Money Moral Dilemma: Is it 'morally wrong' to use student discounts aged 55?

pixiebel81

Cimscate said:

Whilst not morally wrong to me it depends entirely on what you do the rest of the time. I volunteer at a major charity and find it very annoying when people take out a much reduced student membership and obviously are mature and not in need of the discount!! 

How do you know they don't need it? Do you get to look at their bank statements first?!?

Clarity2

As many have already pointed out, it isn't morally wrong.

1. You are a student, so you qualify
2. You aren't taking anything away from other students or from companies by using the discount, because the companies offering discount will still make profit and do not offer discount out of a desire to do good in the world - it is part of their marketing strategy.
3. The fact that your son is a student suggests you are supporting his claim for student finance, therefore your earnings are subject to means testing and the expectation that you will make up any shortfall in his student finance payments if he doesn't qualify for a full loan, so you are not free to spend any disposable income on your own education because you may need to give it to him in the following year, so you are in a sense DOUBLY entitled to use student discounts, having a financial responsibility for TWO people in higher education. 

(I'm not suggesting you try to get double discount tho!)

ruby999

Of course your entitled to use your student card, your a student never mind how young or old you are...  you son needs to rethink some things I think..  happy studying. 

ginger_chocolate

If a company is happy to offer you a discount (on any basis at all) why would it be morally wrong to accept said discount? Some companies ask for more proof than others about student status - and it would be wrong to fake that proof. But if all they want is the flash of a student card, which you have, then give them that and you're good to go.

gloriouslyhappy

deedee71 said

I had an NUS extra card when I was in my 40's.  A shop worker in Greggs told me the discount was only for young students......I was mortified and have to say I never    used it again after that.

That's just horrible! The Greggs person was rude as well as wrong. I would have politely asked for the manager, pointed out their error and then kicked up a fuss if they wouldn't honour it. Who's to say you weren't going back to retrain? Returning after illness?  On your tenth re-sit? That's age discrimmination. None of their business how old you are, only if the card was valid.

Sparky6_9

Simple answer NO. Though I do admire your sons morals. The intention of student discount is to help those students that are poor because they cannot work a full time job and are up to their necks in debt. Like all good intentions it gets abused.
The real moral issue here is why do students need a discount card? Higher education has become a multi-billion pound racket is why.
Note to your son. Why do companies offer student discounts? Brand loyalty. 
Anyway good luck to your son, hope his hard work pays off.

rlmjam

HannahNP said:

GM_Bournemouth said:

If you are otherwise earning a living, then it is morally wrong to benefit from a scheme designed to help students who do not earn a living.

Exactly.  Discounts are designed to support students as most can't work full time and have to pay rent, food and a few pennies to have fun.  

No they aren’t. These discounts are provided purely to drive additional revenue from a particular demographic. The company I work for runs a similar scheme which is designed to do exactly the same thing.

jflmutley

Age related discrimination from a 20 year old student... shame! a student is a student, mature or not. Let's be fair at any age courses and books and equipment are not cheap (sometimes extortionate) so encouraging students to spend with your business via discounts still leads to profits and hopefully to longer term relationships. health and happiness to all.

judge yourself not others

Sparky6_9

Cimscate said:

Whilst not morally wrong to me it depends entirely on what you do the rest of the time. I volunteer at a major charity and find it very annoying when people take out a much reduced student membership and obviously are mature and not in need of the discount!! 

Maybe you should question the morals of a 'charity' that charges people for membership whilst using free labour! 

Scillydiver

Of course its ok - not allowing you to claim would be "age discrimination".