How much to live on per week

amiehall

It's kind of hard to MAKE him budget better. Most people find their spending expands to cover more or less all available money... You could reduce his allowance and save some of it up on his behalf if you're super concerned? I was terrible with money when I first left home but I've managed to grow into it.

I would definitely not feel guilty about "wasting" money I had earned myself from a part-time job though. I don't really like money with strings attached though. If my parents gave me money then decided to pass judgement on how I was spending it, I would probably give it back!

If he's covering all his important outgoings, what's wrong with "wasting" a bit of money?

amiehall

I would also say that the first few weeks are a good time to make friends and settle in. I'm sure they won't go out quite so much every week. A taxi isn't always that expensive if you fill it up either. You should be happy he's safe getting home unlike some of my friends stumbling through dodgy estates at all hours to save £2.50

rubytuesday

I'd say what Looby says.

When it's gone it's gone.

Taxis tend to be cheap up North if that's where he is but unless it's late at night or too far to walk it could be much better spent on other things.

Really he has to work it out but encourage don't nag and good luck to him and well done on the job.

tschic

Thanks all, that's given me a different outlook on it. You're right, at least he's getting home safe, I hadn't thought of that - that's really put it into perspective. I am really proud of him, but I'm also feeling the loss, so maybe that's influencing my nagging! Thank you so much, your posts have really really helped! X

rubytuesday

Well the girlie has booked her ski trip although it was more like £500 when all was said and done.

She has also been offered work doing club promo and selling festival tickets which she used to do in London so that will help the coffers a bit.

She is still budgeting well for food and is making use of the cookery books I sent her for her birthday - chilli and shepherds pie still features significantly though so she is trying to branch out into more vegetarian dishes.

Going out has definitely been her biggest expenditure but as she now has so much work to do (procrastination runs in the family) she is knocking that on the head.

I just spent a lovely few days up there but there must be something in the air as a lot of the time was spent sleeping!

I felt exhausted!

equiumcat

I get by on near to £80 a week I dont see how you can do it on less because things just come up and it only takes one a week to knock me nearer to £100.

Lokolo

equiumcat wrote: »

I get by on near to £80 a week I dont see how you can do it on less because things just come up and it only takes one a week to knock me nearer to £100.

What are your last 8 weeks spending amounts? (in categories; food, going out, travel, bills etc.)

sortika

equiumcat wrote: »

I get by on near to £80 a week I dont see how you can do it on less because things just come up and it only takes one a week to knock me nearer to £100.

If you identify what you're spending on each particular area, it becomes easier to knock it down.

Food for a student never has to be over £15. Drinking and nights out, well, that's a question of willpower (and predrinking cheaply rather than in clubs). Mobile: £3 a week at most. No student needs an iPhone. Transport still won't push you up too high.

I am assuming you're not including your rent in that, though xD

amiehall

You'd be doing well to feed yourself for £15 I think. I spend about £25 which covers fresh healthy meals and the odd treat.

You'd have to be very organised and a good cook to eat healthily on £15. Definitely not skills I had at 18.

looby75

amiehall wrote: »

You'd be doing well to feed yourself for £15 I think. I spend about £25 which covers fresh healthy meals and the odd treat.

You'd have to be very organised and a good cook to eat healthily on £15. Definitely not skills I had at 18.

I'm honestly not trying to show off here but my daughter feeds herself on about £15 a week (sometimes slightly more, often less). I have been batch cooking for years now so it's just normal for her to see me make a meals and bulk them out with veg (mushrooms are the biggest bulker here because we all love them) then freeze the left overs. So thats what shes gone to uni expecting to do and was over the moon to find that Grainger Market was even cheaper than all the big supermarkets and she can get meat and veg really cheaply.

She's been at uni for just over 2 months now and she's got so many frozen meals in the communal freezer she's running out of room in her bit. I've suggested shes should offer to sell them for £1 a meal to her flat mates lol