Not especially although I'm trying to have a complete draft bar bibliography by Xmas for final submission March. I'm finding it tough going as I am pretty fed up of it. I don't have anything very positive to say for myself, frankly. I just want to get finished. I'm disappointed to miss a final submission by Xmas but that is just impossible as I'm still finishing the analysis with the write-up.

I have seen similar situations (and I'm in one myself - no funding for the actual research but not told that until I started). The general rule of thumb is that if you can't see a way to cover your costs, one way or another, by the end of the first year, then you have to eaither change to a topic that doesn't need funds or switch to another supervisor with a cheaper, or funded, project. A friend of mine here was in this position and went through the board of graduate studies (you will have some admin equivalent) to officially switch to another supervisor. Unfortunately, there were serious problems with this other supervisor - so think carefully when choosing another topic/supervisor.

For myself, I put some of my grant towards research costs with has been a total pain and I am still pretty angry about having to do that. I had to scale back the costs drastically and consquently my dataset is really too small.

Keep some documentation to support any future complaint you need to raise about your situation.

Well, I think you are going to have to move upstairs or work eslewhere. This is primarily their home - not a workplace so I don't really think it's reasonable to expect them to be quiet all the time. I don't really see how your partner has been 'too easy going with them'. Being a step mum is such a minefield - I would advise against trying to make too many changes to the rules.

I sympathise as I can't work with my young child in the house even if her father is here - it's hopeless. Either he takes her out or I go to the library. My daughter is very young but I am waaay old and a lot of my friends' kids are teens or older - a lot of remarriages/new partners in amongst them too.

Do you have any day time childcare? I couldn't manage without it but is a pain financially - and then there is the guilt .....

I had her at the end of my second year. I took a year out and did a bit of writing during that time. I then took another year out but actually worked 2 days/week and then 3 days/week last year and this year (plus Saturdays). So the idea was that I would make the remaining year part-time over 2 years without officially going part-time (since that would cause funding headaches). So although this is technically my 4th year it's actually my 6th year - and it feels like it:p

I'd had a lot of problems with this project and I was quite behind schedule when the baby arrived. The teaching last year didn't help. Now I'm definitley keen to get to the end!

I definitely feel like that! I'm writing up this year (my 4th) so I'm not teaching - but I still have my 3 yr-old to compete for my attention. My husband will VERY pleased to see me finish this thing! In fact I should be working away right now....

I had the basics when I started and ran that as a pilot study into my second year. I had to make radical changes to the method following that and then those radical changes didn't quite pan out to plan either wich shot my time frame all to hell. :p

So basically, the empical method kept changing as I ran into problems.

For masters in general, if you have the entry requirements then it's a case of whether you can afford it. Masters courses are cash cows.

This is definitley not standard practice and I don't think it's a good idea. It would drive me barmy.

Well, it does sound like a good move, and as your kids are not so young, you could change direction once they are out of high school. I am actually even older :p and have the opposite problem. We depend on my dh's job so I can't move for a postdoc and fear i may not get one at all. Postdocs in my field are paid peanuts so we can't move for my job.

There's not really enough info - and couldn't be probably because it really depends on how hard you would struggle financially. Sit down and do the budget - is it actually managable or not? If it is, and it's what you prefer, then it's just up to your preferences. If you really think you won't be able to manage (i.e. cannot cover the basics) on the pay cut that's a different matter. Selling a house right now is grim too (we just did it in Jan and had to lower the price). Also for me, would depend how old your kids are. Once they get to 11, I would prefer not to move them unless I was going to a permanent post - not just for 2 -3 years which is tough at that age (I have one child, 3).

I practise that a lot with my 3 yr-old....

It's one thing to say you 'shouldn't' have to put up with something - but if you can't change it (and an ingrained working culture is not easily changed) than you do have to put up with it.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Yeah I have a few figures you could sort out for me if youhave time on your hands!

Ahhhh the relief mut be fabulous - I can only dream.....

That makes a lot more sense. I worked for a long time before coming back to this PhD. It is quite alarming to see the chaotic, non-accountable way things are 'run' in an academic dept. But I suppose this is the general culture. I much preferred the 'culture' especially the social side, of my previous jobs - I just didn't like the actual work and couldn't spend all my time at work gossipping, unfortunately (although I gave it a good shot). Academia is my only option too. I'm realising that for me it is going to be a choice between work I enjoy or a workplace I enjoy. I can't seem to have both. I think my place is nicer to students - tech support etc is quite good. Financial stuff is terrible - I had one grant payment delayed 3 months :-s

I'm hoping that the teaching element will give me back that missing 'handsonness' and interaction with other real life human beings.