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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think £60 a week to live on will be a struggle for DD at uni?

534 replies

Lex345 · 28/09/2025 08:07

Just that, essentially. DD is looking at moving into halls next September and when we looked at the cost of halls, based on her budget, this is how much she will have left to cover course materials, food, clothes, travel, socialising etc.

All bills would be covered, but I think this will be a very, very tight budget even just on food. She is planning on moving away from our home area and will be looking for a job as well, but I know that isn't a guarantee, especially not immediately in a new city.

AIBU to think this will be really hard to live on, or am I being completely ridiculous and DD will be absolutely fine, £60/week is plenty?

OP posts:
Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 28/09/2025 08:15

Where is the budget coming from? Are you calculating just on the loans available or are you contributing to her funding?

Original poster
Lex345 · 28/09/2025 08:15

89DaysToLoseIt · 28/09/2025 08:10

I used to survive on £25.

it’ll work. It’s called being a student.

Was this quite recently, as this is reassuring?

OP posts:
Beamur · 28/09/2025 08:14

£60 a week won't cover all that.
I'd look at getting a job now and over the summer and save some money in advance.
My DD has £50 a week for food only and we are able to top that up if she needs more.

Original poster
Lex345 · 28/09/2025 08:13

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 28/09/2025 08:09

It's quite tight, especially if that is to cover food. Can't she save really hard now so she's got a few hundred pounds to tide her over until she gets a job or could you save up enough to give her some money for her first few weeks?

We do have a savings account for her, that has just over £2k in-which I am hoping will help with essentials that need buying and provide a bit of a buffer. I am just a bit worried that this will be burnt through quite quickly in the first month or so to top up the budget (DD is ok with money but I don't think she has realised £60 a week is so tight).

I will of course never see her go hungry and could send her food deliveries, I guess, but I don't want her to struggle to enjoy uni life either.

OP posts:
TheCurious0range · 28/09/2025 08:12

Can she work as much as possible this year and save? I know it's not popular now but most people worked part time term time and more in the holidays when I was a student and that was Durham where there loads of wealthy students

Charlotte120221 · 28/09/2025 08:10

To cover everything it might be tight, but ‘just on food’ would be loads?

there are always jobs to be had at uni if you get in quickly.

RandomGeocache · 28/09/2025 08:10

It'll be tight. But she can apply for student funding/loan, and look at working through the summer. This is what my DD does - she does not work in term time, but does at Christmas and in the summer holidays to save money to use in term time.

89DaysToLoseIt · 28/09/2025 08:10

I used to survive on £25.

it’ll work. It’s called being a student.

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 28/09/2025 08:09

It's quite tight, especially if that is to cover food. Can't she save really hard now so she's got a few hundred pounds to tide her over until she gets a job or could you save up enough to give her some money for her first few weeks?