How much have you spent on uniform? How many DC's do you have and how do you plan to afford for your dc's to go to uni?

[LoveMyGirls]

We've spent almost £300, we have 2 dd's one about to start school and one about to start secondary school.

Dd1 asked on the way back how I'm going to afford for her to go to uni, I said she would have to get a job and get a student loan, she said getting into debt isn't an option, I said well she could try saving every penny from now until she goes and that would help a bit but as I didn't go I don't know how much it will cost and as I'm not rich I don't see how I can afford to help her

We spend about £50 a year on our girls school uniform. Probably not even that, but they are just primary school age.

With respect to university, we may be in a position to help them when they're 18. We may be not.

I will encourage my girls to choose sensibly. So, decide upon a career and choose a degree subject that enables them to do that career. Alternatively, look for a job at 18. There are currently blue chip companies offering good jobs for people with very good A-level results.

My dh and I both went to RG universities and our wages probably do reflect that. However, we were both clever and motivated and did worthwhile subjects. I'm not sure I could support my dds if they just wanted to spend three years at a 'poor' university, doing a un-valued degree.

There's more to going to university than bagging a job at the end of it though, and more to a career than getting onto some kind of graduate training scheme.

I'm not in a graduate post by any means, but I wouldn't ever say that my years at university were wasted. The debt I acquired (only £6k but I'd stand by this if it were higher) was worth every penny.

Hopefully we'll be in a position to help ds a bit - although I'd expect him to work and refrain from shopping in Jack Wills or boozing in expensive bars every night. I'd have no problem with him running up debt to go to university, either, if it's doing something he loves. If he ends up with a first but still has to wait tables for a while after, so be it.

Ummm, uniform. So far about £3.50 - because he'll still get into last term's for a while. I do need to get him some shoes though.

Whilst you of course have the right to tell your children that you don't want them to go to uni and won't support them financially, at the end of the day if your 18 year old child wants to go, they will go. It will no longer be your decision.

(Can you hear the battles with my parents there?!)

Urm £20

I'm old enough to have had a full grant to go to a top university. It is very disheartening to see what has happened to the university system with so much debt carried by so many. I only paid for my masters - Bsc and PhD were fully paid for. I don't want dd to get into debt and I hope that we will be able to pay most of her costs if she wants to go - but like civil - it's a lot of money and it will depend on her choice of subject and place and/or seriousness of intent.

DS is only just starting secondary school, so far the uniform has cost just over £300.
DD is in nursery and has to wear a uniform, but luckily because she only started in Jan, I don't need to buy her any new stuff.
Tbh haven't thought about funding uni yet.

LoveMyGirls You could point out to your DD that many Uni still give bursaries for A Grades. If she pulls her finger out, instead of expecting you to pull your wallet out, then she can lessen her debt.
It's not like school - it's not handed to you on a plate. If you want it then you have to work for it.

How about sharing the costs? You put some aside and your DD gets a job and borrows.
I think even if you are well off it's no bad thing to place some of the responsibility upon your young adult.
We have the funds set aside for our DCs, and I do want them to leave uni debt free, but they will still be expected to get Summer jobs etc and show willing.