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Higher education

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

Original poster

UEA freshers (2019 starters) part 2

946 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/10/2019 14:00

Previous thread and hope you don't mind that I set up the next thread @juicy0. Just did it to ensure that we carry on chatting seamlessly Wink

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Thread gallery
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sluj · 08/10/2019 07:46

I remember making alcoholic stew in our kitchen. Basically it was stew made with a can of red wine sauce with Merrydown cider added liberally 🤣

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 08/10/2019 08:13

DD has just discovered the joys of "wine gin"

I was dubious so she sent a pic of the bottle.
So it's a thing. Who would have thought to combine those in one delightful bottle?
It's her new fav apparently...

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 08:33

Wine gin sounds an abomination against alcohol but each to their own.

@sluj that sounds healthy (not). What did it taste like?

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Itscoldouthere · 08/10/2019 09:05

Wine Gin sounds like a drink made from party leftover dregs 😊
My DH has admitted that when he was a student in Glasgow his food was terrible, lots of half loafs filled with beans and mainly chips, so he thinks DS is doing ok as he made a chicken curry at the weekend.
DS doesn’t seem to know when/if he has a reading week and doesn’t seem to have plans to come home, I think we will go and visit him in a few weeks and take the dog as he’s missing him.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 09:50

@GoldenRuby how did the coastal walk go?

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GoldenRuby · 08/10/2019 11:10

Good I think, not that I have heard from DS. The Dept posted lots of photos on twitter and it stayed dry, which after the week they have had was rather lucky!

Numbersarefun · 08/10/2019 13:24

I drove through the UEA this morning. It was sunny and lots of students moving around - maybe slightly tired as it was 8.45! Hopefully all yours are settling down and getting to their 9 o'clock lectures if they have them.

Itscoldouthere · 08/10/2019 15:44

DS just sent me a photo, he’s on a biology trip to Cambridge Botanical Gardens, he’s only 19 miles from home, makes me miss him knowing he’s so close.

icanbewhatiwant · 08/10/2019 16:22

@Itscoldouthere I wonder if my son has gone. He hasn't said anything.

icanbewhatiwant · 08/10/2019 16:29

Ds has started writing a list of things he wants me to buy as he's coming home at the weekend. He sent a copy of the list. Some of the things include a mac, I did tell him to take a waterproof coat but he refused, he's asked for tea towels, I told him I sent tea towels, he replied with...he wants tea towels that dry dishes and not cheap ones! He has also asked for a brita water jug and cartridges! He wants a squeegee to dry the shower. Does he realise he's only a student? That is just some of the list.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 16:37

@icanbewhatiwant isn't that what their maintenance is for? DS was saying that needed cheap pots and pans (the one thing that didn't go up with him)) and has been borrowing them from flatmates. Did tell him that those sort of things should come out of his monthly money we give him. Also, he has more time to buy things than we do!

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icanbewhatiwant · 08/10/2019 16:57

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 at the moment I've not given him any money. His maintenance loan (when he finally gets it) is just over £1000 more than the accommodation for the year. So he has that and he earned £2000 over the summer. I told him if he spends less than £100 a week he has enough money without me giving him any. I think he's worried he doesn't have enough. I bought most things he needs clothes and kitchen wise before he went. I've offered to buy books if he needs them. He's been buying things on my amazon account too. So I was a little shocked at the list. But also I feel I should help a bit. He worked hard all summer and didn't spend any of money. Well...apart from buying a laptop that he needed to take with him.
A lot of things on the list we have here already, like folders, but I think I'll draw the line at water filter jug! He can buy his own!

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 17:03

It's a difficult one isn't it? I think DS probably has the same amount left over after paying his annual accommodation costs. We are also giving him £275 a month, so would really be expecting him to buy most of his own stuff. I have said we'll review if it's not enough but he's managed to only spend about £100 in three weeks, so I think he has plenty!

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icanbewhatiwant · 08/10/2019 17:19

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 yes it is difficult not knowing how much to give him. I said we will review how much he's spending over the Christmas break.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 17:32

My suspicion is that DS, not at all materialistic or a natural 'nest-builder', will spend very little that's unnecessary, but then fritter the money away on PS4 games, football tickets or the like!

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CharliesMouse · 08/10/2019 19:49

DS is a tightwad very careful with his money, doesn't go out much, will wear clothes until they fall apart and thinks shopping in general is the dullest thing imaginable (Doesn't take after his mother then!). Now he's moved back home he has no expenses except an annual bus pass, which he has paid for himself, but he's still due a large maintenance loan. (Despite my nagging he still hasn't checked to see if it has arrived in his account yet.)

I've asked him to make sure that Student Finance are aware that he is now living at home as I believe he will be entitled to a slightly lower amount than he would have been whilst living on campus, but, even with an adjustment, he should still get a substantial sum of money, some of which I believe is a non-repayable bursary. Ever thrifty, he is talking about investing it in an ISA!

He has offered to pay me something for his keep but, because it's a loan and not his actual money it doesn't quite feel right to take anything. HOWEVER, I am a lone parent and I lost my council tax discount when he turned 18 and I am feeding and housing him again. (Not to mention all the bloomin' stuff I bought him to move into his accommodation with which is now sitting in boxes in the spare room.)

I've no idea if students who live at home don't usually bother applying for the loan, or whether they do, and then they use it to contribute to household bills. One thing is certain, I've no worries about him frittering it away.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 19:55

@CharliesMouse you could take a nominal sum every month - £200? I don't recall that the amount for students living at home is that much less than for those living away which surprised me. At least your DS has the right attitude to saving. I am not quite sure what DS intends to do with his. If he doesn't start relaxing his uber frugality soon, I may reduce the amount we are giving him every month!

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MarchingFrogs · 08/10/2019 19:57

If your DS is the only other adult living on your home and he is a full-time student, you can claim the Council Tax discount, though?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/student-housing/students-in-private-rented-accommodation/student-housing-council-tax/

boys3 · 08/10/2019 20:04

@CharliesMouse, re Council Tax should your DS be disregarded from the Ctax cal as he is a full time student? www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/council-tax/council-tax/#discounts
Could be well worth checking plus for any retrospective entitlement as well.
Glad that his decision after starting to not stay in UEA halls is working out for him.

boys3 · 08/10/2019 20:05

xpost with marching , defo worth pursuing

CharliesMouse · 08/10/2019 20:08

Oh my goodness, thanks for that @MarchingFrogs. I had no idea he would be discounted as an adult because he's a full-time student! I will be on the phone to the council first thing tomorrow.

I think I agree that £200 sounds a reasonable amount @NewModelArmyMayhem18 but it's good to hear it from a wise Mumsnetter too! Once I'm sure of how much he is due to receive in total I think I will suggest it to him.

CharliesMouse · 08/10/2019 20:09

....and thank you too @boys3

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/10/2019 20:13

That's probably about 2/5 of what most of the DC at UEA will be paying rent-wise, so a bargain! Home comforts, mother's love and nutritious food included @CharliesMouse! Wink

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boys3 · 08/10/2019 20:16

@CharliesMouse - from your post did you also lose the Ctax discount whilst your DS was still in 6th Form, although clearly at some point turned 18. He should have been treated as disregarded irrespective of turning 18 from what I've read then too - as studying A levels in full time education. So worth checking this and getting a retrospective credit for that too. Your local council should know all this inside out, but if they are playing a bit fast and loose with the regs a quick chat with CAB should confirm things too. Hope you are able to get what you should be entitled to.

icanbewhatiwant · 08/10/2019 20:32

@Itscoldouthere I messaged ds and asked if he was on a field trip to Cambridge. He said yes then sent some photos. I wonder if he'd have told me if I hadn't asked. Possibly not.