Looking for advice and answers on student finance

Komubcha

In answer to a few questions:

The course will be computer science. I don't have a timetable yet but I am guessing in the first year I'll be in uni a lot, at least nearer the start as ICT A-levels don't prepare you enough to jump into individual projects right away. If anyone has recent experience that says otherwise though, feel free to correct me. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time in bits here and there, but I doubt there are enough big chunks or enough room for flexibility for most employers, unless they only want me in evenings and weekends (which would be good). It looks like cleaning jobs are the best options there, if I can get one cleaning offices after they close it would be perfect.

The reason I'm not living in halls is I've already lived in halls for a year while doing a foundation course, and have since rented a house before moving here. Going to halls again would have felt like a backwards step.

I will talk to my parents but somehow they don't have a lot of spare money. I have not asked them what they're spending it on because it's not my business, so I don't know where it goes (I think part of it is they're trying to pay off their mortgage ASAP) but the end result is they don't have much spare, and as I'm almost 22 (rather than just out of school) they don't really have much responsibility for me. The rules for student loans don't seem to take into consideration situations where students have not been completely financially independent for 3 years but can't continue to live off their parents for another 3.

I'll keep looking for jobs anyway, and see what facilities the university has for finding them.

Lokolo

What uni? Timetables more than likely will already be up, its just a matter of knowing where to look.

However I do Computer Games Programing and I did 19 hours in first year (I did do extra modules), 12 in second.

ALSO, look to see if you university have student ambassadors, help out at open days and visits from schools and such. Thats what I did for first 2 years, and as I was on university payroll, I got university ages, so £7.31 an hour.... :cool:

Wiggynut

why do you have to pay 10 months in front???
mind you at least you know the rent is paid and not have to worry about the roof over your head!

I've rented for 22 years and I've only ever had to pay a months deposit and months rent in front! is it a student flat - I know that renting halls means you have to pay per term up front?

I pay £500 per month just for a room (inclusive of bills except tv licence) and I'm not in an expensive part of London! a flat for £375 is fantastic!

I'm a mature student so my loans, grants etc work out (term time only) £730 per month which is enough to pay rent and live etc - plus I do work so I'm personally quite well off, so to speak!

Swirlywurly

Komubcha wrote: »

In answer to a few questions:

The course will be computer science. I don't have a timetable yet but I am guessing in the first year I'll be in uni a lot, at least nearer the start as ICT A-levels don't prepare you enough to jump into individual projects right away. If anyone has recent experience that says otherwise though, feel free to correct me. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time in bits here and there, but I doubt there are enough big chunks or enough room for flexibility for most employers, unless they only want me in evenings and weekends (which would be good). It looks like cleaning jobs are the best options there, if I can get one cleaning offices after they close it would be perfect.

The reason I'm not living in halls is I've already lived in halls for a year while doing a foundation course, and have since rented a house before moving here. Going to halls again would have felt like a backwards step.

I will talk to my parents but somehow they don't have a lot of spare money. I have not asked them what they're spending it on because it's not my business, so I don't know where it goes (I think part of it is they're trying to pay off their mortgage ASAP) but the end result is they don't have much spare, and as I'm almost 22 (rather than just out of school) they don't really have much responsibility for me. The rules for student loans don't seem to take into consideration situations where students have not been completely financially independent for 3 years but can't continue to live off their parents for another 3.

I'll keep looking for jobs anyway, and see what facilities the university has for finding them.

Unfortunately sometimes you have to sacrifice to balance the books.

I'm going into my 6 year of uni (god that makes me feel old!!) this is the first year I won't have lived in halls. Why? Because I couldn't afford to live in a house. In my first year I lived in halls, halfway through my second year in halls I got a job as a subwarden. Subsidised rent, free bus pass, laundry and some meals. It meant working 1 night in 10 and some weekends, and I really missed out on the social aspect of living in a house, but needs must. My mum has never given me any money and I needed to support myself. I managed to work from 6:00pm - 8:30am and still go to my lectures (or placement at the hospital). I gave it up because I moved away to do a different course at a different uni for a year and it does take its toll after 2.5 years, but it made a massive difference to how much money I have.

I was meant to be writing my dissertation for my masters this summer, unfortunately because of lots of health problems I can't submit it on time. I have been given an extension, but i'm also working full time for 6 weeks before my new academic year starts. I've also just got a job with NHS professionals once my CRB comes through and I do my training (so I can work night shifts when i'm not busy) and I will be signing up to be a student ambassador.

Sometimes I feel very resentful that I have to do all of this whilst others just call their parents when they want money, but needs must. I've had a job since I was 13 because I knew I wanted to go to uni and I knew I needed to save money.

You can make sacrifices like moving back into halls if you have to. I'm from London, even in these times you should be able to find a job. You will not be that busy that you can't ever work.

Good luck with your course and sorting out your finances.

Wiggynut

Sometimes I feel very resentful that I have to do all of this whilst others just call their parents when they want money, but needs must. I've had a job since I was 13 because I knew I wanted to go to uni and I knew I needed to save money.


don't feel resentful as you are obviously working hard for your success rather than being a spoilt kid who thinks everything is handed to them on a plate - these will be the ones not working after completing their degree and moaning about not getting lots of money and success for doing sod all or at least not realising that you're suppose to work for it!
where as you are practically guaranteed work afterward with all your experience and hard work!

(I do know what you mean though - as I've worked cleaning jobs from 7 and full time since 15 - would have started earlier but no one would give me a job as I looked too young!??!?! and my family were abusive so they took money from me and not the other way around! - I do love the way that some students buy 3 pairs of designer jeans at £150 a go and then moan they have no money - they then get the emergency money from Uni which they don't have to pay back!??!?!?! a smack in the teeth for those that do look after themselves and struggle etc.)

good luck and you should be proud of yourself

Swirlywurly

Wiggynut wrote: »

Sometimes I feel very resentful that I have to do all of this whilst others just call their parents when they want money, but needs must. I've had a job since I was 13 because I knew I wanted to go to uni and I knew I needed to save money.


don't feel resentful as you are obviously working hard for your success rather than being a spoilt kid who thinks everything is handed to them on a plate - these will be the ones not working after completing their degree and moaning about not getting lots of money and success for doing sod all or at least not realising that you're suppose to work for it!
where as you are practically guaranteed work afterward with all your experience and hard work!

(I do know what you mean though - as I've worked cleaning jobs from 7 and full time since 15 - would have started earlier but no one would give me a job as I looked too young!??!?! and my family were abusive so they took money from me and not the other way around! - I do love the way that some students buy 3 pairs of designer jeans at £150 a go and then moan they have no money - they then get the emergency money from Uni which they don't have to pay back!??!?!?! a smack in the teeth for those that do look after themselves and struggle etc.)

good luck and you should be proud of yourself

Thank you very much, seems you appreciate where i'm coming from. I think i'm just tired...trying to do a masters and work full time is taking its toll. Plus my original course starts back at the end of this month so its a bit of a juggling act.

OP it won't necessarily be easy, but it seems like getting a job will make your life much easier. You may also be able to find a way to drive down your utility bills. I use O2 broadband because I have my mobile contract with them and also go 3 months free. You've made the first step by joining this site, its a mine of information. You can also food shop cheaply in London, especially if you know where the street markets are.

Komubcha

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm at Kingston University, to those who asked.

I'll be keeping the bills as low as possible by being careful about what is used. I've also found Quidco very useful (it has effectively dropped the internet bill for the year to £6.25/month).

Swirlywurly: Halls wouldn't really work out cheaper here. Perhaps by a small amount, but nothing significant.

Wiggynut: I don't have to pay 10 months rent up front, I'm paying monthly, but the only guaranteed income I have over the year will be my loan so I need to consider how I'm going to pay all of that from the start. I'll be putting the vast majority of my loan in a bills account to ensure I have enough set aside for all bills + rent over the course of the year. This will ensure I don't end up owing for bills I can't pay, or having to ask for extra money. The down side is it means, as mentioned, £1.60/day left for the rest of my expenses. If I can supplement that with a job, good, but I'm happy to know that even if I can't get a job I can pay the bills. I do consider it likely I won't be able to find work, considering that I have applied for over 100 over the last few months and not been asked to single interview (I have had my CV checked by several people, it's not just that it's rubbish). But we'll see, fingers crossed.

Humphrey10

Komubcha wrote: »

I will talk to my parents but somehow they don't have a lot of spare money.

They have to be earning quite a lot in order for your loan to be reduced significatly. People manage to live on minimum wage, and your parents earn very much more than that. Tell them your uni work will suffer if they can't make up it difference, because it will.

I went to Nottingham University first, and there were a lot of students who didn't get the full loan because of what their parents earned. The ones who didn't get the full loan, and didn't get the difference from their parents had a much harder time, they had to get paid work, they couldn't afford to eat properly, they couldn't afford a PC, etc etc, and their marks suffered. They were more stressed etc too.

dieselhead

I can sympathise with your position OP but I like many was in the position of getting a reduced loan without any help from my parents (I think its one of the greatest flaws of the system but thats a debate I have had on here before )

Unfortunately the only thing you can do is get a job, the university will have some, however they will go quickly so you must find out the minute you move in where they will be advertised and where to apply. You may have better luck getting a job in the university if you are struggling outside.