Help Please

tesuhoha

Hi Gemmzie

I just had to reply to this. Im not being horrible, really I'm not, but the student loan that you get is intended to help you to get through university and it is not a loan for parents/brothers in financial trouble. Obviously I don't know the circumstances but it seems like a recipe for disaster to me. The reason you are ill probably is because youve been working long hours as well as trying to study, and thats just not possible, not if you want to do well, thats why they give you the loan. I know you can hold down a job while youre at uni but its not supposed to get in the way of your studies. They are most important and this is one of the most important times of your life in terms of your career and youre going to mess it all up if youre not careful. Its a hard world out there and you need all the help you can get educationwise. I think your parents and brother are being selfish by accepting that money from you, no matter what their situation is, they should not accept it from you. Remember its not free money, its a loan and you will have to pay it back too one day. Right, Lecture over.

My daughter repeated a year at uni, (not for the same reasons) and she just applied for student finance in the usual way and got the loan as normal. She had an interview with her tutor and she had to write a letter to one of the Deans, Im not sure now, but you can find that all out and she was allowed to repeat the year. I wish you the best of luck and please use your student loan for what it is intended.

Gemmzie

Valley's_girl wrote: »

Hi hope you are ok?
ally x

Not really Ally, things are getting worse at home.

LilDevil wrote: »

Just skimmed through most of this, so apologies if I'm repeating what others have said!

Regarding your dvd rental, could you not search some of the online dvd rental sites to see if they have any free offers, I know Lovefilm often have 3-month free trials.

Me and my OH have been swapping free trials for the last year, when his expired, I took one out. They then offer him another free trial which he takes up when mine runs out and vice versa.

So far, they haven't twigged that we're in the same house, I can't remember if you're living at home, or in a student house, either way, could you and someone else do the same thing??

I have changed a couple of times, we can't get any others in the area I live in and Blockbuster gave a better service than Lovefilm.

I'm living at home.

Gemmzie

tesuhoha wrote: »

Hi Gemmzie

I just had to reply to this. Im not being horrible, really I'm not, but the student loan that you get is intended to help you to get through university and it is not a loan for parents/brothers in financial trouble. Obviously I don't know the circumstances but it seems like a recipe for disaster to me. The reason you are ill probably is because youve been working long hours as well as trying to study, and thats just not possible, not if you want to do well, thats why they give you the loan. I know you can hold down a job while youre at uni but its not supposed to get in the way of your studies. They are most important and this is one of the most important times of your life in terms of your career and youre going to mess it all up if youre not careful. Its a hard world out there and you need all the help you can get educationwise. I think your parents and brother are being selfish by accepting that money from you, no matter what their situation is, they should not accept it from you. Remember its not free money, its a loan and you will have to pay it back too one day. Right, Lecture over.

My daughter repeated a year at uni, (not for the same reasons) and she just applied for student finance in the usual way and got the loan as normal. She had an interview with her tutor and she had to write a letter to one of the Deans, Im not sure now, but you can find that all out and she was allowed to repeat the year. I wish you the best of luck and please use your student loan for what it is intended.

You're totally right. I just keep trying to patch over the massive holes by lending them money and trying desperately to save as much of my loan as possible because I don't want to end up in the same !!!!!! they are in by not being able to afford to move out.
There's other reasons I'm trying to save it to which I've only really realised today, which I think I need to speak to someone about.

Thanks I appreciate your honesty.

LilDevil

Sorry, caught up on more skimming!!

Contact Lenses - is this the cheapest you can get?? I'm with Specsavers and I get mine for £10 per month (saving you £12 p/m)

Referral to Occ Health - this is not as scary as it sounds - I had one at my last job and they actually confirmed that I was covered under the DDA, so that put paid to my employers giving me the "you're taking an unacceptable amount of time off sick" rants that often followed. All they will do is ask you loads of questions about your illness and make a decision as to whether or not you are fit to carry out your duties. Depending on your condition, you may be covered under the DDA which means they cannot sack you because of your sick record. Also, I thought companies were not allowed to keep this information on file under the DPA - although I'm not sure if HR are allowed to keep records like this locked away from prying eyes.

floss2

Have you looked at Tesco DVD?

Also, have you thought of selling your Amazon vouchers on Ebay?

:grouphug: I agree with Tesuhoha tho, the loan is for you to live off, not to be a family fund. If you were able to live off that whilst studying rather than struggling to work all the hours you do , maybe things wouldn't seem so financially bleak?

Are you the only option for your parents? Or would they be better off admitting to your grandparents that they need some help? Can the money your brother pays you back be redirected to them for now, so you can manage to live whilst suspending your studies?

tesuhoha

Gemmzie wrote: »

You're totally right. I just keep trying to patch over the massive holes by lending them money and trying desperately to save as much of my loan as possible because I don't want to end up in the same !!!!!! they are in by not being able to afford to move out.
There's other reasons I'm trying to save it to which I've only really realised today, which I think I need to speak to someone about.

Thanks I appreciate your honesty.

Then could you possibly tell them that you can't lend it to them? I think it might be a good idea with all your knowledge of moneysaving to sit down with them and have a family conference about their finances to see what they can do to help themselves. If youve already done all that, I dont know what to suggest but you have to take care of yourself first. You cant put your life on hold for their sake as you wont get another opportunity at university, or if you do, itll be a lot harder when youre older. You need your degree.

Gemmzie

LilDevil wrote: »

Sorry, caught up on more skimming!!

Contact Lenses - is this the cheapest you can get?? I'm with Specsavers and I get mine for £10 per month (saving you £12 p/m)

Referral to Occ Health - this is not as scary as it sounds - I had one at my last job and they actually confirmed that I was covered under the DDA, so that put paid to my employers giving me the "you're taking an unacceptable amount of time off sick" rants that often followed. All they will do is ask you loads of questions about your illness and make a decision as to whether or not you are fit to carry out your duties. Depending on your condition, you may be covered under the DDA which means they cannot sack you because of your sick record. Also, I thought companies were not allowed to keep this information on file under the DPA - although I'm not sure if HR are allowed to keep records like this locked away from prying eyes.

I'm with Specsavers - they said £22 is the cheapest for dailies, they aren't a particularly strong or special prescription either.

I'm not sure about DDA, I should be as I do have a disability which makes work difficult, but the main reason they are teasy about time off is because I was off for 8 weeks in the summer for an ortho operation which is unrelated.

Gemmzie

floss2 wrote: »

Have you looked at Tesco DVD? They belong to Lovefilm I think so wouldn't get the freebie again

Also, have you thought of selling your Amazon vouchers on Ebay? Can you do that? Might be worth it, they are in multiples of £50

:grouphug: I agree with Tesuhoha tho, the loan is for you to live off, not to be a family fund. If you were able to live off that whilst studying rather than struggling to work all the hours you do , maybe things wouldn't seem so financially bleak? It would help for now probably.

Are you the only option for your parents? Or would they be better off admitting to your grandparents that they need some help? Can the money your brother pays you back be redirected to them for now, so you can manage to live whilst suspending your studies?

Only my nan is around and she's not been much help in the past. I'm not sure I understand the second part?

In_Search_Of_Me

I thing what she was saying was can they borrow money elsewhere G! Hugs for you as just caught up!
I think what is required is some tough love on your part...unless people (ie your parents & bro) take responsibility for their actions (overspending) then they will continue as they are because you are taking all the flack (ie lending them money that you can ill afford to lend & charging no interest) and they will never learn. As others have said working so many hours will be doing your health no good and that IS what the grant money is for - any work is meant to be a top up for luxuries.
I do appreciate the dilemma though but if your family are nasty about your refusal to lend then I would look at moving out - shared houses are quite reasonable & it will be an opportunity to stand on your own two feet and not be supporting them all the time!!
I know its hard when you few tired, ill & low to chase people but try & summon some energy to chase things like prescription charges as it will make a differece. If you ring keep a note of who you spoke to, when etc & I would personally ring & speak to the manager to get this sorted. Heres my thoughts on your SOA:

Outgoing
Contact Lenses - £22 I dont have them but this seems high
Health Insurance - £22 What is the form on this paying out for current conditions as its alot every month...
Laptop Insurance - £12.99 eek!! Do you really need this? You can get a new laptop for 300!
O2 - £19.99 - seems high - I have PAYG & pay about 10 every couple of months but only use it in an emergency
DVD Rental - £14.99 again quite a lot to pay when youre skint!
Car Insurance - £30 seems good!
Car Tax - £10.50
Petrol - £60+ Can you cut down on petrol at all? Have you done cheapest petrol finder?
CC (3 payments left) - £50 yeah! Nearly there! Well done
Car Repairs - £20 (try if possible) earning lovely interest?!!
Clothes - £20 (try if possible) as above!
Total = £242.47

What about rent , food etc? If you have a disability are you eligible for DLA or money towards car, any extra benefits etc?

I hope you sort this as I'm sure its a worry for you. Like others have said do try & hassle the consultant etc t find out what is wrong. Lynzpower had alot of experience of probs with work so maybe pm her for some advice/info or try your college for some advice. Big hugs for you

floss2

Gemmzie wrote: »

Only my nan is around and she's not been much help in the past. I'm not sure I understand the second part?

What I meant was the loan you made to your brother, that he's paying back by November....can he pay that direct to your parents to help them out, and allow you to keep the April £1500 to live off?

But thinking out loud, that would mean you have to committ to another term at uni.....

Have you been able to speak to Student Welfare & your tutor yet?