Student loans for school age

mrschaucer

Or - and here's a revolutionary thought - if the daughter is of secondary school age then perhaps she could HELP her parent to wash her own schoolwear ...

[Deleted User]

I had my son go to Secondary school this year AND my older son go to University. As on benefits, but normally very good with money, I did find I was just stretched too far because of all the stuff I had to pay for for my older son. I even had to buy a mattress because the accommodation gave him a rug misdescribed as a mattress (really not exaggerating).

Normally I'd have uniform for every day.., but this time managed by buying some second hand bits (PE in particular) from the school and looked on ebay as well. I've gradually increased what we started with and now have all the uniform needed. It IS a lot of money £38 for a blazer, lots of different PE items (all expensive) but you have to find a way so you do.

But initially I was doing an awful lot of washing.

I would NEVER EVER have let my child go to school doing PE in underwear, not at that age, so inappropriate. No chance in the world, sorry but I just wouldn't have done. Even on benefits you can save for things like this. University costs, even though my other son has a loan, are causing problems but I am still managing to pay for things for my younger child. I've just had to go and bring older son home .., unexpected fare costs, not good but we will still eat. Just sparingly. Xmas is going to be sparcer than ever before this year but I've told the kids its just got to be that way this year. I have managed to buy some bath stuff so far (2 for 3 in Asda lol, they were priced wrongly and I think the customer services woman thought I was mad requesting the extra £3 back but I just had to). Never been like this before. But it has to be.

But I agree with other posters seek help from the school, ask the school if they have 'lost' items they will sell to you. Ask directly, don't expect them to offer.