how do you live off student loans if it all goes on rent

kelloggs36

I'm sure they could find the money if they wanted, afterall, there is a never ending pot of money for wars we can't win and aid to foreign countries never seems to run out does it?

silvercar

Pink_Eyes wrote: »

But what else is the government to do? They don't have a never ending pot of money, so have to give it to the people who need it the most - people from low income families.

The point is that it is not necessarily those on the lowest income who do need it most, those earning just above cut-off levels with high expenses could well need it more. There will always be some students that suffer most and now it seems to be those who don't get any grant and whose parents can't afford (or won't) support them.

For some families the choice is stark, they can't afford to give their student child anything, even though the government assumes they can. For other families the choices are difficult, eg to choose to stop funding their pension for a few years to support their children, or to take on an extra job.

kelloggs36

Oh, and I forgot - bailing out private sector banks who can't sort themselves out! Government found that money didn't they?

Pink_Eyes

silvercar wrote: »

The point is that it is not necessarily those on the lowest income who do need it most, those earning just above cut-off levels with high expenses could well need it more.

They chose to have expensive stuff, so they should pay for it.

Carlmoney

If I was back in Uni now (when I was I had to work 3 evenings a night) I'd fund additional money by Matched Betting - see the Gambling Introductory Offer Loopholes forum. The additional advantage being a student is you can change address every year and bank accounts so you can easily make a £1000 in a couple of months using the introductory offers the bookies offer to new account - I'd use the student loan as the 'cash-flow' to fund the bets / lay bets - oh take me back 18 years.

bestpud

We could debate the pros and cons of the current system for various students all we like, but we'd be missing the fundamental reason the system is the way it is!

The govt do not want to fund students at all and they don't actually care how students get by with the money they do provide. The sole reason they have student funding is to raise the number of HE students, and in particular, those from low income backgrounds.

More students = more state funding (because the fees do not anywhere near cover the cost of HE!) and therefore it would be very expensive to offer grants to all anyway, but as I said, their aim is to get more people into HE, not help HE students as such.

The 'losers' (if you can call it that) in this system are students from middle to high income families, who would have gone to uni anyway, but are now paying the price for increased access!

Personally, I think the fact that HE is more open to non-traditional students is a change for the better but it has swung the other way and there are now too many HE students. Also, it isn't necessarily attracting the ones it was meant to anyway! That's a different argument though!

It could not possibly be fair (no system of this kind is) but that was not the purpose anyway. It is about access to HE and those who get least would have gone to uni anyway - the govt know this and they see no need to offer them financial incentives.

Just my thoughts...

Jellicat

kelloggs36 wrote: »

I'm sure they could find the money if they wanted, afterall, there is a never ending pot of money for wars we can't win and aid to foreign countries never seems to run out does it?

Most sensible thing I've heard on this thread so far...that and MP's "furnishing allowance" :mad:

I'm just about to start an HNC course, hopefully moving on to uni. Student halls not an option for me thanks to the abundance of pets I've accumulated over the years. :rotfl: That and getting a bit "long in the tooth" for sharing with 18 year olds. Also, I have unfortunately got quite a bit of debt already that needs paying off, bit concerned about this, if I could go back in time I certainly would NOT have had a credit card or store card. I am extremely concerned about how this year is going to go. I will be working but I have a short temper when it comes to managers that treat me like dog poo unfortunately, so have found myself working in a pet shop cos I love animals...not the highest paid occupation or the best hours, but at least I know I'll stick it and not leave myself screwed. My dad is over the 29'000 threshold but didnt get a mortgage until later in life and so is paying back an extortionate morgage. Even if he could afford to help me out, I dont really feel at 24 I should be getting much help.

It would be nice if the government would stop throwing money away on stupid wars and appalling MP salaries and start investing in it's future...i.e. students and schools (along with hospitals and other public services).

kelloggs36

Pink_Eyes wrote: »

They chose to have expensive stuff, so they should pay for it.

That is too much of a genarlisation to make.

RachelRa

melancholly wrote: »

you know what, the important thing is that you're thinking about this now. so many students get into financial trouble because they just spend spend spend until it runs out, and then they have a long time left without any money. i know that doesn't help, but you have your interest free overdraft, and if you combine it with a holiday or term time job, it should be just about manageable. i hope it will be anyway.

Thanks. When I heard the first thing I did was ring up my bank and sort out my overdraft. I was going to try and avoid it.. but seriously, how!? £150! I'm going to be spending that on books and materials alone (Art degree).

It's bizzare, I thought the SLC split the money for different terms, but my first term is 18weeks, second is 16weeks and third is only 7 weeks... but I'm getting equal thirds of my loan for each..I'm going to be richer in my last term.. likely the one I'll need it the least (minus my end of year show?)! Is this true with everyone? I know I'm out of kilter because of having to pay rent during the holidays.. but still!?

bestpud wrote: »

Personally, I think the fact that HE is more open to non-traditional students is a change for the better but it has swung the other way and there are now too many HE students. Also, it isn't necessarily attracting the ones it was meant to anyway! That's a different argument though!

I agree.. I kinda resent the fact that people go to uni, on any course they can get on, just so they can live the Student Life for a few more years. Avoiding just getting a real job. The number of people in my year that dropped out of uni in the first year (I took a gap year) is insane... I half wish I was born 25 years earlier... Grants Ahoy!

Helix

RachelRa wrote: »

It's bizzare, I thought the SLC split the money for different terms, but my first term is 18weeks, second is 16weeks and third is only 7 weeks... but I'm getting equal thirds of my loan for each..I'm going to be richer in my last term.. likely the one I'll need it the least (minus my end of year show?)! Is this true with everyone? I know I'm out of kilter because of having to pay rent during the holidays.. but still!?

Its the same for everyone, the reason they do it is to cover the summer holidays. Thats why the loan is reduced in the final year because they don't cover for the holidays anymore as you will have graduated by then.