Surviving as a Mature Student

Penny2myName

The £700 food is for myself, 3 children, a dog and three cats, working out at £50 per week.

Penny2myName

Just called Student Finance, and found out I shall be getting Parental Learning Allowance. The reason I haven't recieved it yet and why it wasn't on my assessment form, is because they haven't finished processing my children's birth certificate.

Penny2myName

Just paid 10 weeks worth of rent, 2 arrears and 8 advance, grand total of £589.00. Still have another 3 weeks worth to pay to fully cover this term, but will do them ones next month.

moneysavermum_2

what are you studying? i am desperate to go to uni but financially am petrified of the drop down in wage. I want to do social work ideally would get in as already have a degree and get a bursary but god knows how would manage day to day have mortgage too.

Penny2myName

BA (hons) Fashion & Textiles. I wasn't working when I decided to return to study, so didn't really have to worry about a drop in income. The only problem with you already having a degree, is you will probs have to fork out all costs yourself and and average cost is around £3k tuition for first years now.

Justicenpeace

Hi Penny2myName, I enjoyed reading your diary and will look forward to hearing about your progress. Good luck!

Hi nje24, It would be worth checking out the masters courses in social work in your area if this is what you want to do. You would be able to get bursaries and for postgraduate courses there is an needs-based element to the support available (including for dependents). There is a shortage of social workers and quite a lot of help available. The entry qualifications vary - some require 2.2s, others higher. In almost all cases however they look very favourably on people who have experience of working in a voluntary capacity in a relevant area. Good luck.

Penny2myName

Feel sick cat has had accident and looks like part of its tail may need amputating. Hope vet will accept £300 as a down payment and let me do a payment plan for rest.

homegrown_life

oh no - hope the cat won't prove too expensive

Will keep an eye on this thread, I'd love to go to Uni one day. Hope everything is going ok apart from the vet.

Penny2myName

Thank you homegrown

elantan

Ohhh fingers crossed hope the cat is ok