Struggling to get a deposit for renting

Dudeness70

Two years ago now I broke up with my ex partner because he cheated on me, I left the home as it was his house, and found myself homeless, living with my mother.

Two years on, I'm still living with my mother because I cannot afford a deposit and first month rent in advance. I am currently in my third year at University, in a work placement - not only am I on minimum wages, but I spend £270 per month to get there on the train. So my chances of saving are very slim to none.

I have been to the Council, they can't help me. University can't help me. Family can't help me. And mum and I have had enough of each other and it's very tense, which isn't good for her or me.

Can anyone offer me any advice?

1886

Hi, I was going to suggest waiting until you finish Uni and your placement and have a better paid F/T job but then I read your final paragraph. Is there no way you can sit down with your Mum and try and sort out whatever is making the situation tense?

Failing that, instead of renting your own flat/apartment, could you just rent a room? Would that then mean that the months rent etc is lower and easier to get together/save?

If you are really desperate you could get a loan but I don't think I would want to do that

Is there a friend or anybody at work/uni with a spare room?

HTH

HampshireH

From another angle.

If you haven't been able to save enough in 2 years for a months rent and deposit, how will you afford rent every month plus bills?

Your best bet is too look into lodgings. Spareroom.com or similar.

lookstraightahead

most people would take out a loan for accommodation whilst at uni. Which culminates in debt unfortunately. Or you could do your degree part time/in the evenings over a longer period of time, and work.

sevenhills

Lots of work around for intelligent university types, work more.

Wicked_Lady

Are you doing a 4yr sandwich degree, as you mention a 3rd year work placement?

Have you taken out a student loan and can you add to this to afford a room somewhere? Maybe by taking on an evening/weekend job?

Hopefully your course will lead to a qualification that enables you to get a better paid job and you will then be able to move on.

Sibz

A couple of BS responses on this thread I see (between replies 3 & 6).

Mainly I'd suggest the same as posters 1,2,3&6... with emphasis on trying to sort things with your Mum. It's her home and she's let you stay there so maybe give in a little more if poss (obv I don't know the details).

If you're doing like most students seem to and going out on the town often... there's plenty of savings you can make in that regard.

tacpot12

Have you looked into whether you can reduce your rail fares in anyway? How do you buy your ticket currently?

A second job might also help, if nothing else it would get you out of your Mum's home a bit more. Could you do bar work some evenings?

Dudeness70

Yes I am doing a sandwich degree. Maybe I could do my last year part time. Even with my part degree I could get a good job to mean I have enough for rent. But then would I regret not completing the final year.

Dudeness70

I’m 48 years old my days of partying are well and truly behind

I currently use a student rail card which does make it better. But I can’t drive as there’s major road works in the Bournemouth A338 and it takes around two hours to get home. And then there’s no where to park at work, so I would be paying for parking at £8 a day. So the train is the only way really.

I work (including travel) 60 hours a week. The main issue is my little dog. Mum has to look after her for me in the day, because I was planning a girlie night with some friends Saturday (today) she got my sister round and they both had a go at me the minute I walked in from work yesterday. I don’t want to put my mum under this stress at her age, she’s 75 and I think if I moved out she would be a bit less stressed.

The only thing that would work is if I finished my work placement early and got full time proper paid work until September then go back to uni. But this is a very good placement. I work in a law firm where they include me in so much. I’m not a used and abused placement student at all. I would like a job out of this, so I don’t feel this is an option either.

HampshireH

Dudeness70 wrote: »

I’m 48 years old my days of partying are well and truly behind

I currently use a student rail card which does make it better. But I can’t drive as there’s major road works in the Bournemouth A338 and it takes around two hours to get home. And then there’s no where to park at work, so I would be paying for parking at £8 a day. So the train is the only way really.

I work (including travel) 60 hours a week. The main issue is my little dog. Mum has to look after her for me in the day, because I was planning a girlie night with some friends Saturday (today) she got my sister round and they both had a go at me the minute I walked in from work yesterday. I don’t want to put my mum under this stress at her age, she’s 75 and I think if I moved out she would be a bit less stressed.

The only thing that would work is if I finished my work placement early and got full time proper paid work until September then go back to uni. But this is a very good placement. I work in a law firm where they include me in so much. I’m not a used and abused placement student at all. I would like a job out of this, so I don’t feel this is an option either.

If you are in a position to be able to get paid work at your current level of studying could you have a conversation with your placement employer and see if there is any way you could take on some paid work alongside your placement work.

The paid work being the stuff you are already qualified in and your placement in whatever is required to complete your course