Hey people lets get this Uni thang going...

TWINKLE-STAR_6

The_One_Who wrote: »

If the OP had made his posts clear and concise there wouldn't have been any confusion over what exactly he was doing. Also, people are more likely to answer negatively when others are being insulted and called names. It does nothing to help your case or made people want to help you.

i think a little needs to be given on both sides here, and i dont think it helps new members if they ask for advice and they get jumped on, it makes people not want to post which could result in loosing a member , none of us would be here if there was no1 to ask for help or advice so i think everyone should treat others with a bit of respect.

dan you shouldnt be insulting and people who posted negatively shouldnt jump to conclusions about what kind of parent someone is when they are clearly trying to be there for their child.

now lets all be adults and play nice or we can act like keyboard warriors and argue all night :mad:, but im real tired so can we wait till tomorrow if its the 2nd option? (that is a joke b4 anyone jumps on me too)

:A:A:A

J_81

Why does'nt he have a bank account if he's working already?
He can just use that account that he should have from work for his Student loan and pay that off himself for Uni.
You obviously don't trust him to not spend the money that would be available to him which is why i think people are giving you such a hard time.

To answer the original question everyone's budget will be different. It's no good saying to him 'i was told 200 is enough on MSE forum' as he might need more or maybe less depending on his needs/lifestyle. He should know how much he needs money for i.e going out, books, clothes as unless he's lead a sheltered life he will have a jist as to the cost of uni life - how much a night out costs, clothes he'll need, lunch etc.

As with any budget get him to write down what he realistically will spend on etc and see what you get.
I'm not saying he's old enough to do it himself etc but rather do it to get a realistic budget rather than asking others who don't know your son.

ellay864

My son is going off to uni in 3 weeks and I'm trying not to let myself smother him but in any case I oculdn't as he just won't let me. He sorted out his new mobile and had got it sorted before mentioning to me...I found out when he gave me his new number! He's already found the laptop he wants and says he'll buy it though I'll certainly contribute to it but he hasn't asked me to do so. We've gone through lists of things he needs in halls together as it's easier for me to get things when I'm out anyway - he doesn't drive and we don't have many shops in wlaking distance, certainly nowhere for getting the cheap essentials. I know he's pretty frugal generally and has picked the cheapest halls (though not yet confirmed he's got them) and he has already sorted out a budget spreadsheet to help him keep an eye on things. He hasn't yet got his bank account sorted as they wanted his official letter which got delayed but he has a savings account so his money will go there for now and he can withdraw cheques from there but cant make direct payments so I may step in to make payments as a contingency. As a parent it's sad feeling slightly redundant but reassuring to think he's becoming so independent and doing more than I would probably credit him with (not convinced on the cooking front though!!)
I can kind of understand the OP's point of view though it did come across initially as doing everything for him, but name calling when people make comments you don't agree with is out of order. Don't post on here if you only want to be agreed with!

hbk619

To second the most recent question why doesn't he have a bank account? As soon as he got the UCAS acceptance letter he could have got a student account. If the railcard is free from it how come he has that already? How did he apply for student loan without giving bank details?

I'm on my placement year of uni, I've worked for the last 4 years and got my own laptop/car. I wasn't hard done by, my life hasn't been tough because my parents are poor, I chose to work and earn my own money and have my own stuff, and don't understand why people wouldn't want to. I'm guilty of accepting a TV from them as an xmas present after they spent a year asking if I wanted one. Everyone I know that accepts money help from their parents at uni is over-drawn.... Although actually I may be the only student I know who isn't (and is actually plus £8000 or so).

£200pm is a luxury budget. Surely your son should have his own savings account to put the £1000 in, if it's for a holiday he wants to go on why would he spend it? And I still don't understand why he's giving you money for accommodation. If it's halls they can take it after he gets his student loan. Mine generally went credit:1400, taken:900 in one day. He could have his own account to put the money in for rent (as I did, wages in one, student loan in another, makes it easier to not spend it).

£100pm would be enough, 10 food, 15 going out. If he gets a part time job he shouldn't be getting any regular money from you.

mumps

hbk619 wrote: »

I'm on my placement year of uni, I've worked for the last 4 years and got my own laptop/car. I wasn't hard done by, my life hasn't been tough because my parents are poor, I chose to work and earn my own money and have my own stuff, and don't understand why people wouldn't want to. I'm guilty of accepting a TV from them as an xmas present after they spent a year asking if I wanted one. Everyone I know that accepts money help from their parents at uni is over-drawn.... Although actually I may be the only student I know who isn't (and is actually plus £8000 or so).

My daughter accepts money from me and she isn't overdrawn and has £7,600 in savings. She also saved when doing her A levels and paid for driving lessons and a car. Over the last three years she has also paid for holidays in Russia, India, Egypt, Greece and Italy. Not everyone is the same, something you may learn but perhaps not at university.

She doesn't do a placement year on her course. Do you get paid on your placement?

Oldernotwiser

mumps wrote: »

My daughter accepts money from me and she isn't overdrawn and has £7,600 in savings. She also saved when doing her A levels and paid for driving lessons and a car. Over the last three years she has also paid for holidays in Russia, India, Egypt, Greece and Italy. Not everyone is the same, something you may learn but perhaps not at university.

She doesn't do a placement year on her course. Do you get paid on your placement?

It's easier to have savings if you accept money from your parents; it's effectively their money you're saving rather than your own!

metalgal

have had a quick look on this thread and some peoples attitudes are really annoying. god forbid someone has a uni experience where they are not eating beans working all hours god sends. does it make them a bad person? does it make their parents bad people that maybe they have been saving up to send their child to uni? when did parents giving their children money the wrong thing to do? !!!!!! did you maybe think that the parents are really proud of their kids getting in to uni and they want to show their support by helping them financially so they can concentrate on their studies or even worse enjoy their youth before they are bogged down with bills and mortgages. I sure i am glad im not some of the posters child because it seems to be a case of your 18 !!!! off now.

Lokolo

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It's easier to have savings if you accept money from your parents; it's effectively their money you're saving rather than your own!

Take what you can I say!

Lokolo

metalgal wrote: »

have had a quick look on this thread and some peoples attitudes are really annoying. god forbid someone has a uni experience where they are not eating beans working all hours god sends. does it make them a bad person? does it make their parents bad people that maybe they have been saving up to send their child to uni? when did parents giving their children money the wrong thing to do? !!!!!! did you maybe think that the parents are really proud of their kids getting in to uni and they want to show their support by helping them financially so they can concentrate on their studies or even worse enjoy their youth before they are bogged down with bills and mortgages. I sure i am glad im not some of the posters child because it seems to be a case of your 18 !!!! off now.

No-one minds parents giving their children money. You should try reading the thread.

The main argument was that the parent is doing everything for the child, leaving the child to do nothing and not learn about anything.

Lokolo

mumps wrote: »

My daughter accepts money from me and she isn't overdrawn and has £7,600 in savings. She also saved when doing her A levels and paid for driving lessons and a car. Over the last three years she has also paid for holidays in Russia, India, Egypt, Greece and Italy. Not everyone is the same, something you may learn but perhaps not at university.

She doesn't do a placement year on her course. Do you get paid on your placement?

I got £15k (+£2k sign on bonus) for my placement.