Who should pay for kids to go to Uni? Kids or parents?

sulphate

lulu_92 wrote: »

The only thing I disagree with you on is the grants. Not everybody gets a grant. For my first year I got £300 for going to the uni from a local college and then they stopped this without telling anyone.

Many of my friends got full loan and grant amounts because they lived with one parent, and the other parent supported them as well. In my situation I got the loan, no grants and my dad didn't do anything to help me, it was all my mum and step-dad.

I don't think I worded my post very well, I know not everyone gets grants, I didn't. I also had a lot of friends who had the full grant and loan amounts. However, they graduated with a lot more debt than I did. I will pay off my loan quicker than them.

toniq wrote: »

We do help our children out, So don't understand your comment if it is aimed at my situation. I'm not saying the responsibilities to them stop at 18, Of course they don't, Thy never stop being your children regardless of age.

My comments are just my opinion on the thread topic, they aren't "aimed" at you or anyone on this thread. I don't know enough about your family circumstances to judge them.

brokeparent

Parents - kids need to focus on studying

toniq wrote: »

Think you hit the nail on the head, there will never be a fair system,Just upset me dropping one of my girls in their first year at the cheapest halls which as you can imagine were very basic and in need of major repair,whilst hearing of boasting from some acquaintance that there kid had one of the better halls yet they don't work.

Walking back to the car at Birmingham uni past the really lavish accommodation upset me greatly.

Made me and hubby feel we failed them somehow, One of ours is fine with it the other a second year admitted it upset her greatly in her first year.

Ah well we do our best and can only do as much as we can.

Thanks Indie you made sense x

I think we must have been following you out!!!:rotfl::rotfl:

Joined the forum just to join this thread. It is a no win situation - we are a low to middle income family though still quite young parents with a mortgage of £800 a month plus others to support. My son does not gain full amount of loan, in fact we are having to supply an extra £3000 a year and this does not give him anything like others are getting with grants, bursaries and scholarships!
It is not possible for him to work at present as he has 27 contact hours spread out day and evening plus an equal amount of work independently.
For him to have this extra money, I have had to swap jobs, do an extortionate amount of extra hours and juggle family outgoings and of course never put the heating on again.
Of course, this now changes student finance for subsequent years and next year I will find myself with 2 children at uni - both getting even less than my son got the first year due to my extra earning to pay for this year. The system is so flawed!!!!

Indie_Kid

brokeparent wrote: »

I think we must have been following you out!!!:rotfl::rotfl:

Joined the forum just to join this thread. It is a no win situation - we are a low to middle income family though still quite young parents with a mortgage of £800 a month plus others to support. My son does not gain full amount of loan, in fact we are having to supply an extra £3000 a year and this does not give him anything like others are getting with grants, bursaries and scholarships!

Scholarships aren't based on parents income. They're used based on academic excellence, etc.

brokeparent

Parents - kids need to focus on studying

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Scholarships aren't based on parents income. They're used based on academic excellence, etc.

Have to disagree- my son got A* A* A but unfortunately the Uni he chose that had the best course for him did not do scholarships for academic achievement on our salary only for low income families. However, if my daughter does as well - she will strongly encouraged to look for financial gain rather than best course - its a sad affair!

Indie_Kid

brokeparent wrote: »

Have to disagree- my son got A* A* A but unfortunately the Uni he chose that had the best course for him did not do scholarships for academic achievement on our salary only for low income families. However, if my daughter does as well - she will strongly encouraged to look for financial gain rather than best course - its a sad affair!

I think I should know - I was awarded one.

Bursaries are based on household income and scholarships are based on things like academic excellence.

brokeparent

Parents - kids need to focus on studying

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I think I should know - I was awarded one.

Bursaries are based on household income and scholarships are based on things like academic excellence.

In some Universities yes, but not all and not in the University my son attends!! By the way congratulations are gaining one though

toniq

brokeparent wrote: »

I think we must have been following you out!!!:rotfl::rotfl:

Joined the forum just to join this thread. It is a no win situation - we are a low to middle income family though still quite young parents with a mortgage of £800 a month plus others to support. My son does not gain full amount of loan, in fact we are having to supply an extra £3000 a year and this does not give him anything like others are getting with grants, bursaries and scholarships!
It is not possible for him to work at present as he has 27 contact hours spread out day and evening plus an equal amount of work independently.
For him to have this extra money, I have had to swap jobs, do an extortionate amount of extra hours and juggle family outgoings and of course never put the heating on again.
Of course, this now changes student finance for subsequent years and next year I will find myself with 2 children at uni - both getting even less than my son got the first year due to my extra earning to pay for this year. The system is so flawed!!!!

Thank you, I felt quite alone in our plight, In 2 years as my oldest leaves uni,my 3rd child plans to go! So we have years of this madness, at least our 4th child is a toddler so that is some saving grace.

My child at Birmingham has nice hall mates so she feels okay with not being in the nicer blocks, But it hurts me as a mum knowing we couldn't have afforded better for her.

We did kit her out with a massive food pile and loads of new clothes and made her room as comfy as possible.

My oldest is on the south coast only 60 miles away in Portsmouth and thankfully had a summer job which gives her more spends.

Tough job being a parent tying to juggle the purse strings in so many directions.

Hope you cope okay next year as my hubby's pay really messed us up but there was a second child in uni consideration.

wik

Parents - kids need to focus on studying

My 18 year old has just gone to Uni - she is up in Scotland - a bone of contention as she was born in Scotland, but is not eligable for free tutition due to the fact she had to come to England with me a couple of years ago

She has loans and grants and has a small bursary.
I give her £100 a month for food and my aunt gives her £25 a month. but that is all the help I can give her.

She worked during the summer and built up a small nest egg to get equipment - she has chosen a rather expensive career!! :rotfl:

I do wish I could help her more, but do know that in the long summer hols she shall be working hard to save for the next year - which will include a semester overseas :eek:

brokeparent

Parents - kids need to focus on studying

toniq wrote: »

Thank you, I felt quite alone in our plight, In 2 years as my oldest leaves uni,my 3rd child plans to go! So we have years of this madness, at least our 4th child is a toddler so that is some saving grace.

My child at Birmingham has nice hall mates so she feels okay with not being in the nicer blocks, But it hurts me as a mum knowing we couldn't have afforded better for her.

We did kit her out with a massive food pile and loads of new clothes and made her room as comfy as possible.

My oldest is on the south coast only 60 miles away in Portsmouth and thankfully had a summer job which gives her more spends.

Tough job being a parent tying to juggle the purse strings in so many directions.

Hope you cope okay next year as my hubby's pay really messed us up but there was a second child in uni consideration.

I know how you feel, but the same - my sons flatmates seemed lovely and from what he said they are mainly in the same financial situation so comfort in numbers. At least your daughter got a summer job, I drove my son round dropping off CV's and joining job agencies to no avail!

I think to myself 5 years and its all over! I have made it clear I can't support any further studies

Best of luck to your daughter, you never know they might have already crossed paths!

toniq

Mines at maple bank,you never know they could be roomies lol.

x