent cover it.

 

I really dont think she appreciates the sacrifices made for her to have them though

 

I too have 2 more children to get through learning to drive.

 

Also she is going to uni in September. I am looking at it that the money we spend per week on lessons will go towords uni costs, as she wont be getting both. I am used to being broke and have accepted it as my lot in life untill they go.

My needs are few, which is just as well

I hope you find someone to take you out for a spin. This is definatly the most cost effective way of gaining the confidence. Get some lessons for fine tuning.