How do student survive?

Mobility151990

7891368: Ok £75 * 52 weeks = £3900 .... tuition fees £3,290 (covered by tuition loan) .... Bills (gas/elec/water/internet/food) around another £2,000 to £2,500 a year

So this student has around £6400 to pay to live, using part time job + overdraft + maintenance loan + maintenance grant + private maintenance from father.... and still ran out of money the past 2 years??

Overdraft and maintenance loan + grant alone provide £7600, thats not taking into account his dad + job..... so i ask where did all the money go.

The_One_Who

Chances are they are not renting for 52 weeks, because the accommodation is university-owned.

Some students don't budget or forward plan. Universities do have hardship funds, but to access these you need to provide past bank statements and account for everything. The money also isn't that much. So unless he can find a job, he will be relying on you.

Mobility151990

Exactly "the one who"....... my calculations are even taking into account worst case scenario of 52 weeks!! Which makes this even worse...

llydaw

I just popped in to have a read as a friend has just gone to Uni. I understand some of the frustrations felt by the responses as it sounds like you have/know of people in similar circumstances. However I was suprised at how harsh you were in responding to someone who was asking for advice.

ViolaLass

stars_bright wrote: »

Anyone got any advice?

Could you give us a location (city will do) and some specific figures e.g. how much is he spending on rent? That would help.

Connologs

If there is a chance to get a part time job it is now in the run up to Christmas.

I work part time in a shop and we have taken on loads of people recently (uni students) and am sure we will be taking more on in the run up to Xmas.

There are jobs out there, you just have to be persistant and go get them.

I'm in my third year of a four year course so have an extra year to budget for and work out, it takes a bit of time but is worth it in the long run.

Good luck.

7891368

Mobility151990 wrote: »

7891368: Ok £75 * 52 weeks = £3900 .... tuition fees £3,290 (covered by tuition loan) .... Bills (gas/elec/water/internet/food) around another £2,000 to £2,500 a year

So this student has around £6400 to pay to live, using part time job + overdraft + maintenance loan + maintenance grant + private maintenance from father.... and still ran out of money the past 2 years??

Overdraft and maintenance loan + grant alone provide £7600, thats not taking into account his dad + job..... so i ask where did all the money go.

It depends on an individual's circumstances, I work but I have no grant (I get 3654 a year), but this is based on household income.

If the OP has spent it all it's probably on going out/pointless things.

I spend about £85 a week but I cover all that from what I earn/savings

tetra-xo

My student loan and bursary aren't much but I manage! You have to learn to sacrifice luxuries and look for bargains!
Foodwise, getting reduced meat and freezing it will save you a bit. As will making meals in bulk, either for your friends in exchange for them cooking for you or to freeze and eat later!
I used to make sandwiches or pasta salad for my lunch every day, but since I started this year I've been taking soup in a flask and buying my snacks to bulk up my lunch from Lidl.

If your son talks to his university, they should be able to help him out. One of my friends come from a low income family and since we're NHS funded students, we don't get a full loan. Our university managed to cover her rent for a couple of months because she couldn't afford it.

stars_bright

My son is at Durham. Each term he will get £668 grant + £1022 loan, the tuition fees are covered by the seperate tuition fee loan, so his total income per term is £1690. He is staying in the College accomadation for his final year, which is catered and costs £1645 per term. So that leaves him with £45 left for the term. I can see how the extra money he has had previously would have been needed to fund books, extra food, clothes etc. Last year he lived in a shared house but I think that worked out more expensive than college in the end.

tetra-xo

In my first year, my loan didn't even cover my accommodation and that wasn't catered! If he's getting regular meals, he's in a lot better situation than most people I know.

Student university job shops are probably gonna be his best bet if he can't find a regular job. I registered with mine a week ago and I've had 3 job offers already but because of the amount of lectures I have, I haven't been able to do any! He could also try getting in touch with local clubs and bars to see if they have any flyering or promotions jobs.