To ask what your provision is for your DC uni?

[Bluffyslummers]

I see it a lot on here in the debates of can I afford another child, especially after 2 children.

No one of course knows if their child will go to university or what university tuition or funding will look like, but if your saving for your children later in life, what does that look like?

for instance for us, we have 2 children. When my eldest was 4 we opened stocks and shares ISAs with a lump sum and we put in £70 a month each. We’ve started claim child benefit too, so now pay in child benefit (minus what we have to pay back- roughly estimated of course).

if you’re comfortable sharing, I’d be interested to know what you’re saving for your DC?

We have two at Uni ( and an older one who has been through Uni). DS1 had no problem finding work throughout his 3 years. Ds3 has tried everything to find work and not been successful, it's frustrating. I do believe him when he says he is trying. he does struggle with social anxiety etc. DD1 is doing a nursing degree which has a lot of placements and I'm not sure she will be able to work from now on but will hopefully get the NHS bursary which will help a bit so I'm hoping we can cut the amount we give her slightly ! It's hard, we are heading towards retirement and need to save for that too.

@Bluffyslummers I'm not sure what the qualifying period is for Welsh funding, as we've always lived in Wales, but I think it might be 3 years before the start of your course. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

Devolved governments that shield somewhat from tori cruelty? Policies?

So true !

I did it and I loved it, it was great BUT do I think one absolutely has to do it? No, and I certainly don’t think it’s worth the price especially now, and even if one does get the max student loan, it’s a heck of a lot coming out of your pay pocket every month.

i think in the UK it’s been sold as part of the uni experience, one has to move away, and it’s just not realistic anymore

No provision. I'm a single parent. Eldest daughter did a nursing degree with full student loan and bursary. Also worked part time through her degree.
Youngest son will have full student loan and a bursary. He will also work part time

Right, where am I moving to in wales then?

where do you recommend?

(Only somewhat joking)

Can I ask did your dd get the bursary in the first year of her Nursing degree. DD has bene trying to apply this week and for some reason the application doesn't recognize her Uni. I thought it also said it wasn't available in the first year. Any reassurance would be appreciated ! It is causing her a lot of anxiety !

This is what I feel and have seen from my eldest son’s experience living away. He has blossomed so much in the three years he lived away at uni. On top of getting his degree he’s had an absolute ball (and I didn’t have to worry where he was or what he was up to 😁).

Sorry I actually have no idea, we saved to pay it back but then that didn't happen and they just adjusted my husband's tax code to take it back.

All three of mine have gained so much confidence by going away to Uni. My eldest had a great time, gained loads of experience from voluntary work ( through Uni ) and opportunities which helped him get a job after graduating etc. My dd has just done a foundation degree ( I know yet another UNI year added ) but she has had an absolute ball. Little over a year ago she was a depressed and anxious teen who had just made a mess of some of her A'levels and lost all confidence. one year of Uni she has made so many friends, found the confidence to do Camp America this summer and travelling round the US soon with new friends she has made there. She is unrecognizable from a year ago.

In NI uni fees are about 3.5k. I have one dc and dh and I both save into an ISA for her every month. There's about 17k in there. I also save maximum into a LISA for myself (£350 per month). Can only pay in for 8 more years (when I'm 50) so dc can have that money if they need it which will coincide with year 2 of uni (if they go).

"You need to be prepared to contribute the means tested bit if they don't qualify for it. That's not a huge amount though."

I actually disagree with @SaltAndVinegar2

Even finding the difference in minimum versus maximum, £4,651 v £9,978 = £5,327. Divided by say 10 months most are actually at uni, sept to May = 10 months, = £533 a month. Thats the minimum. To me that's quite a lot for some parents to suddenly 'find'. "Not a huge amount"? Finding £500 a month for some is quite a lot.

That’s fantastic. My younger son is off to Uni this year. He’s seen his brother love it so there’s a lot to live up to. He’s doing a much harder course though and suffered from a bad depression a couple of years ago, so I’m really keeping my fingers crossed it doesn’t disappoint. He’ll be several hours away but knows he can access therapy if he needs it.

I would agree and then if people have more than one child, which most do, that’s potentially £1k extra a month. Huge amounts

We knew from Year8 at school that our 2 would probably be looking at uni. They qualified for the minimum maintenance loan, so we planned to make it up to the full amount.

But... one lived in a much more expensive place to find rentals than the other. So we paid both their rent and they used their loan for living on.

We saved £400 a month from Y8 onwards. They have just finished. It provided enough and a bit to pay deposits and start up cost when they move out.
We now feel rich... and might even have a decent holiday next year.

I am not prepared to go in to,actual figures but he will have money from us. But more than that he was encouraged to have a good work ethic and started off with a paper round at 13 by 19 he was on his third job. When he applied for a degree apprenticeship which is more competitive and much harder work than the traditional degree route he had all that work experience. He is now on 29k in year two with a guaranteed job and all tuition fees paid for. He has no idea we have some money for him. I have found some people who know their parents will assist can become a bit complacent.

We are careful but forgoing a small birthday party just sounds bloody miserable.

Unfortunately we weren’t in a position to save for uni. Eldest DC starts Sept and is going to a local uni so will live at home and will continue with his part time job. He’s got a student loan but we will support him. My younger DC will probably do the same

Nothing specific. I save what I can, but don’t scrimp to save “for uni” or for a house deposit or whatever.

it may be I need that money for some reason. Even if it’s a holiday for us all. I’m sure they’d rather have that experience than 5k off their uni loans.

if I have money left when they go to uni then great. If I don’t they can get loans like everyone else.

I went to uni with nothing from my parents, they simply didn’t have it. I worked weekends in a shop to fund my lifestyle and get spending money, but otherwise just had student loans/grants etc. I now owe thousands back but it’s fine, it just goes out of my wage slip automatically and I don’t think about it. And that’s with £0 from parents, so it is doable.

I don’t understand the hesitancy on an anonymous forum, it’s odd.

birthday parties mean different things. I know a lot of parents who spend a few hundred each year on a fairly modest birthday party, when factoring in faculties rental and food and favours. That’s what we might forgo, but that doesn’t mean no celebration, parties can be modest and small and still be fun. Tbh they’ve never had a birthday party (nor have they asked) but they’ve had days out, cake and way too many presents. But we’re going to be cutting back on presents now too, to either one big, two medium and three small, or just one big one medium and one small (maybe a few small because by small I do mean thinks like a book, puzzle, sticker book) and focus on a birthday experience instead aka a day out

i know how utterly miserable. Yet I’m sure they’ll survive.

But that was back then, I just looked on one of the links up thread and on my income I’d be expected to pay over £5k per child per year, they’d have that deficit. I’m not sure if that’s factoring in if the child works or not, but it’s about £500 a month. Not sure if it’s realistic to earn that much when studying full time?

Most people don’t save as they can’t spare the money.
Most students work whilst at uni, some take a gap year first to work and save up. Plenty live at home and commute too x

I have twins so it’s unlikely we’ll be able to put them through uni at the same time unless we do some dedicated pre-saving. We have child ISAs with a lump sum then a small monthly saving each.

I plan to tell them both when the time comes that if they want to attend uni then they will have to use that money. The money automatically transfers to them at 18, so it will be their decision (whether I like it or not!). But if the cost is similar to now or worse when they reach uni age, then to use their ISAs will be there only choice. Unless our financial situation improves of course.

We don’t mind helping with uni, property deposits or childcare costs, but I draw the line at contributing to weddings.

My DS does 24 hours a week at 12.50 . Plus more in holidays. He has 12 hours contact time at uni. But that job comes to well over £500 a month