OMG how do you manage - financially

Everynamestaken

Has he got a summer job now?

No getting round that some weeks your son will be losing money. It's all about budgeting, for example, if your son earns and saves 1200 for a summers job in the next 3 months, and then he spends 30 pound a week of that summer job money up until christmas, he will be living in luxury if he has a job at weekend as well.

I won't lie to you. People I knew at Uni who had no summer job, or had no job whilst at uni, or who had no funding from home whatsoever. Well, those people (very rare I may add) were at a extreme struggle.

mumps

I don't think he will have a 15 week term, most universities start at the end of Sept or start of October and finish early December, students who work for me, and my own DD, seem to have terms of about 10 weeks so it might not be as bad as you think. A summer job would be a good idea, my DD tries to save about £1,500 in summer and tops it up in Christmas/Easter hols. She also earns a bit at university showing prospective students around. I hope he sorts it out.

ViolaLass

I agree, a summer job is the way to go. I worked during the holidays and during term time though in hindsight I decided the loss of studying time during term outweighed the benefit of the money and didn't work during term in my third year.

Have you checked for bursaries/grants etc? Does he have any savings? To be honest, I'd consider myself lucky in his position - my student grant didn't even cover my rent (and that's even when I was in halls, let alone elsewhere).

Idiophreak

£26.53 isn't so bad.

He'll be allowed to take around £600/year on his overdraft = £200/term = £20/week (where did 15 weeks come from? Surely all uni terms are around 10?) - so he's up to £45.

If he works in the summer, takes home £800/month for three months, that gives him another £800/term = £80/week - so he's up to £125/week - should be living the life of riley?

That's how I got by at uni - but I had about -£30/week by the time my accommodation was paid for - so I had to do these things to get by...

Oldernotwiser

I think he might need to commit to either the university swimming team or the one at home - it doesn't sound as if it will be practical for him to do both.

ciderwithrosie_2

How much are his halls per week? Is there anywhere a bit cheaper? I'm afraid he'll have to get some money together over the summer hols as there's things you haven't factored in there like text books for his course, joining groups/clubs, deposits for things, freshers week.

I do my son a Tesco home delivery once a month, spending about £50 - that stocks him up with the basics to make a few meals and his washing tablets and toiletries. He only has to buy a few fresh items then throughout the month. Son's very grateful cos I don't think his mates get anything like that and it's only what I'd be spending if he was here anyway. Now he's moving to a shared house next year I've said I'll pay for a microwave and his contents insurance (it was included in his rent when he was in halls).

Mankysteve

I would love to be to go out climbing every tue and sun with the uni club and walking on sat but I have to earn so I've had to give them up its a sad facts of life sometimes you've just got to give up the stuff you want to do for your education.

Neato

I have 3 part time jobs in term time, work all holidays and still have a maxed out overdraft. It's hard...I'm MUCH better at budgeting this year than i was previously. You do get used to the budgeting..

MrsManda

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I think he might need to commit to either the university swimming team or the one at home - it doesn't sound as if it will be practical for him to do both.

Especially if he wants to pass his degree. Studying at university is difficult and being on a university sports team is hard work. I have friends who manage both plus a job but there's no way they'd be able to make it home at the weekends to do anything else even without a job, they rarely even have time to come out for a few drinks at the end of the week. One of the most important things you learn at university is to prioritise (your time, your money, your energy). It is a valuable skill to learn and one which is vital if you are to pass a degree.

ThinkingOfLinking

I work 2 part time (evenings and weekends) jobs to survive university...I'm not a medical student or anything but just ONE of my text books cost over £60, so I couldn't not buy it. I'm actually looking for more work, eg a supermarket shift or two per week to top that up and also want to do some temping over the holidays to further bolster my finances as it's really essential.