2nd year uni (starting 2018)

[HSMMaCM]

The old thread seems to have filled up!

Six years ago our DS1 was in a very dark place and when I hear of young people and suicide I am so thankful that he's still with us. It took time but now he has a girlfriend who he lives with, he's learnt to drive and a steady job. Things could have been so different and my heart goes out to that student's family.

On a lighter note, DS2 is heading home for the weekend for his Oma's 86th birthday.🎂

Yes, I keep telling mine always just call someone if you feel very fed up (although they seem to be very happy); doesn't have to me me, could be a friend, an older sibling, a relative. It seems always to be the worst time for people to die with their whole life ahead of them. My son has a particularly nice tutor this year he says so that's good.

late, 86 is a good age! I received two of my grandfather's grandparents' death certificates yesterday and htey both lived to that kind of age and no one in the family has since! I put it down to the fact they were still farming and probably had a better lifestyle than once the family moved into towns.

Might be of interest to some

"Released 17 October 2018

The Department for Education has confirmed that the student loan plan 1 and plan 2 repayment thresholds will increase from April 2019.

The thresholds of plan 1 and plan 2 student loans will increase from 6 April 2019 to:

•Plan 1 - £18,935 (£18,330 for 2018-19)

•Plan 2 - £25,725 (£25,000 for 2018-19)

Student loan deductions will remain the same at 9% for plan 1 and plan 2 loans.

The Department for Education has further launched a new student loan product known as the Postgraduate Loan (PGL). The earliest repayment of a PGL can start is April 2019. The Department for Education has confirmed the student loan threshold for PGL for England and Wales will be £21,000, with deductions being taken at 6%.

For more information, see Agent Update: issue 68."
www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-68

Thanks Xenia

Xenia, what does Plan 1/Plan 2 mean?
It's the repayment of the tuition fees loan and the living loan?

DS2 and I are going to see DS1 tomorrow, DS2 is staying over with him Sun night - think he’s hoping for a party house.

Done packing for stuff he wants - Guess how many things I need to bring that I told him to bring in the 1st place! And apparently I’m taking him to Tesco’s and a nice pub for lunch!

Plan1 loans are loans before 2012 plan2 loans after 2012 .

And I believe there are some even older loans before Plan 1 which on another thread someone was writing about - hers had been movedfrom SLC to Erudio (see lots of earlier MN threads about Erudio and their debt collection). I can't remember what those were called but I bet they were the first lot of loans before plan 1. I am not an expert on these loans.

Eve that sounds nice. Mine have their birthday next week but that's all in hand. As of then I won't be able to say I have "teenagers" any more, just very old children and grandchildren now, not that it matters.

Ah, thank you!

Eve, hope DS2 enjoys himself! I am going to see DD this week - she wants me to take an aloe plant as we forgot in September. Might bake a cake too, though she and her flatmates are still managing to cook for each other on a rota basis, which I am pleasantly surprised about!

Yes, you're right Xenia, 86 is a good age and she's so sprightly and with- it in every sense of the word. My mum made up 80 this summer. Again a good age, but she sees herself as an old woman whereas DMil certainly doesn't!

I'm sure a cake would be very welcome, BTM. My mum's cakes were always very popular when I'd been home for a weekend.
Ds2 and his housemates are also cooking on a rota basis as they've realised it works out cheaper for them.
He had a text from his housemates sometime after midnight on Friday checking if he was ok. They'd forgotten that he was coming home for the weekend! Good to know that they are looking out for each other.

Aww that's so sweet latedecember! Great name BTW!

He's sorted out his lost key issue (£140. I just paid but at least he can come and go again now).

£140 Xenia! Wow, that's a lot of money for a lost key.

DS is on a 'school trip' tomorrow to the British Museum so he is coming home afterwards for the weekend - yay!

I'm visiting DD. One of her housemates has lost his key and has been told it'll be £200

Top tip from my DC - wear your keys on a lanyard tucked under your top.

It's a special security key. I took it to be copied near our house in the summer to be on the safe side and they were not allowed to copy it and then he tried after he'd lost it and the key cutters said the same.

The security system is set up so that if a key is lost then they change the locks (which seems a huge waste of time and money to me but I suppose it ensures you only have a set number of keys for that house and people cannot start giving copies to friends). Originally he thought it would be £100 more but the locksmith apparently used some spare parts to keep it cheaper. Anyway at least he can come and go again now without having to hope someone turns up. I think his twin in another house just has a totally ordinary key you can copy like I and most other people have.

Yes that's the kind of key DDs house has. Not sure why the landlord needs special keys like that - surely yale/mortice combo most family houses have is fine?

Burglaries in student houses are really common at least in Bristol. I assume strong locks help protect the landlord from any claims of liability, or help prevent damage, additional residents, and reduce insurance. DD has very basic locks and flimsy doors. Good ones would be better, as long as she did not lose one.

DD has heard of one house being taken to court for failure to pay council tax. I think you need to apply for exemption with three months, so presumably they did not. DD says they dont seem to be taking it very seriously, but it would be a shame if it means they end up with CCJs.

Not sure why the landlord needs special keys like that - surely yale/mortice combo most family houses have is fine?

As Xenia said, to prevent extra keys being given to friends (who may or may not be trustworthy) - I don't think DDs key is the uncopyable sort but they sound like a good idea tbh.

Ah yes I can see to prevent copies - hadnt thought of that and obvs if it makes it much more secure!

Can somebody please run the council tax exemption thing by me again please?

Do they still have to complete one if in halls?
DS in in (different, non uni) halls again this year and hasn't heard anything about council tax exemption.
He said he didn't fill anything in last year either (was in uni halls then).

Any ideas anybody?

TIA!

1. You don't have to complete one if in halls (although if the parent is single as I am you will need a letter from the university to your own council to get your 25% single person discount).
2. If you are not in halls it seems to be wise to apply for the exemption. I tink at least one of my boys' houses has this year although if that house is always student housing I expect the council probably already has it down as lived in by students so it may not be essential to apply.
3. Then once they move back home after graduation as my older 3 do then my council tax goes back up to the full rate (this will not affect most of you who are married)

Thanks Xenia, I thought I hadn't heard him mention anything about it & he was certain he hadn't had to do anything last year, so that'll be why.

If you are not in University accommodation including private student halls you need to look on the Council website and apply for Council tax exemption. You can do it on line and it take about five minutes. A student number should be sufficient proof you are in full time education. A friend of DS’ was also taken to court a few years back. The Council will not know if people in a rented flat are still students or not.

The rental contract will say whether tenants are responsible for Council Tax. My guess is that Councils are so cash strapped that they will chase anyone who has not applied for an exemption, rather than assume status.

Sounds like the locks we have on our front door - £60 each.

DS is applying for placements for next year and so far had a few rejections which are getting him v down. I’m doing the usual it will be fine, learn from it and move on but he’s worrying about not having something for next year! His 1st video interview was last week , found it a bit stressful with the timed questions.