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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

I know this will have been asked before but need advice about 'running costs' for DD at uni

88 replies

ladylouanne · 18/08/2016 14:53

DD had her first choice offer confirmed this morning. Great news, but my thoughts are turning to practicalities.

She's applied for a room in self catered halls. I will buy her all her 'start up' stuff eg books, things for her room, laptop etc. What then feels reasonable in terms of a monthly living allowance? She won't be applying for a loan other than for fees so I will be funding this myself, which I'm happy with and has always been the plan.

Any advice from others would be great thanks.

OP posts:

StillRabbit · 23/08/2016 17:47

Minimum maintenance loan has NOT been abolished from next year - where on earth are you getting that from? All students will be eligible for the minimum which is just under £4000

It's just what she was told by her school and at the university open days. It will be good news if she was told wrong.

She has asked if the halls rent can be paid after she has received finance but has been told that it has to be paid according to the schedule sent (around half before end of September, slightly less in January and then the balance of just over £1000) in April.

We have the money saved up so not a problem for us but I really feel for students where parents either have no disposable income or where the parents don't want to support them post 18 (which was the reason I had to drop out of school at 18 and the reason that I am adamant that we will help DD as much as we can).

clam · 23/08/2016 18:25

It's just what she was told by her school and at the university open days. It will be good news if she was told wrong.

I doubt she was told wrong. Maybe she misinterpreted it?

titchy · 23/08/2016 19:24

They will have been referring to the maintenance grants which are indeed now abolished. She'll have misunderstood. Rest assured loans continue to be available.

2016Blyton · 24/08/2016 19:11

Mine will graduate debt free as I did (my parents had to make my support upt o the full grant which even in my day we did not get as depended on parental income) and my older children did too. I know the pros and cons. My children will earn quite a bit and will be paying back the loan the terms of which may well change and we hate debt as a family so I am more than happy to fund them.

So I will pay £9k+ fees and the rent. The weekly sum I did for the older children by standing order every week including in holidays and the same whether in halls or renting was £100. I am upping that 15 years on for the younger children to £150 a week each (twins). I start it in the July when they do A2 so that although at home they can save it up so by October they have enough for freshers' week and the extra expenses. They also have £10k each inheritance/from relatives, saved up £20 here and there since they were babies. I also expect they will get some kind of job too as their siblings did in some holidays.

I think £150 a week is very generous and I hope they appreciate it. I can pay this as I have always worked full time etc and in part because my parents funded mat university through my law degree.

However lots of people at university have much less so it is never very hard to have less and my older children had plenty of friends whose parents didn't pay a penny even though they could afford to.

Fairenuff · 25/08/2016 11:02

my older children had plenty of friends whose parents didn't pay a penny even though they could afford to

Maybe it looked like they could afford it but we never really know someone else's financial situation or even the reason for spending the money they do have. I wouldn't try to judge someone else for that.

2016Blyton · 25/08/2016 11:05

I mean Etonians even though.... Although one friend's parents bought then son a 4 story house my daughter ended up sharing so obviously parents differ in what they choose to do with money they have. Others came from nothing and want children to have very little at university even when parents are very rich, so the children struggle as they did and learn to make their own way in life.

AtiaoftheJulii · 25/08/2016 13:34

Dd2 had her accommodation confirmed in July (unconditional offer), elected to pay by seven monthly DD payments, and doesn't have to pay a penny until November.

Dd1 had to pay termly, but no deposit, and not until after that term's loan had arrived.

I feel quite lucky now!

blueskyinmarch · 25/08/2016 18:07

We are paying DD2’s fees and hall costs. She is going into catered halls. DD1 got £75 per week for living costs when she was at uni but always had to cater for herself. DD2 is going to a more expensive town and things are more expensive generally now so she will probably get the same. Her gran will give her £60 per month too so she will have a total of £90 per week.

Her best friend is apparently getting £500 per month and she is in a catered hall too. I have told DD2 that she will not be getting that (even though we could afford it) as i expect her to be able to budget her money and not just have money to fritter.

mumeeee · 28/08/2016 17:16

We pay DD3s rent but she pays for everything else from her Student loan the same as her sisters did. We did buy DD1 and DD2 books that were on their reading list before they went but DD3 didn't have a reading list. I also bought them some bits and pieces they might need and did an occasional food shop. But we didn't send them an allowance and they didn't ask for extra money

scaryteacher · 02/09/2016 13:01

We pay the lot, fees, rent and £500 per month allowance in term time (so about £125 per week), but utilities have to come out of this, as does food, hobbies and books.

I don't give a stuff what the 'experts' say about the loans. There is no point paying interest if you don't have to; and there is no guarantee that the terms and conditions will stay as they are. We are in a position to do this and we only have one. It's still cheaper than school fees! Given income levels he would only get the minimum loan anyway, so we would be topping up. Dh's employer helps with education costs until age 24, so why not?

MessedUpWheelieBin · 03/09/2016 16:10

Self and DS are both going (he applied to mine after I got my offer before anyone accuses me of helicoptering) living at home, (London) and all I can offer is a lift, (disability/location means I have to drive in) and the same budget packed lunch I'll be having.
We've worked out that after rent and unavoidable standing charges, we should have around £46 pw each for everything else. He's hoping to pick up some work, I'm a bit less hopeful for me.
I have to be honest that I'm a bit worried about how it's all going to work out and just how well we'll cope surrounded by youngsters with parental top ups but nothing ventured and all that...

homebythesea · 05/09/2016 18:36

Just seen this on Facebook which is interesting for calculation of minimum parental contributions:

blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2016/09/02/how-much-are-parents-supposed-to-give-their-children-when-they-go-to-university/?_ga=1.211585942.2086549783.1469836117

Dunlurking · 06/09/2016 10:47

homebythesea thanks for that Facebook link. Very helpful!

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