University students and money

[VioletCharlotte]

After initially saying he wants to go to a local uni next year and live at home, my DS has now decided he wants to look at one further away as the course looks more suitable.

I want him to have the choice to go if this is what he wants, but I'm a bit concerned about money. I've calculated the maintenance grant he'll be entitled to - about £6,500 - and I know self catering halls are approx £4,500. My question is, how much money do they need a week to live on? I need to work out if it's affordable for him to go. I'm a single parent, and although my salary is quite good, my outgoings are high, I haven't got a huge amount left at the end of each month.

Any advice greatly appreciated

[PUGaLUGS]

DS gets minimum maintenance loan, we top it up so he can pay his rent.

We also put £65 a week into his account. He pays for his own phone. If he needs new clothes then I put extra money into his account although he rarely asks for anything.

If he comes home for a visit we pay his train fare. Sometimes we take him back in the car if I have made him meals for the freezer.

[Fffion]

DD is only in her first year, so she has that bridge yet to cross.

[BubblesBuddy]

I think that students do like to socialise or university will be lonely. There is nothing wrong with meeting friends for a coffee or tea. The students living further away from university (e.g. Stoke Bishop at Bristol) don't go back for lunch unless they have finished for the day. You need to factor in some entertainment and pleasure! It is how students make friends!

[GnomeDePlume]

BubblesBuddy while I agree they need to enjoy their time they do need to learn to manage within their means. In DD1's first year she had a couple of flatmates who quickly developed expensive habits: regular Costa trips, shopping, takeaways. They quickly burned their way through their available funds including overdraft (they boasted about this).

[hellsbells99]

Both DDs have been home for the night after 2 weeks. DD2 is surprised by how much she has spent on food shopping as she was catered last year. DD1 has been laughing at her and telling her to batch cook etc. DD1 said 1 of her friends had already spent £300 of her loan on new clothes. She said she much preferred our method of giving them money monthly. A lot of their friends have the set up where parents pay for rental costs, leaving their DCs with their loans to live off.

[optimistical]

when they go into higher education does anyone know what age do they stop getting free eye/dental care ,as i thought with being students and still studing this could continue. thanks in advance.

[kath6144]

Dental is after their 19th birthday. DS booked dentist last year before he turned 19, was free, he went in Sept and had to pay. He was a bit shocked I think.

I have a feeling that eye tests are same but not sure.

[Needmoresleep]

Bubbles, have your daughters not heard of Tupperware? Mine, without and suggestion from me, both chose to make packed lunches. I assume it is a bit like school where those with packed lunches sit together and are sociable with each other (and relieved they don't have to join the queue.)