How much do I give as a weekly allowance

minerva_windsong

I'm probably going to get called a lazy scrounger for saying this, but I got an allowance of £100 a week from my parents (it started out as £70/week but went up once I moved off campus) to cover food, transport to my internship, bills and anything else I needed/wanted - their reasoning being that whilst I was at university, that was supposed to be my job and they wanted me to focus on getting a good degree rather than fretting about money and being able to support myself. All my maintenance loan went on my rent.

I also worked behind a bar in a hotel in uni holidays, which paid for me to do stuff in the holidays and to buy my books and pay my student society fees etc at the start of term, so it wasn't like I didn't work at all whilst I was a student, and also meant I didn't have to pay tax on what I earned.

I'd also like to stress that I never took the money from my parents for granted and never expected them to bail me out, and would quite happily have got a job in term time if they hadn't been as generous as they were.

If he's going into halls I would say start off with £50-70 a week, depending what you can afford, as it's likely that a lot of stuff will be paid for for him (I got all my bills paid for me in halls so all I really needed to buy was food and also cover anything else I wanted to do). If he wants to supplement it with a job (term time, holiday or both) then he can.

ThinkingOfLinking

It depends what subject he's studying; I have had to buy lots of software, equipment and books. Just one of my books alone was over £50 and no, I'm not a medical student!! I am also required to buy a relevant magazine at £4.99 a month. I get no allowance but I work and struggle to get by at the moment on £100 a week. I'm teetotal, don't smoke and don't go clubbing but still never seem to have enough money.

msmyth18

Lokolo wrote: »

I'm sorry, but as a student, this £200-250 is way too much. I get that much and save a lot of it.

I started off with £500 going to uni. I have accomondation paid for, and £200 a month spending money.

After 3 years (one was a paid placement). I have taken loans out for 2 years (totally just under £7k). I am now about to go into my final year and had, until I bought a shiny new car last week, £21k overall in assets.

So I can safely say the amounts you have spoken about are too much, unless the student is going to do something with it.

Out of interest how did you manage to save that amount of money thru uni and only take out £7 worth of loans? Basic living for me costs about £30 and that wouldn't include going out, books etc.

As for the original post as everything seems to be already paid for i would say £50 a week would be more than enough.

SDavies

i want to be your daughter if you'd be paying all that! one lucky lad

Johnnii

It's up to you if you give him an allowance but from what you are giving on top of what you are already paying it seems way too much. If you feel you don't want him to get a job when studying then fairplay but i'd at least make him get a job in the holidays. I seen far too many people when i was at uni hardly ever work and when they graduate don't want to work and still live off their parents which the parents end up regretting.

Lokolo

msmyth18 wrote: »

Out of interest how did you manage to save that amount of money thru uni and only take out £7 worth of loans? Basic living for me costs about £30 and that wouldn't include going out, books etc.

As for the original post as everything seems to be already paid for i would say £50 a week would be more than enough.

I had a placement year, which means I managed to save £6k+ from that.

I also had a partime job, and worked summer jobs, and the monthly allowance I get, I don't need all of that, so I have also saved some of that.

Indeed, £30 a week living, plus £20-30 going out max. And I got given £200 a month, so it would mean I would need to be going out every week, which of course I didn't.

bestpud

We are talking about 'pocket money' here; he has all the necessities covered, including food!

Why on earth would he need £50 a week or more for 'spends'? £50 is a lot to pee up a wall!!

I can't understand how people are spending £100 a week on top of accommodation...? :eek:

Organised students don't need to spend loads on text books and he can take stationery with him, although students always tell mum/dad they have no money for food or books when they realise they've got no drinking money left! They never say they have no money to go out - never!!

I've heard it so many times and I don't know whether to feel for the parent on the other end of the line, or berate them for being so blimming gullible!!

If you are going to completely support him, and don't want him to work, I think you should strongly encourage him to spend some time volunteering or doing other activities to enhance his CV.

Lokolo

bestpud wrote: »

We are talking about 'pocket money' here; he has all the necessities covered, including food!

Why on earth would he need £50 a week or more for 'spends'? £50 is a lot to pee up a wall!!

I can't understand how people are spending £100 a week on top of accommodation...? :eek:

Organised students don't need to spend loads on text books and he can take stationery with him, although students always tell mum/dad they have no money for food or books when they realise they've got no drinking money left! They never say they have no money to go out - never!!

I've heard it so many times and I don't know whether to feel for the parent on the other end of the line, or berate them for being so blimming gullible!!

If you are going to completely support him, and don't want him to work, I think you should strongly encourage him to spend some time volunteering or doing other activities to enhance his CV.

I've already said this and no-one believed me

bestpud

Lokolo wrote: »

I've already said this and no-one believed me

Aww, I believe you!

nimbo

has he applied for the Maintainence GRANT?

that's free for all....

if you're payong his accomodation etc - he won't need masses of cash....

i imagine a lot of his friends will have to get part time jobs, and TBH when i lived at uni i loved mine. 75% discount at Monsoon was a dream for me. also gained another crowed to go on night out with. had i not worked weekends i would have been in my halls basically by myself. (there were other buildings, but my floor was empty).

however much you give him make sure you don't skint yourself - students tend to adapt tp their finincial means, which isn't bad especially if they have a garuenteed roof over their heads. i doubt that many of his friends will be rolling in it, at uni, most people are 'skint' if his rents being paid that's 3/4 the battle...

give him a cash bung for freshers week, and for chrimbo, but try to get him to appreciate the value of money.

make sure when you visit you 'treat' hime to a junk food/beer shop at ASDA or the likes, and stock his washing powder supply up, and make him aware that he can ask for extra cash if he should need it. (but don't go to the top end of your budget immediately as he may need to you to dig deeper if you see what i mean).

he will manage - just make sure he can make mac and chees before he arrives!!!!!!! (this was part of the fun for me)

PS send him random parcels - i used to get monthly supplies of chocolate, and womens bits. getting parcels was the best, and chocolate at that time of the month was like the holy grail of gifts. TBH post that wasn't bills was the bees knees... :):):)