£65 per week to live on in london? is it doable?

[frazzled74]

just had confirmation of accomodation rates and student maintenance loan, ds will be left with £65 per week for food and socialising, we will pay his mobile phone, insurance, tv licence and travel expenses but cant afford any more. Am starting to worry now as am hearing more and more about parents giving their children hundreds of pounds a month etc. Will he manage? he will get a part time job in a couple of months when settled in (hopefully).

£65 sounds like a princely sum for a student! Food shopping shouldn't take up more than £20 odd (or less if he pools his household money with his housemates and does a "family shop") and student socialising isn't expensive, nor is it strictly necessary so it's something he can cut back on if he's short of cash! He'll be fine!

Plenty! Even if he blows £50 on a night out he can still buy a weeks worth of food for £15.

Was going to say exactly what Riven said and job seekers have to pay all their utility bills out of the £66 they receive too. It will be a really good lesson in budgeting. Coping with being skint is what being a student is all about.My dd will have that when she goes in a few weeks but will have to cover everything out of it. As long as she doesn't go clothes shopping It will be fine.

65 a week is fine - I was at uni in London and provided he isnt having ot travel half way acros London (transport is bloody expensive) 65 a week is loads. I think my first year I was on 50 a week - but had to pay more than 20 of that in weekly travel costs (travel by bus or walking much chearper if possible than tube).

thanks thats great to know. unfortunately the only people i know with dcs at university are quite rich and pay all of accomodation plus holidays abroad etc, made me feel a bit worried, he is resourceful and used to cooking for himself, shopping for me on a budget etc so it will be fine. I will relax.

I am at uni and one of my male friends who lives the full life of a student including many nights out and a fair bit of weed has a budget of £65 a week. He spends £20 on food, £20 on weed and the rest on booze.

Same as people on JSA,£65 per week universal, either in London or elsewhere.

£65 is plenty.

oh now i am worrying that he will spend more on booze and weed than he will on food! oh well i suppose thats why its good that he will be away!!