Living away, is it worth it?

lellie

I'd never have done anything else!

I find a lot of students that live at home are immature and dependent on their families too much.

MoneySavingSapphire_:D

On the flip side, I lived at home for the first two years of my degree and now live with my OH near my uni. I was lucky in that I had his house to escape to, and friend's floors to crash on if I we were going out, but I don't regret a moment of it, not least because the thought I am leaving uni with only 6K of debt (and 1K saved) is
*However*, I would say that I'm pretty sure my circle of friends is smaller and my social life less active than if I had lived away. I think living away in the first year (or even term!) of uni is the most crucial term for making friends and going on very drunken nights out. I don't miss it - I have a small but good selection of friends and have been with my OH throughout uni which does account for some things, but if that is what you want from a student life then it will make a difference living at home.
In the end I got a bit claustrophobic still being with my family - although I think that has more to do with being the eldest of five children all there too, but I also know I wouldn't have been happy spending money on living in student accomadation.

Not really a conclusion, but I was told by everyone that I should move out, and I wanted to, but in the end I couldn't afford it and it wasn't that bad at all, and has saved me a considerable amount of £

ETA - without being too "if I say so myself", I find that actually my attitude is more mature and less dependant than those of my friends who live away. They are often so caught up in a student life of fun that they can't see to the time that it will be over - I'm the only one to a person who's applied for any jobs or thought about what I want to do in 5 months time, and one of few who has a job. With money, the amount of my live away friends who blow it on expensive clothes and going out.... I think that also has something to do with the excitement of uni, finally being free... And all of them end up needing hand outs from home, or feeding properly only when they go back! That's only my experience of course, but I needed to balance lellie's comment!

days4dreams

Im hoping to live at home in newcastle, where i want to study for my first year, and move out in my second. I know alot of people that are doing that recently - thanks to the addition of tuition fees!!!!
Im pritty sure people wont not make friends with me just cos i live at home, and im sure there will be others not living in student accomodation on my course
I guess im just lucky that i live near where i want to study.

hopingforahouse

I would say move away. I recently got married, and my two bridesmaids I met in halls in first year. One of my husbands ushers he also met in halls in first year. Because you grow up together in lots of ways, the people you meet through student accomodation are likely to be life long friends. You develop more as an individual, and you begin to learn much more about who you are yourself, rather than who you are in relation to your family. Money wise, yes it is harder, but theres a lot of fun to be had feeding you and your pals for £3!

BillyBobThorntz0r

I'm living at home right now, and regretting not moving away! It's just not viable for me to move away as I'm little over an hours bus away (and 15 - 25min train) away.

I've already met loads of new friends and great people, so don't think that because you're at home you'll be left out. You'll also find lots of friends who are willing to let you stay over if you ever need too.

Mikeyorks

lellie wrote:

I find a lot of students that live at home are immature and dependent on their families too much.

100% accurate description of my son .... but he lives 200 miles away!:rolleyes:

VickyA_2

On my first degree course, one girl lived at home and the rest of us (25, it was a small course) had moved away. She didn't have many outgoings and she was quite "cash rich" (she admitted this too!), whereas the rest of us were living off beans on toast etc. However, I grew up quickly, HAD to make a social life for myself etc. She admitted that she'd missed out on all that and she never felt "part" of university life, even though we went out as a course on many occasions.

Live away from home!

ftbworried

My SIL never moved away when she went to university in Liverpool. i asked her once what liverpool is like on a night out and she said "i don't know". :eek: she went to university for 4 years in Liverpool and never ONCE went on a night out there?!! I found that bizarre! I don't think she made any friends at uni.

She recently moved out of home for the first time into her own house and she found it EXTREMELY difficult. Despite only moving 3 miles from her parents house (and seeing her Mum everyday at work- her Mum is her boss!) she found it extremely hard to move out and cried for a long time. She then admitted that she'd wished dhe's moved out at 18 cos then it would have been easier for her now. The later you leave moving out of the nest- the harder it gets!