OMG how do you manage - financially

no.1swimmum

My son gets his letter today from student finance, and we have just sat and worked out that the first term of 15 weeks he will have £398 for the whole term to live off this is after his self catered accomodation is paid for which means he will have £26.53 a week for food, laundry etc, how do you manage! We will help him as much as poss but we are just an ordinary family we don't earn a fortune, I have already bought him some basics, and will continue to do so. He is a swimmer so eats quite a bit, especially healthy, lots of pasta, fresh veg etc I really can't see how he can manage, on this amount of money

Lokolo

£26 is plenty if he's not having to buy 3 meals a day for food.

He could always get a weekend job...?

The_One_Who

A part-time evening/weekend job is pretty much essential for most students. Also, buying in bulk could definitely help reduce the cost of some foods.

7891368

I get £2 a term so £26 a week sounds fantastic for me!

Most students get a job or use their overdraft.

Indie_Kid

Some (er, yes myself included...) do raid their parents' cupboards when they go home.

pivotalgubbins

no.1swimmum wrote: »

My son gets his letter today from student finance, and we have just sat and worked out that the first term of 15 weeks he will have £398 for the whole term to live off this is after his self catered accomodation is paid for which means he will have £26.53 a week for food, laundry etc, how do you manage! We will help him as much as poss but we are just an ordinary family we don't earn a fortune, I have already bought him some basics, and will continue to do so. He is a swimmer so eats quite a bit, especially healthy, lots of pasta, fresh veg etc I really can't see how he can manage, on this amount of money

As others have said, he should be looking to find some type of part-time employment, although this should be structured to the course he is studying (e.g. a medical degree will be very demanding in terms of lecture hours and workload, he may be limited to 6-8 hour weeks, where other course may allow him to take on a bit more).

Plus, he doesn't go to University until the end of September or even the start of October. This gives him around three full months where he should be working almost full-time to save some additional funds - if he can put aside an average of £100 per week that is £1,200 extra for the first year.

In addition, there is chances to work at Christmas and Easter, these times (and the money I earned) were essential in assisting my University days. Actually, by working full-time in the summer and in the other holidays, I managed to avoid working in term-time, which was great.

no.1swimmum

Thanks for the replies - yes I agree ideally a part time job would be the answer but he will be training morning and evenings, already been told that he has made the uni swimming team, and then competing at weekends - well not every weekend but in his first term it will be about 4/5 weekends, some he will be returning home for his old club and some with uni. so a job would be really hard to fit in with study and training.

01001011

Check the old style board. Many people (myself included) live on well less than £26 a week.

7891368

no.1swimmum wrote: »

Thanks for the replies - yes I agree ideally a part time job would be the answer but he will be training morning and evenings, already been told that he has made the uni swimming team, and then competing at weekends - well not every weekend but in his first term it will be about 4/5 weekends, some he will be returning home for his old club and some with uni. so a job would be really hard to fit in with study and training.

Then he's going to have to make extra sacrifices or you will have to financially support him.

Most students have to give up their weekends/evenigns to work even if they would rather do extra curricular activities.

I have a zero hour contract, I give my employer the hours I am available and they allocate me shifts accordingly.

Have you checked to see he doesn't qualify for any extra bursaries due to his sporting talent?
Often these are available, understandably at exceptional levels i.e. olympic level, depends on the Uni.

tessie_bear

i used to get food from my parents house...u could perhaps start buying food with a good sell by date and do him a box..and start giving him words of wisdom on cheap living...hope it works out for him...and u

Lokolo

How is he travelling about? Like from uni and such?

He should be spending around £15-20 if hes tight with food (super noodles, pasta etc.), I tend to spend a little luxury on food (om nom nom).

Given he's going to be training and such at weekends then he won't be going out Fri/Sat nights, so he could easily get a job for those evenings?

---

Also, something to bear/bare in mind. You won't be having to support him, so your food bill should go down.... so you could always give him what you would have spent there.