My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

To get increasingly annoyed at the mention of 'Uni funds' on here?

130 replies

WincyWillis · 03/10/2012 15:03

Am I?

Not a thread about a thread as such but I've seen it mentioned several times on here recently, in an "Everybody must start a uni fund for their child or they're a terrible parent" way. Firstly, not everyone's children want to or have the ability to got Uni. Secondly, many people don't have any spare money at the end of each month and can barely cover bills, let alone save towards a Uni fund. Also, it's perfectly possible for a child to fund his/herself through Uni, as my friend's 3 teenage children are currently doing. There is no need for Mummy and Daddy to have a Uni fund.

And the phrase makes my teeth itch!

OP posts:
Report
squeakytoy · 03/10/2012 15:05

YANBU at all.

Report
MammaTJisWearingGold · 03/10/2012 15:05

It doesn't bother me that much, but I do agree with the reasons it bothers you. My DD is at college and hoping to go to uni. She will be on her own financially as I will also be at uni.

Report
MrsMangelfanciedPaulRobinson · 03/10/2012 15:06

Yep, it pisses me right off too.

I remember a thread fairly recently on here where someone said that single parents should be saving the maintenance they receive each month for a Uni Fund! Fucking ridiculous!

Report
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 03/10/2012 15:06

But don't the student loan company assume a certain level of parental contribution if your income is higher than a threshold amount. So for some parents its highly probable you will have to top up the student loan so why not save in advance.

If you child doesn't go to uni then the money can be used for something else.

If your income is too low to save then I assume your child would be entitled to the full loan package.

Report
kdiddy · 03/10/2012 15:07

Well whatever you use it for, I am sure most people, if they're in a position to do so, will save money for their children's future. Calling it a uni fund just demonstrates what you think it would go towards, but it could be for anything.

In any case, the current uni funding arrangements mean that often people cannot fund themselves through uni and are expected to rely on parental contributions.

Report
Leena49 · 03/10/2012 15:07

My eldest dd (12) asked me if I had started saving for her uni fund last year. I nearly choked! I presume she got this from friends!

Report
Viviennemary · 03/10/2012 15:08

I can't see the point of becoming annoyed about it. If people can afford to set up a uni fund for their children then why not. If you can afford it, then I think it's a very good idea. But I agree it is annoying to say everyone should set up a Uni fund. Everyone can't.

Report
MummytoMog · 03/10/2012 15:10

If my kids don't get the full loan etc, then I guess we'll have to top up to that amount. I paid my own way through university though, and while I'm still paying off my student loans, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to put money into a 'uni fund'. Urgh. What a horrid thought. Maybe I'll pack them off to American Universities and the land of scholarships (assuming DD and DS take after us and have an academic bent).

Report
WincyWillis · 03/10/2012 15:11

It's just such a first-world, middle-class phrase. I would imagine that those that have a Uni Fund will also be putting huge pressure on their children to attend Uni, which I think is unfair.

OP posts:
Report
WincyWillis · 03/10/2012 15:11

Single parents should be saving maintenance towards a Uni Fund?? Good lord, whatever next??

OP posts:
Report
QueefLatina · 03/10/2012 15:14

Shit! What's the income threshold?!

Report
FromEsme · 03/10/2012 15:16

I reckon that once you leave home, you should be on your own. I work in education and I can see a direct link between those who are funded by their parents and spoilt, needy behaviour. I'd rather any children of mine grew up to be independent, rather than relying on me for everything.

Report
TunipTheVegemal · 03/10/2012 15:16

But this is the first world and a lot of people on here are middle class.

It seems like a sensible thing for people to do if they can, if they know they're going to be in a position where their income will be too high for their children to get the full amount but they're also not so rich they can afford it without a thought.

Report
Tuttutitlookslikerain · 03/10/2012 15:17

DS1 is looking at going to Uni next year. Up until last week he had no intention of going. I am still not convinced he is going to actually go. He has the capability, I am just not sure he will enjoy it. He actually lives to join the Army so we shall see what will happen.

We have no Uni fund. The uni's he is looking at are commutable. If he lives Out he shall have to get a job and support himself. I am disabled and don't work, DH has a good job, but we are in that bracket where we don't get help but don't earn enough to save loads IYSWIM.

Report
needanswers · 03/10/2012 15:21

wincy offensive view there - exh and I have a "uni" fund for ds1 - we just want him to be happy - he doesn't go tO uni - we will both just have some spare cash to enjoy.

Report
Hullygully · 03/10/2012 15:22

I haven't seen anything about uni funds anywhere so no idea

Report
purplehouse · 03/10/2012 15:23

It's from the American "college fund" isn't it?

Anyway yabu. It is bloody hard to fund yourself through uni. If parents are in a position to help, they should IMO. Government funding is based on parental income (or lack of) so there is a very clear expectation that parents will help.

Report
WincyWillis · 03/10/2012 15:25

I find it an annoying phrase though. Rather like "Playdate"

OP posts:
Report
GoldShip · 03/10/2012 15:26

Seriously does anyone do this? Im going to uni next year but my mum hasn't got a uni fund for me! As if. I wouldn't have wanted her scrimping and saving anyway.

Report
needanswers · 03/10/2012 15:27

We call it a uni fund because that's what it is - it's not money that would be handed over for anything else.

It started out as an endowment policy but it quickly became clear it wasn't going to pay out as much as expected.

Report
Birdsgottafly · 03/10/2012 15:27

YANBU.

However i think that if you can afford to help your child through their education and they are going tobe put at a disadvantage because of your income, then you should.

I live in a MN area, but most parents try to fund some driving lessons, or plan so that they don't have to start taking 'keep' straight away.

I think that parenst who are on a reasonable income and in a steady career, sometimes don't realise how tough it is now.

Years ago, savings plans would be taken out that would be collected on the 18, or 21st Birthday.

I would rather save than put my child in designer clothes, which i know some do.

Report
Birdsgottafly · 03/10/2012 15:29

That should have been 'Min Wage'.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Narked · 03/10/2012 15:29

I don't like ther expression, but of course it's a good idea. A parent's income (and their partner's income if they live in the child's home) determines what loans a student can get, because they expect parents to contribute.

Report
ZZMum · 03/10/2012 15:34

YABU - we do not all fit into a one size fits all category and so for some people uni funds are going to be needed as some of us do hope our kids want to go to university and parental income has an impact on how much kids can borrow and so a parental contribution is needed. I am yet to see the "no uni fund, bad parent" line which is clearly incorrect but you cannot stop some of us discussing how we are going to fund our kids further education - if it annoys you, hide the threads..

have to say though I do hate the word Uni

Report
Hopeforever · 03/10/2012 15:34

So is the phrase that's worse than the idea behind it?

Up until now it's not hit me as a phrase many use. But I am aware of the idea that parents save money towards possible future university fees and costs.

We have a savings account that we have decided is to pay towards the children's university costs should they decide to go. If they don't, we will have more cash in our retirement.

The important thing is that we don't use this money to buy anything else as if and when they go we will not have the spare cash to help them with costs.

Some people have a nicer car or house than us, that is their choice. Others can't afford a nice car, house or to save towards a university fund.

I am very cross that it now is so expensive to attend uni not everyone who would benefit from this level of education has access.

This is what we should be annoyed about, not if some people have a savings account and some don't

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.