Asda mum Mandy worries about her kids' future job prospects

Mandy, 38, is a civil servant who lives in Washington, Tyne and Wear, with her husband Alan, 40 and two children Kieran, 14, and Lucy age nine.

Like many Asda mums who took part in the Mumdex survey Mandy worries about her kids’ future job prospects.

Although Kieran has only just chosen his GCSE options at school he has already had to change his career plans. He originally wanted to be a plumber but his school no longer offer vocational courses because of cutbacks so instead he has opted for extra PE and design courses and is thinking of becoming a PE teacher.

Mandy walked straight into a job after leaving school at the age of 16 but says that doesn’t happen often nowadays. “I left school on the Thursday and my mum had found me a job starting on the Saturday! Most of my friends had at least a week off but there were six of us in the house and I had to start paying my way!”

Day-to-day finances are tight so there’s not much spare for savings or holidays. The family haven’t been abroad since Lucy was three but they make sure they go camping each summer. Alan, a production operator, has to take his holiday with the rest of the factory in the school summer holidays – when holiday prices are at their peak.

To save money Mandy has started to plan meals each week and make sure she sticks to the shopping list.

“It sounds mundane but it works. I used to pile the trolley high and then come home and wonder what to make. Now I actually write a shopping list. Sometimes the kids complain they’re having the same meal again but I remind them to be thankful they’ve got something to eat.”