I'm18 and Racked up 10k of debt soon to be 17k

Idiophreak

University's great, but the way you're going, you're not going to have a great experience.

Most of the fun and most of the "life lessons" of university come from living away from home, going out with your friends, having fun. Sadly, you've got yourself to a point where if you *did* go to university this year, you wouldn't be able to afford to do these things - so I really think you're better off waiting for a year, getting yourself straightened out (maybe even saving a little) then head off when you can afford to use the student loans for the things they're intended for. You may need to pay higher fees as a result, but at least they'll just be added to your "good debt" student loan.

You have to be realistic - most students come out of uni having had to beg, borrow and scrape together every penny they can - with credit card debts, loans from family and substantial overdrafts - on top of the "official" loan. Those studying additional degrees (for things like law!), even moreso. It's a bit unrealistic to think you'll be any different (especially with your track record) - so you just *can't* afford to go to uni starting with this level of debt...

It really is bonkers that your mum has let you get into this situation at your age - what on earth did she lend you that much money for? I really think you need to tell us, if you expect to get any worthwhile advice...

CAN1976

If you do go to Uni, be very sure that the degree you take leads to a real advantage in the employment market. No point racking up extra debt if it won't convert into better job prospects.

bargainbetty

OP, I am so sorry to be harsh, but you are living in a dream world.

It's all well and good wanting to work in the law, but I work for barristers and have worked for solicitors in the last five years. Unless you walk out of a top 10 uni with a first class LLB, you will be in a pool of thousands all struggling for a chance. We get over 80 applications for one pupil per year, and training contracts are so rare right now that I have got an LPC-qualified LLB graduate applying for a job as my receptionist. A good 2:1 in Law, and she needs work as a receptionist. Think about that.

If you insist on univeristy, might I make a suggestion: there is a worrying assumption that you have to give up work to go to University. I am about to start a degree on a distance learning course as part of the University of London (LSE, Kings College, all good schools) and my best friend is going to Birkbeck, doing an LLB part time, three evenings a week. We're both mature students (over 21) because we couldn't afford Uni when we were 18. Now we can, and we are doing it around our existing lives.

You can study part time while you work. Pay your debts, avoid the lifestyle that will run up more, and still get a degree. BTW, a library card won't be enough, you will need to buy certain texts and law books aren't cheap. Libraries are shared resources, and law libraries often don't let you take books home - you study there or nowhere.

You have run up a substantial debt at a very young age with 'wanting' stuff, and perhaps this should be a wake-up call for you. You can't always have what you want, unless you can be more creative about getting it.

Finally, if you still have that card in your mother's name, have her close it immediately. You can freeze the account, so it can be paid off without the interest going any higher, but you can't increase the debt. Never run up debt in your mum's name again!

I wish you all the best,

schueys_girl

Just to help a bit - whoever said:
"I think an average apprentice gets around £100 - £200 pw, just for sitting in a classroom and going to work once a week." and advised such a programme - YES they are the best way of gaining experience and a possible job, the problem is there are literally no such programmes around anymore...and the starting wage of an apprentice is only £80 a week which then goes up to £120...this is the minimum payment and what most companies pay as they can get away with it.
It is the opposite to what was said - you go to work 4 days a week and are classroom based for one, but this is normally a LOOOONG day completing work that is normally done across 3 days into 1.

Yes they are a great idea, but just wanted the facts to be clear on here for the OP....I work in education, trust me there are hardly any of these programmes around anymore, which is such a shame, and my hubby did an apprentice programme and tbf the wage was completely shocking, by the end of it he was doing the same job as everyone else, with same responsibilities and hours and was still only on £120 a week doing 5 days, 8.30 til 4pm...

ANYWAY! OP....... really really do not take this money off your Grandad and lie about where it is going. The first step here is to stop taking anymore money off anyone. Go round your local bars, pubs and etc and try and get yourself another job. If you are at college you can work shifts around your hours, yes you will be tired, but you will be earning money to pay your debts. Sometimes the excuses just have to stop and you need to knuckle down. (not being funny!)

If you can list the items which you spent all this money on, it may help you to realise what has happened, and also give you some realisation as to what you can sell off.....you mentioned something about £254 on ebay...is that all you have left to sell from ALL this debt? This is going to hurt you for a while, but if you can do it now, and crack on it will be worth it in the long run.

Hold back on uni for now, and get some money coming in. By all means apply via UCAS with your grades, but then if you are offered a place you can defer it for a year and they will save it for you without going thru the whole process again. You will then know what kind of a situation you will be in next year. You will not do well at uni with all of this going on........

Mowgli87

elvis86 wrote: »

You're 18, working part time in a supermarket, and have seen fit to rack up £10,000.00 in debt. Also, you can't spell the name of one of your creditors ("Barcleycard"?). I don't think you're clever enough for university.

you, Sir, Are an A**hole.

vicki+1

elvis86 wrote: »

You're 18, working part time in a supermarket, and have seen fit to rack up £10,000.00 in debt. Also, you can't spell the name of one of your creditors ("Barcleycard"?). I don't think you're clever enough for university.

if you can't be unhelpful why say anything. i didn't notice the spelling, i have a degree and i'm not dyslexic. There is more than being clever than being able to spell

koloko

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Idiophreak

koloko wrote: »

Unnecessary. I frequently have problems with grammar and have a 100,000 word mathematical PhD thesis under my belt.

Did you also rack up so much debt that your dream of going to university, that you'd had since age 7, was compromised?

koloko

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elsiepac

Hi OP

I have to agree with those who say that you'll struggle to get into Law. My sister did her Law degree and came out with a low 2:1, she then went on to do her BVC successfully, so is qualified LLB, however, she never managed to get a placement, not even work experience for free, and she now works for an investment bank, not using her qualifications. Furthermore, she worked part-time all the way through Uni, doing more hours than most, and didn't go out as much as the others she lived with, and she still came out in debt overall. You've chosen a very difficult career to go into, and in all honesty, 9 times out of 10, law careers are forged on who you know, not necessarily what you know. Sad truth I'm afraid.

However, I personally never went to Uni, worked part time around school since I was 12 with my first paper round, and full time after 6th form. I always wanted to go into IT, so I started studying with the Open University around my first full time job in a call centre, doing my Computing degree. I have continued this since. The best part of this is that I have always qualified for my fees to be fully paid, and this is based solely on my salary, as I do not have dependants of any sort and am not on benfits. OU really is a fantastic option, and also I am now in the career of my choice and have been for the last 5 years - even without my degree. I thoroughly recommend it.

Good luck to you x