Paying for 25 year old child

Spendless

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

I'm sure that's true for large families but most parents in middle class households give their children an allowance/ clothes allowance, pay for their phone, help with petrol or car running costs as well as paying school related costs such as uniform, sports, excursions etc. Then you have the cost of taking your child on holiday(s), their expenses while they're away and, particularly if they don't have their own transport, the general chauffering around that most people do these days.

In most families with incomes over £60k +, I'd be very surprised if the items I listed didn't come pretty close to the £4.5k pa difference between the minimum and maximum loan, particularly as they'll be saving something on food and utilities, even if not as large a saving as in small families.

Our son comes under the min loan and does on DH's salary plus his benefits in kind alone. I've listed what I've worked out we're saving, so far. We don't pay or save anything like the things you've listed. We're still paying for his phone. There's been no uniform costs since he finished yr11, doesn't do sports or excursions. No clothing allowance. No car so no costs. We're still paying driving lessons which were a xmas present because having his licence will be handy in the future, unfortunately couldn't quite fit his test in before going away. No chauffeuring, he rarely went out (and we don't pay for fuel in DH's car anyway). Holidays well if he still wanted to come on a family one, we'd let him.

LilElvis

happyandcontented wrote: »

It is a loan though and does have to be paid back.

I realise that, but it still surprised me that she would qualify for any assistance apart from a loan for the fees. The only "loan" I was entitled to was my bank overdraft!

Tabbytabitha

Spendless wrote: »

We went grocery shopping today, 1st time shopping without DS here. The grocery bill was £17 cheaper.

In addition it was costing £15 per week for his college fares/lunches. Over 40 weeks that will work out approx £1280.

Other than some electric as he won't be here during the day, I can't currently see any other savings.

Ahh no just realised we no longer contribute to a savings account. He took that to Uni with him. Pocket money was stopped a while back. Additional £500.

Presumably you pay for his food during the holidays, not just in term time? Our teenager showered twice a day and was responsible for ar least a couple of loads of washing per week - none of that's free.
What about holidays?

I think your son's a bit older though so presumably you're paying less than parents of 18 year olds do - very few of those I know have to pay for all their own clothes, transport and and mobile costs and questions on here show that this is normal.

Red-Squirrel_2

LilElvis wrote: »

I realise that, but it still surprised me that she would qualify for any assistance apart from a loan for the fees. The only "loan" I was entitled to was my bank overdraft!

How long ago did you go to university?

Spendless

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

Presumably you pay for his food during the holidays, not just in term time? Our teenager showered twice a day and was responsible for ar least a couple of loads of washing per week - none of that's free.
What about holidays?

I think your son's a bit older though so presumably you're paying less than parents of 18 year olds do - very few of those I know have to pay for all their own clothes, transport and and mobile costs and questions on here show that this is normal.

No, he's 18. We're on water rates so it makes no difference. The electricity might go down.

Yes, we'll pay for his food in the hols. . I was doing the calculation to show how much we'll save whilst he's at Uni (so for the weeks when he's not at home and we have a lower grocery bill than when he was here). Clothes he's never been interested in, so we had to kit him out for Uni because he didn't own enough. I'm not seeing this as an on-going cost because anything additional will now comes as presents for birthdays/christmas.

Tabbytabitha

Spendless wrote: »

No, he's 18. We're on water rates so it makes no difference. The electricity might go down.

Yes, we'll pay for his food in the hols. . I was doing the calculation to show how much we'll save whilst he's at Uni (so for the weeks when he's not at home and we have a lower grocery bill than when he was here). Clothes he's never been interested in, so we had to kit him out for Uni because he didn't own enough. I'm not seeing this as an on-going cost because anything additional will now comes as presents for birthdays/christmas.

As I said, I think that's comparatively unusual, although fortunate for you.:)
My friends with children of 17 and 18 cost their parents a fortune in the things I've mentioned but I'm sure that there are exceptions.
ETA
I've just checked and the average amount of pocket money a 17 year old gets is £10 per week.

BrassicWoman

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

That doesn't work if you want to study a Humanities subject or MFL.

It's sad, but that feels like a luxury as hobby study while you are learning.

LilElvis

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

How long ago did you go to university?

Graduated in 1989. Still occasionally have nightmares that I'm about to sit my finals - 30 years later!

beanielou

BrassicWoman wrote: »

It's sad, but that feels like a luxury as hobby study while you are learning.

I am interested to hear why?

Tabbytabitha

BrassicWoman wrote: »

It's sad, but that feels like a luxury as hobby study while you are learning.

No wonder the country's in its current situation when an intelligent woman can describe studying MFL as "hobby study"!:eek:

There are all sorts of professional careers you can go into with Humanities degrees because many organisations, like the Civil Service, want graduates with a broad academic base rather than the narrow range of vocational study.