Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Affording Uni

528 replies

bustybetty · 30/09/2020 08:26

My daughter (year 13) is considering uni. We are a normal family with no parental help (handouts) hubby is on 50K and my work is about 20K, we live in a modest house and have three teens as well. My question is I have just looked at the maintenance loan she would be entitled to and it doesn't even cover the cost of the accommodation - how do people afford this? We don't have spare money and I coupon where I can, we don't have phone contracts or gym memberships. I don't understand how most people afford to send their children to uni. Currently I'm thinking she will have to take a year out to work to be able to afford it.

ideas anyone?

OP posts:
Strangeways19 · 01/10/2020 19:47

I think your income is above average & therefore you'd be expected to contribute more to your ds education whilst at university.
Our ds has a place - we earn nothings like your wage but she's taken a year out & is working to save for next year. Meanwhile we are also putting what we can aside to help her whilst she's at uni too. It's hard slog.

LynetteScavo · 01/10/2020 20:06

I'm in a very similar situation to you OP.

Luckily my DC chose a northern university with cheap accommodation. London universities were ruled out.

Foreign holidays & new cars aren't happening during the uni years.

I am very grateful we were able to pay the accommodation deposit of £500 - I actually cried thinking about 18year olds who don't have parents who don't have that money.

Ultimately it's my younger DC that suffer because I can't provide certain things such as GCSE tutoring for them, and also my pension.

yummumto3girls · 01/10/2020 20:13

It is expensive, my DD gets about £5k and that just covers her rent. £7k is a lot of money and you may have to look at different unis who have cheaper, and better accommodation. My DD Is at Birmingham. It is sad that maintenance loans are means tested, they still have to pay it back so why does it matter. DD has worked two jobs over the summer to save up, we pay £200 pm. She copes but has been incredibly stressed about money. When calculating the loan they don’t take into account I have 3 other children. It is not fair as her flat mate gets £11k as her parents separated, she is living the high life at Uni whilst others struggle.

yummumto3girls · 01/10/2020 20:16

Just to add.... in this current climate where most lessons are on line I would certainly consider unis within commuting distance, even if that is a couple of hours as they are rarely in!

MissConductUS · 01/10/2020 20:20

TBH, proximity was low on the priority list for us with all of ours.

True for us too, except we limited the search to uni's within a 5 hour drive from home. We wanted to be able to pick them up and bring them back in a single day if there was some sort of emergency. That's proved very fortunate as when we took DS to uni in August we'd have had to quarantine if we spent the night

Wakemeupwhenthisisover · 01/10/2020 20:26

Wow what a snotty and snide remark about not having parental “handouts”.

UglyBoy19 · 01/10/2020 20:36

Student loan will provide some help for her but doesn’t take into account that you have other children to provide for. Martin Lewis talks a lot about the unwritten rule of the parental contribution. Easier said than done If you have multiple children who all want to go to Uni. If she takes a year out before hand, it is likely that she will spend her wages and not save very much at all. Not recommended unless she wants to do it and she’s disciplined. Don’t go in halls of residence, get a house share - much more affordable. Get a bit of a job - I worked one night a week at a club night in my second year and a couple of mornings a week as a chamber maid in my third year. Still had an AMAZING time at Uni. Don’t hang onto unnecessary costs like a car and make sure you get the 1/3 off student railcard. Good luck and good vibes to your daughter. Uni was the best time of my life.

Amitskitshaw · 01/10/2020 20:39

Why are people saying ‘get a loan’? With parents earning £70K the amount the young person can apply for is capped at a basic amount and OP is correct it doesn’t even cover Accomodation costs. UK students can get a loan for tuition fees in addition. You still need to find money for travel, food, bills, course materials, dental care etc. My daughter is in her third year. She has worked the whole time and took the student loan. She has had to borrow about £3K from family over the first 2 years. She is studying and living in Central London. She cycles everywhere.

Rollergirl999 · 01/10/2020 20:39

Surely you know that your kids are likely to want to go to university so you make some plans in advance and maybe adjust your lifestyle and save a little ?

Theradioison · 01/10/2020 20:42

Surely you know that your kids are likely to want to go to university so you make some plans in advance and maybe adjust your lifestyle and save a little ?

17 pages in.....

cyclingmad · 01/10/2020 20:51

Maybe its time people start thinking more about whether they will be able to give their children the lofe they want to give. I certianlg wont be having more than one because id rather five one child the opportunities and not struggle doing same for a second

Stompythedinosaur · 01/10/2020 21:11

Personally I think I'd prioritise supporting your dd through uni over a holiday or other dc's hobbies. If you cant afford everything then you need to prioritise.

Going to a cheaper uni or getting cheaper accommodation options at the uni are the other things to look at. Tricky if you havent looked at this in advance though.

I'd expect a student to get a job too of course, but realistically they arent going to earn thousands.

CreamCabbages · 01/10/2020 21:19

It’s your lifestyle choices which have left you with no savings!

If you want to contribute to your daughters accommodation costs, you will need to start budgeting- cutting costs involves more than using coupons and going on self catering camping holidays. You will need to use an app or spreadsheet.

Decide on what is non negotiable expenditure , and what can be cut.

In relation to reducing household costs, try the following:

Mortgage- re negotiate if possible

Bills- switch providers

Groceries and household- go to cheaper shops such as Aldi, Iceland and Savers/Superdrug. Home Bargains for gifts.

You should also let your daughter know she has the following options:

A) work for a year to save up for all inclusive halls of residence
B) rent a room in a private flat share and work part time

yetmorecrap · 01/10/2020 22:11

Our son works18 hours a week in a proper professional job plus his loan and is actually better off than when he had a full time job. He’s at London Uni and has a lovely house share. The reason he is in that position is because he worked from 16-21 and did an apprenticeship - was in a house share just at 18 and started Uni at 22. That way you get top whack as an independent student (earned for last 4 years) and hence your parents income is irrelevant— also meant he had the skills for a great p/ job. I think he was very wise personally

Toomuchtrouble4me · 01/10/2020 23:38

We’re on less than you and have 2 at uni and 2 at home. The older ones are both getting 9k loan. Rent is about 6k. One works evenings for a pittance in a theatre And the other works various shifts in Morrison’s.
They live and eat cheaply.
We pay only for their phones.

yearinyearout · 02/10/2020 07:08

Quite frankly I'm mildly disgusted at your attitude. We're on half that and 3 of our 6 kids have found their way to uni using plan 2). So can your DD.

Quite frankly, your dc will have got a much higher loan won't they? So not in the same position.

And for all the posters scoffing that 70k is a huge income, you do know people pay more tax the more they earn? So as well as being in a higher tax bracket, depending where the OP lives, they may not be dripping in jewels and fancy cars, but just managing to pay the mortgage/bills and feed four hungry teenagers.

Newmumatlast · 02/10/2020 07:15

I worked from 16 and had savings. I worked during a gap year before too and throughout first year part time. I also worked every summer and for part of second/third year (xmas and holidays mainly). My parents were not on more than you and gave me 200 a month. I imagine they afforded it as they were no longer paying to feed me or for all of the clubs etc. I did when I lived at home. I also took all of the loans I could. I wasnt entitled to grant. I also lived out of halls. To be fair this was when tuition fees were much lower. However because of my savings and working, and being frugal, I still had enough loan left unspent to pay for a postgraduate course without needing a loan so I guess if tuition fees had been higher then, that would've been about the difference.

Newmumatlast · 02/10/2020 07:18

actually though tuition is higher now, the loan is therefore also higher isn't it so actually I think they would manage. Lots of people who go uni don't have much money. I think its probably wise though to think harder about if you really need to go if you're on low income. For me, I needed my degrees for my career. I think you sound lovely and supportive OP and your child will be fine Flowers

Newmumatlast · 02/10/2020 07:27

@Stompythedinosaur

Personally I think I'd prioritise supporting your dd through uni over a holiday or other dc's hobbies. If you cant afford everything then you need to prioritise.

Going to a cheaper uni or getting cheaper accommodation options at the uni are the other things to look at. Tricky if you havent looked at this in advance though.

I'd expect a student to get a job too of course, but realistically they arent going to earn thousands.

they may earn thousands to be fair. Perhaps not a month but unless you're doing a high contact hour course, I knew people who worked 20-30hrs a week. I did less as I had a high contact course. It's also possible to work full time hours during summer. Appreciate jobs can be hard to find but also depends what you're willing to do. Can help if you've also worked since 16 as sometimes you can transfer or go back to previous employers.
CountFosco · 02/10/2020 07:34

And for all the posters scoffing that 70k is a huge income, you do know people pay more tax the more they earn? So as well as being in a higher tax bracket, depending where the OP lives, they may not be dripping in jewels and fancy cars, but just managing to pay the mortgage/bills and feed four hungry teenagers.

They won't be in the higher tax bracket, the OP is earning a below average salary of £20k which means her DH is on £50k. Assuming he's not a complete muppet he will be paying into a pension to ensure his income is just below £50k so he a) isn't in the higher bracket and b) they still receive CB for their 3 DC under 18 (worth about £2400 a year).

Whitbylover · 02/10/2020 08:22

Our two have both gone to Newcastle uni - the cheapest halls are £98 a week - their maintenance loan covered this and they were left with about £30 a week - we topped it up with money for food shopping . Our daughter got a bar job and summer jobs to supplement this . Our son has only just started but worked in a factory all summer, so he had money to take with him . It’s not easy, but doable . We are on less income than you, so your maintenance loan might not cover Accommodation . I do not know how some parents pay the full accommodation costs - we just could not do this . Good luck

Theflying19 · 02/10/2020 08:31

NRTFT so apologise if repeating. I hope you don't discourage her from going. I have heard of families doing this. Cut down on some activities. Don't have a holiday - you'll survive. Tell her she can learn to drive later on in life and save that cash. None of my daughter's friends learned to drive in 6th form. It might be a sacrifice, but it's doable on £70k. You need to be looking at around £400 a month to make up the difference between the basic loan and max loan.

Redlocks28 · 02/10/2020 09:08

actually though tuition is higher now, the loan is therefore also higher isn't it so actually I think they would manage

The tuition fees aren’t the issue. Whether the fees are £1000, £3000 or £9000 a year, they get that amount in tuition loan, don’t see it and it pays the tuition fees directly.

It’s the maintenance loan that’s the issue. If your parents earn over the cut off point, you get the minimum amount which is about £4200 a year (living away). Students in lower income families can borrow £9000 a year. The halls accommodation varies from approx £4000-£8000, so the students getting the basic loan, can actually borrow any more. It’s not amount ‘managing’ because the loan is higher-it doesn’t actually cover the basic costs and you can’t borrow more. Parents are expected to find the other £4000 a yearX

S0upertrooper · 02/10/2020 10:22

Most folk are in the same position as you OP, in that we are legally obliged to contribute to the cost of our DS/DD's uni costs. We didn't have any help or hand outs from GPs, we're not in that financial bracket.

We had 1 DS at uni for 7 years on a course that couldn't accommodate him working part time because of the heavy practice workload. Also he studied abroad for part of the time so wasn't entitled to a student loan.

We downsized to release some equity, cashed 8n an endowment, i went up to full time, we got rid of a car and DH cycled to work, we dropped the foreign holidays and cut back on spending.

DS has now graduated and is working in his chosen field and we can relax a bit financially. I don't think we could have done it for 3.

DuesToTheDirt · 02/10/2020 11:13

Re the driving - I'm very glad my DDs learned in 6th form. Both have just graduated and one is now working in a field where a driving licence is a massive advantage. YMMV.