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How do student survive?

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  • ViolaLass
    ViolaLass Posts: 5,764 Forumite
    Gemmy wrote: »
    If he has already paid for his accommodation and course why can't he live on £80 til jan?
    It's only himself there?

    I think even the most frugal of us like to eat every day.
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    ViolaLass wrote: »
    I think even the most frugal of us like to eat every day.

    i THINK HE'S IN CATERED HALLS, SO ALL HIS FOOD AND UTILITIES ARE ALREADY PAID FOR. (Sorry for caps.)
  • stars_bright
    stars_bright Posts: 159 Forumite
    Yes he is in catered halls but he has course books to buy which cost more than £80 on their own. He needs insurance for his stuff whist it is in his room - approx £100. Also he needs to buy things like snacks and drinks during the day and stationary for his course. He could probably mange without buying any more clothes. If he wants to come home for a weekend there is the cost of the train. I think he would get a bit fed up if could never afford to socialise as well. He is doing his best at the moment to find some work but he has never had any luck whilst hes been at Uni - its quite a small town and the locals find it difficult enough to find work.
  • MrsManda
    MrsManda Posts: 4,457 Forumite
    stars_bright wrote: »
    Yes he is in catered halls but he has course books to buy which cost more than £80 on their own.

    Does he really have to buy books? Why can he not use the library?
    stars_bright wrote: »
    He needs insurance for his stuff whist it is in his room - approx £100.

    As he is living in university halls, it may be worth checking to see if he really needs insurance. When I lived in halls the stuff in our rooms were covered by hall insurance so we didn't need private insurance/.
    stars_bright wrote: »
    Also he needs to buy things like snacks and drinks during the day

    Surely he doesn't need to buy snacks and drinks during the day? He could make sandwiches/pasta pots if his lunches are not catered. If he bought a bottle of water he could refill it with water/squash/whatever and carry that around with him.
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    Don't students hitch anywhere anymore?
  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Oldernotwiser wrote: »
    Don't students hitch anywhere anymore?

    No it's not safe to do so.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • johnswife
    johnswife Posts: 1,746 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    My daughters better not hitch anywhere!
    2013
    Necklace, £500, Marquee, Tickets Home Improv show, Patternity Tights.tickets to Cruise Show,kindle cover, 2 tickets Brisfest. Tin of personalised chocolates.Hawking DVD, McCain voucher, clay modelling set,Chocolate, Book,Raleigh 125th Book.
    2014
    tickets to Gadget show, Hotel Spa break for 2 + £300
  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    stars_bright wrote: »
    Yes he is in catered halls but he has course books to buy which cost more than £80 on their own.
    1. Get them from the library
    2. Get them second hand
    3. Study with another student - lecturers tell you to get every book on their list but there are always books that you can do without completely or share with another student.
    stars_bright wrote: »
    He needs insurance for his stuff whist it is in his room - approx £100.
    He should have got that before he started.
    stars_bright wrote: »
    Also he needs to buy things like snacks and drinks during the day
    No he doesn't if he is catered.

    He needs to eat a big breakfast. If there is fruit or biscuits take some and hide in his pocket to eat during the day, and then eat an evening meal.

    He can drink water or squash.

    That's how students I know in catered halls managed who had little money. I went self-catering as I knew I could live cheaper.

    Your son will not die if he doesn't eat lunch or have a snack during the day.
    stars_bright wrote: »
    and stationary for his course. He could probably mange without buying any more clothes. If he wants to come home for a weekend there is the cost of the train.
    He can get the coach. He needs to get a coach card and buy his tickets in advance to save money. Yes he will have to travel at awkward times to get the best rates but other students have managed for decades.

    He also needs to look for different type of jobs he wouldn't have considered before like being a cleaner.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • nearlyrich
    nearlyrich Posts: 13,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Hung up my suit!
    My son had bar jobs all through uni great way to roll a social life into employment...Can you not do a "food parcel" or a big shop for him with snacks drinks etc..he isn't going to starve and that £80 will have t stretch a long way if he doesn't get a job. My ex never paid a penny after DS was 16 so he had to manage on his partial loan his wages and what I could add to the pot, he managed to keep his OD to less than £3k for the three years but his house share rent was less than the OP's son is paying for a term in halls.
    Free impartial debt advice from: National Debtline or Stepchange[/CENTER]
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    olly300 wrote: »
    No it's not safe to do so.

    Since when?
This discussion has been closed.
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