private school fees

[normal bloke]

After a lot of thought and chatting to friends and relations, I came to the conclusion that maybe sending the boys to the local private school would be a good idea and give me a sense of doing-the-best-for-them, leaving aside all the moral dilemmas that I'm sure other posters will come up with.
However after a few minutes with a pen and a calculator, there is one over riding dilemma that I don't think I'll be able to crack...

HOW THE fk DO PEOPLE AFFORD IT?????

I have a decent job with (in my view) a reasonable "grown-up's" salary and the wife is working too. And I've just paid off the mortgage after 25 years but I cannot, for the love of God, see how several of what I thought were similarly paid friends can afford £25k+ per year for two kids to go to the local "Commercial".

Perhaps I'm living on another planet as far as industry pay is concerned, but seriously....to be able to raise that sort of money, we'd have to sacrifice everything...annual family holiday, meals out, the football, a few beers at the weekend, reliable newish car every 4 years, and much much more. Paradoxically, I don't see my pretty ordinary mates going without and they can afford it, so what's going on?

Or maybe they're all internet cyberthieves?
Are they borrowing against the value of their houses?
Are their parents footing the bills?

It beats me!

[normal bloke]

GT03ROB said:

In my experience.....

1) Some people earn a heck of a lot
2) Grandparents pay
3) People remortgage
4) People cut back big time

....by the way 12.5k each is only the start of it, the extra curricula will add to it.

What do you believe you/they will get from it?

Thanks.

The eldest lad is very bright but beginning to mix with fellas that bring him down to their level. Nice lads, but dossers, basically.
The youngest is bright...ish and keen on sport but not massively talented. He needs the time and attention that state schools simply cannot afford to give. And I don't think one-on-one private sports coaching is the way to go.

My biggest fear is that they'll end up mediocre at 18 and I'll say to myself "you could've done more". Also, it's the easy option to say to oneself, "Oh well, £25k+ is so out of our reach, let's not even try to think about it".
I suppose what I'm doing now, is having a bloody good think and asking total strangers (that's you lot by-the-way) for anecdotal advice isn't so strange in my view.

[normal bloke]

p1stonhead said:

I would imagine he means 'professional' type salary so maybe £50-100k?

I cant imagine many people on under £150k household income would consider private school? Perhaps im way off though.

Spot on. A lot nearer 50 than 100 though

[normal bloke]

Fellas,
Just got in from work and could not believe I have generated 4 pages of responses. The comments have ALL been really helpful. Keep them coming until you get really bored, or before then if you like.
I think I'll make the sacrifices necessary but it won't be easy
Many thanks

[normal bloke]

More discussion with the wife (£20k/yr, not £50k! ) last night, and I inputted a lot from what you've all said, and I think that only one of the lads (the younger, mad one) would benefit. Which brings us onto another quandry...is it being unfair on the one that we keep at the local state school?
Well, we asked him and he (the elder, clever one - but with no interesting personality) said he'd rather stay put. 'Can't imagine that forcing him to move would do any good, especially as GCSEs are in sight withing 2 years.

So...if we do anything, it will be probably only for the younger lunatic that will either end up at a kart track or on the front page of the Financial Times.

Or do we reverse that plan around 180deg?

Edited by normal bloke on Thursday 13th July 11:29