Is it really that hard?

[Deleted User]

I've posted on this board before, and some of those posts were to do with finance at uni. I often hear about 'poor students' but what I want to know is...
Is it reallt that much of a struggle. I don't think for one second I'm going to be loaded when I become a student, and the fact that I have 2 kids means I won't be having the nights out which seem to be attached to student life.
So anyone want to share, is it really beans on toast for 4 nights straight and such?

SL x

Gemmzie

It really depends on the city your in, the resources your course requires, whether you can budget well.
Student night outs are cheap if you do them right and use your Union, so I think that's a feeble excuse for students really.

Broke_Student

Sallylizzie wrote: »

I've posted on this board before, and some of those posts were to do with finance at uni. I often hear about 'poor students' but what I want to know is...
Is it reallt that much of a struggle. I don't think for one second I'm going to be loaded when I become a student, and the fact that I have 2 kids means I won't be having the nights out which seem to be attached to student life.
So anyone want to share, is it really beans on toast for 4 nights straight and such?

SL x

Hi.

I don't think for one second I'm going to be loaded when I become a student

Does anybody

the fact that I have 2 kids means I won't be having the nights out which seem to be attached to student life

I'm sure you went out when you were younger though? And it's not always party time every night. I'm in my first year and haven't had many chances to go out lately due to starting at 9am most days and having many exams!

is it really beans on toast for 4 nights straight and such?

Certainly not! In my opinion student funding provisions are sufficient for anyone people to achieve a decent standard of living. The only catch is you have to manage your money! The ones on beans and toast are the ones who have spent their money on too many nights out (which, as you say, you will not be having).

I'm not sure about your funding situation as a mature student and parent. Maybe someone else can help with that.

Mukaki

Nope, it's not beans on toast everyday, well, not for me and my kids anyway! If anything, (and I MUST blame my sister for this!! she's a nutritional therapist ), I buy alot more organic food etc... so my shopping bill has gone up.

I may not be rich but I certainly don't feel poor either. If anything, going to university opened up opportunities for me i.e going to France for three weeks last year and going to Canada this year. Had I not gone to uni, I would never have done this, well, not yet anyway.

Always on the look out to make money though!

[Deleted User]

I have a pretty good idea as to what funding I'll be getting as I've done all my fianance and bursery stuff, and as I've spent the last 3 years as a single parent on I/S I know how to budget well.

I did have many of good nights out, still do, it's just as a mature student I woln't be living the lifestyle I imagine most students to have ( maybe they donn't have that lifestyle and I watch far too many episodes of hollyoaks:D).

Mukaki.. Sounds like you've had your having a fantastic experience as a student, well done to you!!! I'd love to go to Canada ( used to dream of going to live there)

SL x

elliethecat

Hi

I have managed to complete two degrees as a single-parent mature student. My son was five the first time I went to uni and 15 the second time. I manged perfectly fine both times. However, it's all about lifestyle. For example, I have never had a great deal of money and have always had to balance a tight budget so a relativelty low income was nothing new. In addition, I wasn't out partying on a regular basis - my life was pretty simple, basically uni, studying and looking after my son with a bit of social life thrown in as an added bonus.

My son is now away at uni himself and he'd tell a different story. However he's young and unencumbered and is really living the "student life" and he'd tell you he was really short of money! I do worry about him in the future as he's clocking up thousands of pounds of debt with the fees alone - he's not bothered about this in the slightest.

In my opinion, student life experienced by a slightly older person with responsibilities is very different to that of someone like my son. However I look back on my times as a student with fond memories and am so glad I took the opportunities that were available to me.

Good luck with your studying.

Kerilinann

I really don't think it is that bad. I've always manage to eat well, and in the earlier days would have numerous nights out a week.

Never heard of anybody having to live on the "beans toast" diet minusing one... but then his money went in the pub every day!!

I think you can be in a full time well paid job and still get the above if you dont manage your money properly.

alwaysonthego_2

I do well, I am a mature student of 2 children and my husband works. My student money is a bonus because I did not earn anything beforehand, I was a SAHM. You get extra grants to help support you as a parent.

[Deleted User]

I remember when my sister went to uni, I visited her and she was living in a shared house at the time, I remember her keeping her own loo roll in her room as one of hte other girls in the house used to steal her lol. I also remember her working an evening job too, She took me shopping with her nad bought loads and loads of pasta, cos it was cheap, of course this was many years sgo now well before tuition fees and stuff.

I'm a little less worried now I have an idea of my finance package, and try to look at it as an investment rather than debt, I just didn't want to be scrapping round for pennies all the time.

Sounds like everyone who's posted is doing well, budgeting is the key!:D
SL x