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Higher education

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

Original poster

Are any grants available if parents can't help?

143 replies

Yourownpersonaljesus · 21/07/2018 22:48

My DD is of to uni in September. Her maintainance loan will pay for her accomodation and she will have a very small amount left over for living expenses. She does plan on getting a job too. She is really worried that she still won't have enough to live on. I am unable to help her out financially. I know it's expected that parents make up the shortfall but I really can't afford to as I struggle to get by as it is. My pay is okay but my rent takes up a huge chunk of it. I was wondering if universities gave out grants if students are struggling.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 16:57

Myfriend she doesn't get an allowance. I'm hoping the other things you mentioned will make a difference though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yourownpersonaljesus · 22/07/2018 16:58

Thank you gilly.

OP posts:
gillybeanz · 22/07/2018 16:59

OP, we can't afford much to help our dd, and she's looking at London, I think.
Help her find charities or private individuals who offer financial assistance to study.
Sometimes organisations within the subject will do this too.
I have a list and am looking at go fund me options too, for family and friends.

wizzywig · 22/07/2018 17:01

What about her taking a year out to work and save money?

gillybeanz · 22/07/2018 17:02

what subject is it? Maybe we can help you look.
I know it's hard to think you can't help them when they need it, but sometimes it does them no favours anyway.
She'll find a way and might become more resourceful than you can imagine.

HSMMaCM · 22/07/2018 17:06

If she's got £1000 left over, that's about £25/week for food, which should be doable. DD bought her books second hand from 2nd years, with money she earned over the summer holidays. She should be able to do this.

She will come across some people with loads of money, out every night and others working full time alongside their studies.

Karting1967 · 22/07/2018 17:08

Assuming she gets into her first choice is it in a major city with lots of job possibilities? Could she start applying now?

NotNachoing · 22/07/2018 17:09

OP not sure where you live but if it's anywhere near a uni could you take a mature/masters/phd student as a lodger during term time? I don't know how it works tax wise but it could bring in something extra for her empty room?

BubblesBuddy · 22/07/2018 17:09

Wizzy - the DD has been working more or less full time since leaving school and still there is no money. I think DD must have spent every penny. There hasn’t been any planning and DD could, surely, have saved for university even if op couldn’t.

Often a cheaper rent does mean a bit more inconvenience for travel to work but this is sometimes what has to happen.

LivesToTravel · 22/07/2018 17:11

She should be able to get a student account with the bank that usually come with an over draft that will help for emergencies. Not sure on grants etc but I would recommend her earning as much as possible over the summer so she has a safety cushion in case she can’t get a job straight away. An nus card may come in handy as will the app uni days as they offer discounts on lots of things and a rail card if she needs one at all. Get everything she needs in advance such as plates etc from charity shops if you can. I remember when I worked in hospitality a lady came in and got multiple voucher cards and topped each with £10 so she could send one a month that her son could use for a meal out or drinks so if anyone mentions getting her a gift for going recommend super market vouchers or somewhere like Nando’s, Wetherspoons etc. Everyone is in the same boat and it is scary financially but if she can get a part time job that will really help

drearydeardre · 22/07/2018 17:24

How much per week does that £1020 pa work out if you only count the weeks she has to be at university. I assume she will be home some of the weeks unless she has a job to do in the university town.

When I was at university back in the 60s although I got a full grant (poor family) I had to work every holiday and buy second hand books

I pay for everything to do with my house and run a car on circa £14K after tax. It does cost more if you live alone but you will get discount on council tax of 25% and save massively on food.

Chopchopbusybusy · 22/07/2018 17:26

There are some shockingly rude replies on this. I am not in the OPs situation but I can apply a little thought and realise that some people do actually live a life that’s different to mine.
I think some universities do have hardship funds so it is always worth asking.
DD1 has just graduated and DD2 is going into her final year. They have both had part time jobs during their studies. Both have full on courses requiring a lot of work but they’ve managed to earn some cash too to supplement our contribution.
I was also pleasantly surprised when they went off to realise how expensive they were to keep at home so hopefully OP you will see a little saving.

BackforGood · 22/07/2018 17:30

Just worked it out and after she has payed for her accommodation she will have approx £1020 left for the year.

She will be fine. As long as she isn't doing medicine or another medical type degree (nursing, etc) then she will have plenty of hours to work. If she is starting with accommodation paid and still got £1020, that is a lot better off than many students start with.

todaysusernameis · 22/07/2018 17:45

I can't imagine being a parent of a child showing academic promise and not making preparations to save for their university education for as many years as possible.

Thanks. This is my current nightmare.

6 years of minimum wage/part time/self employment for DH and I after we were made redundant within 6 months of each other - all the while DD was at secondary school. We struggled to stay afloat and keep the house. We anticipated that DD would get a full maintenance loan.

We've now both secured much higher paying jobs and DD won't be eligible for anything other then the minimum student loan next year - we've no savings, we're paying off debt, and we've somehow got to find money for DD each month.

Fortunately we have become experts in how to live frugally and we'll be doing so for several more years, despite our income.

SouthWestmom · 22/07/2018 17:46

Fucks sake there's some rude responses on here.

When my dd was born there was no question of me saving - my dh turned out to be a drunk and a gambling addict. So I left, penniless, and raised her in a one bed flat for years.

She now qualifies for the lowest loan available and it's a ridiculous system. Basically pp are saying I should have anticipated she'd want to go, and baseball my life choices on finding an extra £5k a year.

Lovely for some.

happychange · 22/07/2018 18:23

Op
I had a part time job for 20 hours a week as a student and that got me an extra 500-600 a month. Totally fine to live on if rent is fully paid

titchy · 22/07/2018 18:43

For those who are expected to contribute, but who will struggle to do so, can I recommend Matched Betting. £500 a month can be made fairly easily.

trickyboots · 22/07/2018 18:51

I'm wondering if you could post asking what is the best paying part time job for students in other people's experience? The difference between what myself and various friends made on their part time jobs as a student was quite striking, when you considered tips etc.

Karting1967 · 22/07/2018 18:52

How do you get started at matched betting? I know nothing about gambling/odds etc.

dancingthroughthedark · 22/07/2018 19:04

OP have you checked out the Facebook group WIWIKAU (What I wish I knew about University) . They are a nice friendly lot and you might find them more helpful and a little less judgemental.

titchy · 22/07/2018 19:07

How do you get started at matched betting? I know nothing about gambling/odds etc

MB Guidee*

Karting1967 · 22/07/2018 19:14

I’ve read that and don’t think I have the common sense or maths skills to give it a shot! I was lost when I got to ‘lay bets’...

NotNachoing · 22/07/2018 19:16

OP It'll no doubt be tight for your DD, in comparison to some others at least, however, it sounds like she knows the value of money so won't be someone who has spent their loan by Week 3 of the first term/semester. She also has work experience. In some ways she's actually ahead of the game.

Maybe also something for her to keep in mind. A girl on my course finished uni and worked her first year in any job she could, living exactly as she did as a student. She paid off her student loan (about £10k then) totally. I don't know what your daughter's situation will be, but at the time it didn't occur to me to do that. In hindsight it was very smart, even though it was probably quite tough.

Theshittyendofthestick · 22/07/2018 19:17

Hi OP. You are getting replies from some really ignorant people here! Please ignore them.
Student finance is a steaming pile of crap which unfortunately creates situations like yours. Tell your DD to get in touch with her uni's finance officer as there may well be some additional hardship funds that she coukd access. In fact it's worth getting in touch with them now as they may be able to talk you through some possibilities.
I'd also recommend that she gets in touch with the uni's 'job shop'as they will have details of jobs both on campus and off that she can apply for in advance.
It's really unfair that you're both in this situation and also unfair that it's so common! Flowers

AJPTaylor · 22/07/2018 19:23

please ignore ignorant people. my best mate has 3 kids, a bright dd, a useless fecker of an ex who contributes not a bean and left her with debt that she had to cope with by means of an agreement. this means she has no spare income. cos she earns 40k daughter is not entitled to full loan.
she has got a job at college and gets a small amount from a charity related to our work. she manages and always knew her mum could not bail her out so lives v carefully indeed.