Hey people lets get this Uni thang going...

angelofmel

I dont understand why everyone is getting all so angsty over this. regardless of wether or not you all think the OP is doing too much for his son or not, the fact of the matter is, he's done it already. its over and if he has done too much with the sorting of the phone etc then its too late to change anyway.

Also, in terms of the rent, i think dan and his son are being really sensible. most halls dont take the rent payments monthly, they take a large sum each term, about a third of the way in. from what ive seen at uni, especially on a night out, its so easy to spend that money before the rent day accidentally. at least with dan and his sons way, his son can spend the rest of the money on food, books. social, whatever without the worry of that large rent amount or risk getting in his overdraft early on.

Dan, i think your son needs to get his bank account sorted and inform the loans company asap or there may be problems with his recieving it if not sorted soon.

Also, in terms of support from you, well i think something like £150 should be enough, depending on his social events. I lived off loan, grant and around that amount for both my first and second years at uni and was able to then pay for train fare between campuses, my car tax/insurance/mot etc, food, rent, a few gigs and nights out and my phone contract and still have some spare for savings. also if he gets a job at uni he should have more than enough for everything.

Oldernotwiser

Lokolo wrote: »

Take what you can I say!

Fair enough - just don't fool yourself as to how well you're doing!

melancholly

angelofmel wrote: »

I dont understand why everyone is getting all so angsty over this.

i'm happy to help and give advice to anyone who is interested in hearing it. i'm not impressed with childish name calling and someone only being interested in being told what an amazing parent someone is. that gets me 'angsty'. there are also so many inconsistencies in what the OP is saying that don't seem to make sense... their language in posting is hindering the message.

i certainly had financial help from my parents at uni - and i don't apologise for that! they helped me from an early age understand the value of money and i am so grateful for that. i still worked every holiday and during term time where i could. it's also not about handing over money, it's about taking over control! uni is about learning to be independent, and a lot of people aren't there at 18.... but they need to learn to be and having seen so many examples of 'helicopter parents', i would encourage most parents to aid rather than to do things for their children. i don't understand how anyone could see that as controversial!

Indie_Kid

angelofmel wrote: »

most halls dont take the rent payments monthly, they take a large sum each term, about a third of the way in. from what ive seen at uni, especially on a night out, its so easy to spend that money before the rent day accidentally. at least with dan and his sons way, his son can spend the rest of the money on food, books. social, whatever without the worry of that large rent amount or risk getting in his overdraft early on.

I was able to pay my rent as soon as my loan came in. I had 2 bank accounts - one which I put all my rent into and another (current account) that I used for general living costs.

mumps

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!

I was replyig to the point by hbk619, he stated that everyone he knows who accepts money from parents is overdrawn. I was giving an example, who happens to be my daughter, to show that some students accept money from parents and save. My daughters savings are roughly what I have given her but she has no overdraft has bought a car, a laptop and paid for the foreign holidays I mentioned. I think she illustrates that giving students money doesn't make them unable to deal with money, or life for that matter. Lokolo is another example.

mumps

Lokolo wrote: »

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

Very useful. Are you going back for your final year next month?

Lokolo

mumps wrote: »

Very useful. Are you going back for your final year next month?

Yes I am.

atypical

mumps wrote: »

Very useful. Are you going back for your final year next month?

She doesn't have to do a whole year. All of the big companies offer summer placements. They tend to pay very well, if she were to do one in London I think the minimum would be around £20k pro rata.

mumps

Lokolo wrote: »

Yes I am.

Good luck for your final year.

mumps

atypical wrote: »

She doesn't have to do a whole year. All of the big companies offer summer placements. They tend to pay very well, if she were to do one in London I think the minimum would be around £20k pro rata.

She spent most of this summer working with very sick, very poor people in India for nothing. I think she is planning something similar next year. She works at uni, two jobs, and will work for the next month and at Christmas/Easter in her normal holiday job. She is lucky as they are very flexible and will work round what she is doing. They even helped with some of the costs for her trip to India (basically the vacinations.)