Financial Problems

kexy

I'm writing this in the hope that someone might have some cracking advice and maybe put a smile on my face. I didn't know where else to put it!

I'm in my first year at uni and having quite big (for me) financial problems!

Let me show you why.

Loans/Grants Income: £5620. (October 2007 - September 2008)
Bursary: £1000.
Uni Accommodation (bills Included) £2756 (October 2007 - June 2008)
Pvt Accommodation (bills Excluded) £960 (July 2008 - September 2008)
Course Costs (books etc) £200
House Deposit £240

Leaving me with £2464 over 52 week, 14 of those week I have to pay bills for. Say the bills are £10 a week (underestimating), then I have £49 a week to live off.

That's £44 for food, clothes, train fares home, nights out - everything. That's pretty tight as it is.


But I've been spending way more than that - I didn't budget for the summer vacation. I looked at what I had and divided it up just over the actual term time - didn't take into account vacations. As it is now, I have £1000 (my overdraft, basically) to last me until mid October - what do I do? That barely covers my rent over the summer.

I've been really struggling with the course and not had time to have a job with many hours since i've recently diagnosed with dysleixa I see why i've been struggling.

I'm just at a loss what to do and feel like I have to leave uni - I got a form from the Finance Office for the Access to Learning fund but it's really difficult and confusing for me to fill out - i'm sure even If I wasn't dyslexic i'd find it difficult!

Help!

rayday2

Hell I have no idea what to suggest...

I could try making you laugh but my jokes are terrible.

You should go back to your Finance Office and ask someone to help you fill it in with regard to the dyslexia - also on the dyslexia different colour papers can work for print, one of our young people at youth club has his programmes printed on orangey/beigy coloured paper as its easier for him than white.

kexy

rayday2 wrote: »

Hell I have no idea what to suggest...

I could try making you laugh but my jokes are terrible.

You should go back to your Finance Office and ask someone to help you fill it in with regard to the dyslexia - also on the dyslexia different colour papers can work for print, one of our young people at youth club has his programmes printed on orangey/beigy coloured paper as its easier for him than white.

The form's actually printed on green paper anyway, I was quite happy about that - I can read it, I just struggle with forms!

rayday2

Well don't be put off asking for help you are the ideal person to get it!

Cheekythellis

I hope this doesn't sound obvious or patronising, but have you looked into summer work? You haven't mentioned what you're studying and I know if its something like nursing, medicine etc you would need to do unpaid work experience through summer months which make it very difficult to hold another job down. Also if you're struggling with the course work maybe you need to pay catch up over the summer, I don't know.
The only reason I mention it is because when I was at uni I and everyone I knew HAD to work summer to make ends meet, there's just no other way unless you have generous relations! Nobody's loan lasted past june and had to work to survive until next loan insallment. In fact I had to take a year out and then go back to study cos financially it was so tight. And I worked through the semester as well. I really sympathise with you, I know first hand how hard it is. Another thing I did one year was spend summer back home and worked there so I paid reduced rent over the summer months at mums and didn't need to worry about finding a deposit. A bit depressing when all your friends are in the city having fun but it kept my head above water.The only other thing I can think of is you could prob get a larger interest free overdraft, mine was 2k, but this doesn't solve your problems, just gets you funds to buy food if you're really hard up and need cash quickly, my debt is mainly from my studying years and I graduated 2004, and it doesn't include student loan!!! So beware!