Calculating how much kids (do/don’t) cost when they leave home

Kim1965

MallyGirl said:

Kim1965 said:

MallyGirl said:

The food bill is the most significant change when my daughter comes home from uni. With her on minimum maintenance loan we pick up the accommodation bill - currently £617 pcm. It is a 6 year course! We also currently fund the mobile and her car costs.

I had both of mine at uni at the same time for one year, two lots of accommodation and a car they shared. It didnt stop there, both needed extra help with clothes and everytime i dropped them off i would get a colossal food shop in for them.
For me I could not contemplate retirement until they were both through uni.
 Thankfully both are now in well paid jobs. My lad becomes chartered in september, he lives at home and has offered to pay half the bills. It's a long slog with kids and i am lucky that both of mine have good work ethics, many of my friends are still forking out well after their kids have left uni. 

Our plan for retirement is aligned with when she graduates and gets her first job. 2.5 years to go at which point we will be 59. I would go earlier but OH would never be comfortable with that. It also coincides with the end of our very low 5 year fixed mortgage rate so everything will come together nicely.

I am mortgage free, I shall work a year more just to pile as much as i can away.May go at 60 from my present work and work part time. Now all my income is mine its tempting to work on for a while so i dont need part time income.. If my body holds up, I think my knees, back and shoulders will call time. Lol

Somebody

bluebirdy said:

It’s a bloody good job we love them, isn’t it, the amount they fleece us!? 

Don't we just?  Now we're over the other side, it's great watching them play card roulette when we go out to eat to celebrate. This is where they ask the waiter/waitress to pick a random card from the pile to charge to when they bring the card machine.

Albermarle

MallyGirl said:

The food bill is the most significant change when my daughter comes home from uni. With her on minimum maintenance loan we pick up the accommodation bill - currently £617 pcm. It is a 6 year course! We also currently fund the mobile and her car costs.

Adding car costs is a big addition !

I think most students can get by pretty well without a car, and can be an extra worry if they live in a a dodgy area, or go out with their mates in it.

Albermarle

WYSPECIAL said:

Not worked out any figures yet but what I have noticed is that two daughters left and toilet roll useage has dropped by around 90%

Did you have a spreadsheet to monitor the usage 

MallyGirl

Albermarle said:

MallyGirl said:

The food bill is the most significant change when my daughter comes home from uni. With her on minimum maintenance loan we pick up the accommodation bill - currently £617 pcm. It is a 6 year course! We also currently fund the mobile and her car costs.

Adding car costs is a big addition !

I think most students can get by pretty well without a car, and can be an extra worry if they live in a a dodgy area, or go out with their mates in it.

She is training to become a vet so she needs the car to get to all the placements and lambing night shifts. Luckily she is at Cambridge which is small enough to not need transport for nights out.