How much did you save before going to uni?

mountainofdebt

Junior is looking to save £12K on the off chance he goes to Uni next year - has almost £8K so he's well on the way.

If he goes then he's planning on using this money when he has his year abroad but if he doesn't go then he wants to buy a car.

Katiepillow

I think it depends upon if you're in halls or privately renting - I am privately renting for my first year, so I had a £450 upfront cost (525 for deposit, 425 for upfront rent /2 between me and my housemate), plus internet needed setting up before uni started, my bus pass (315 for the year), etc. There's also freshers events which tend to start up before loans come through - so I'd say about £100 if on campus, about £1000 if off campus, although it obviously depends upon whether you'd get supports/small loans from your parents.
I saved up £2000 at least, maybe 2500, and am still living off it now ((no student finance yet))
Although it also depends on where you're going to university, (london etc would obviously be more expensive)

BrettMorganxD

Katiepillow wrote: »

I think it depends upon if you're in halls or privately renting - I am privately renting for my first year, so I had a £450 upfront cost (525 for deposit, 425 for upfront rent /2 between me and my housemate), plus internet needed setting up before uni started, my bus pass (315 for the year), etc. There's also freshers events which tend to start up before loans come through - so I'd say about £100 if on campus, about £1000 if off campus, although it obviously depends upon whether you'd get supports/small loans from your parents.
I saved up £2000 at least, maybe 2500, and am still living off it now ((no student finance yet))
Although it also depends on where you're going to university, (london etc would obviously be more expensive)

Could either be private renting or staying with parents, depends which of my 5 choices I get in two years. It is nursing so will get a bursary anyway and will still be working as a carer 28 hours per week, but want to come out with as little debt as possible. So want to save some.

To avoid starting another thread for such a small question, for those whom do get student loans, does it go on your credit rating. As in will it prevent me getting a mortgage in future?

Gillyx

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

I try my best to avoid debt at all costs, even student debts. I am thinoing £1,000 for college (1 year nursing access course).

And about £2,000 per year in emergency uni expenses (as I am doing nursing, I will get a bursery anyway, and will continue to work part-time)

You may struggle with part time working with nursing, which is why the bursary is offered. With placement being all over the place, I know my Student Midwife at the moment, is managing one 4 hour shift a week, sometimes 2 but very rare. Some weeks she can do none.

BrettMorganxD

Gillyx wrote: »

You may struggle with part time working with nursing, which is why the bursary is offered. With placement being all over the place, I know my Student Midwife at the moment, is managing one 4 hour shift a week, sometimes 2 but very rare. Some weeks she can do none.

I know, but my employer is very flexible she will let me change week to week. Or I could do bank up to 28 hours

Gillyx

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

I know, but my employer is very flexible she will let me change week to week. Or I could do bank up to 28 hours

I don't think you get what I'm saying, there is no way in hell you will be able to do 28 hours a week while studying nursing. If you can manage it your studies will suffer. There are also very few student holidays with that type of course as you can imagine, so not a lot of opportunity to earn more over those periods.

The bursary is generous though, and the fact your fees are subsidised will help with not earning much.

It's a worthwhile career though, so if it's something you really have your heart set on, you will cope when the time comes

Oldernotwiser

Gillyx wrote: »

I don't think you get what I'm saying, there is no way in hell you will be able to do 28 hours a week while studying nursing. If you can manage it your studies will suffer. There are also very few student holidays with that type of course as you can imagine, so not a lot of opportunity to earn more over those periods.

The bursary is generous though, and the fact your fees are subsidised will help with not earning much.

It's a worthwhile career though, so if it's something you really have your heart set on, you will cope when the time comes

I completely agree. I think it's totally unrealistic to plan to do 28 hours in addition to a full time nursing course. Not only is it unrealistic, it's totally unfair to the patients who will be cared for as part of the degree as well as the people who will be cared for in the nursing home.

Nobody will benefit from this level of greed.

mumps

I have nursing students who do 24 hrs a week for me but they generally take some time off (either unpaid or holiday) during placements. I think alot depends on the placement, our local uni generally has them on 3 x 12 hr shifts per week so they can have a two day break and work two days for me. When they are working nights they get a bit all over the place and that is when they take some time off. I have had students who have done more hours (I can think of at least one who got a first.) I think there are alot of variables; the student. the placement, and the university. First years seem to find it easier to work and by third year do much less. I find more mature students seem to manage better, perhaps they are better at time management or just more stamina after a few years in work.

My youngest is doing a nursing degree but does no paid work in term time but doing plenty in the holidays, he had also done alot of work in gap year so went with quite a healthy bank balance and is managing well so far on his bursary.

mumps

Gillyx wrote: »

I don't think you get what I'm saying, there is no way in hell you will be able to do 28 hours a week while studying nursing. If you can manage it your studies will suffer. There are also very few student holidays with that type of course as you can imagine, so not a lot of opportunity to earn more over those periods.

The bursary is generous though, and the fact your fees are subsidised will help with not earning much.

It's a worthwhile career though, so if it's something you really have your heart set on, you will cope when the time comes

The bursary is good and it is great not having fees to worry about but I have known nursing students have real problems with rent as the bursary is paid monthly and halls want rent for the term. I think unis can be understanding but if you are in private halls with no back up its a bit daunting.

Oldernotwiser

mumps wrote: »

I think alot depends on the placement, our local uni generally has them on 3 x 12 hr shifts per week so they can have a two day break and work two days for me.

That may be fine for your employment but this shift pattern would mean that the hospital shifts wouldn't come after a couple of days' break. The final shift would come after doing 4 x 12 hour shifts on the trot.

Given the level of responsibility that student nurses can be given, as a patient I would be most unhappy that I was being cared for by someone who had put in this number of hours.

There's more than the students' well being to be considered in this situation.