How much are parents contributing

arty688

Hello,

My son is going to uni in a few weeks and wondered how much other parents are considering contributing to living expenses? He is taking out the maximum loan of about £6k and will have £1k left after accommodation. Online search’s seem to say I should put in about £6k but that seems high to me as all his accommodation and bills are paid. Am I being mean in thinking that?

SweetPotatoPie

I feel that this is a similar question to how long is a piece of string. Depends on if you’re financially okay to support. 

My daughter isn’t going to Uni but if she was, I’d have nothing to contribute towards her accommodation as I couldn’t afford to. 

Obviously, I’d never see her starve but I’d be expecting her to get a job. 

Will he be getting a part time job? 

arty688

he has a partime job which he will be doing in the holidays. Money wise we are ok but £6k would need some belt tightening. I want him to have a good time but I think part of the learning experience is budgeting so don’t want to make it to easy .

SweetPotatoPie

I feel that 6k would be way too much. I would play it by ear and see how he goes for the first term. His accommodation and bills would be paid so he needs food and social life spends. 

He could afford that with a part time job? 

Maybe put towards necessities such as equipment he needs etc. 

JudgeDekker

It all depends on individual circumstances so I certainly wouldn't say you are being mean, but personally I don't think 6k is way too much. If that's the amount that your child's peers will have to spend you wouldn't them to miss out on uni experiences because of lack of funds. But ultimately my view is there's no way to know what's right; pick a number and see what works, you can always give them more or less next term. Hope your child has a great time at university

400ixl

Look at it from what do you believe he will need to be able to live without worrying about having money for the basics.

If all of his bills and accommodation are covered, what is a reasonable living allowance? £75 a week, £100? Will he be home for holidays etc, so is it reduced for those periods?

What other bills will he have is another factor, does this money need to cover a mobile phone, public transport, car insurance, tv license, top-up insurance to cover possessions on campus.

It can all add up and suddenly £6k isn't over the top.

strawb_shortcake

My Son leaves for uni next week, he gets the maximum loan which leaves him with £1k a term. I'll be giving him £25 a week for food but recognise that this may increase as food prices increase. 
I shall also be paying for his mobile phone so other than food and bus/transport he'll have no other bills. 

He has a job at home to top up his money during the holidays and set aside £1k of his savings to act as a buffer. His course is pretty full on and circa 40 hours a week, so working whilst away is unlikely.

I have bought all his equipment to start uni, which hasn't come cheap, so we've given him a good start. Hopefully housing costs next year may be a bit cheaper than the halls.

arty688

Thanks for the responses,

The accommodation cost increase so we will have to pay £800 towards that now but the money we give him will solely be for food and entertainment expenses, we have decided on £100 per week for the 30 weeks he is at Uni so £3k in total. Personally I think I could live on that quite well.

Nick9967

Mine has just started maintenance for accommodation and £60 a week every Monday in term time from me that's about £2520 pa
over that he has to earn or take from his savings , cant really say whether its too much or too little as he's only been there a week  

rekabmit

Did anybody use Martins parental contribution calculator. I really don't quite get it, the living away in London or not seems not enough. The living at home one seems well high. Am I missing something. If a student is living at home no Council taz, heating, water , rent or food needed. Only costs needed would be travel. Am I totally missing the point?