The CDE of University Life (2019/20 cohort) - assignments, flat-hunting, Halloween and the end of their first term fast approaching

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread - Obvs the end of term is looming sooner for some than for others? I guess the Oxbridge posse will finish by the end of November or just into December?

Hey Rags Glad your DS got sorted out so quickly, it is really early in the year, but at least it's over and done with. 50 weeks is rubbish, but I guess all leases are the same. And I was hoping rentals would be much less than halls, so I am disappointed that they aren't, especially as I am paying his rent. My DS messaged me last night to say that loads want to share with him and he doesn't know who to choose, it's great to have the choice and nice to know he is popular. Although his housemates dont know what they are letting themselves in for, he is very messy

even if halls are cheaper per week - 50 vs 38 weeks can really blow your budget.

Glad we were in relatively affordable halls this year as the next two years sound like they'll be more than we had expected.

DS wants to take our old Nespresso machine back with him. Will it need inspecting by the uni or should it be ok?

I would suggest he either looks in his rental agreement or emails the accommodation office before just taking it - policies seem to vary (from no extra electrical items to use, no PAT testing but UK items only), but it would be a waste to take if the answer is no.

No discussion from DS at all about accommodation for next year. One of the main reasons he chose his college is that it has accommodation for all three years (not at all the case with all Oxford colleges). Second and third years are off-site, but in college-owned flats. He will need to find people to share with, but I'm pretty sure the flat ballot is not until next semester, so there is time to find the right people.

He has made some friends in college, and seems to be spending regular time with people in his subject groups both in and outside college, but his most active socialising is with people in a couple of university societies. This includes people in all years, including post graduates. It's good that he is meeting like-minded people, but I hope he does focus on the people-to-share-with aspect soon.

Think we’re sorted for invoice now. Not due until 1/12 so she’s set up a direct debit. Phew. Her rental for next year starts in July for 52 weeks. Will work out about the same/ bit less than catered halls this year once food and bills are included. I’m thinking £20/£25 per week for food next year- does that sound about right? She’s vegetarian.

I mean it will be more or less the same for us because we will get less loan next year due to pay rises.

£20/25 sounds about right, that's what my DS budgets (not vegetarian) plus I do supply the odd food parcel (our food bills have greatly reduced since DS left!).

*I’m thinking £20/£25 per week for food next year- does that sound about right? She’s vegetarian.

I'd like to help you here but until I get hold of DS and his bank statements, I have no idea how much he is spending. he's been away since beginning of September and I've done two £70 plus shop deliveries for him but that has contained some extra treats and also some stuff for his flatmates. I've been giving him £250 a month. He's also had extra when he had to replace his bank card (£50) and when he visited (£50) and I gave him and DS1 £50 each when DS1 went up to visit last week. he "thinks" he's had his loan payments but hadn't changed his bank account details with loan company and he had savings as well. He isn't saying he doesn't have money and isn't asking but i'm concerned shall we say, that he doesn't have a handle on anything and he'll need to if he's to be more independent next year. I need to get him to open a Help to Buy ISA but I don't think he'll be home before the end of November so wish me luck on that score!

It’s purely food as she funds her own social life.

@WaxOnFeckOff that sounds generous, is that just for food?

Interesting BBC article about landlords exploiting students when it comes to giving them back their deposits.

Benji, it's supposed to be for everything but I have no clue what is reasonable. His accommodation and phone are paid for so I guess I expect the £250 to cover food, books/equipment, travel etc. He shouldn't need much in the way of clothes for a while as he was kitted out before going. i don't mind funding a moderate amount of socialising but expect him to get a job if he wants to spend more. The deal is that he isn't supposed to be spending the loan at all. Then at the end he can decide whether he wants to pay it back, use it to get him started for house deposit/take a year out or whatever. If he is spending the loan as well as what we give him then I'll stop giving him the money now and put it away instead and he can get it at the end. That probably sounds really controlling and I guess it is.

We are not a well off/high income family, I'd just rather pay it now while we can afford to and it helps them out rather than them only getting benefit when we die. We are older parents and DH will be in his 60s when they graduate

Help....
Can anyone remember the link from a few threads back that gave the best prices for train travel???

Train split or ticket split was good.

@Benjispruce there is an app called TrainPal you could try

On the question of weekly amounts for food - I gave ds a lump amount to last him until about February. I bought him all of the food basics before he left. He tells me that he hasn't yet spent over £25 a week, and some weeks way below that. As mentioned before I think he is too careful with money (I have recently name changed) but he is a big strapping boy who wouldn't go hungry ever and thinks nothing of eating a basin of muesli with half a loaf of toast as a side dish. So £25 should be ok for a week. Saying this, we accounted for double that amount - his money will last him longer than originally thought!

DD has booked her train back home for Xmas - already looking forward to seeing her - as it's two months since we last saw her, just one more month to go.

Just checked on trainline, looks like she got a good rate and a straight through train, it means sat on the train for over six hours.

Ds just arrived back for a weekend visit. Bag full of dirty laundry & almost straight off out to meet school friends who are also home

We are off to Nottingham to see DS this weekend, although he is away himself with one of his Society trips & we won’t meet up until Sunday evening, we are staying Sunday night as well so hopefully get some time together then & on Mon morning before his afternoon lectures .

Picked DS up for the station last night - ‘oh I’ve arranged to meet some friends at the pub tonight’ :p

No laundry just a small backpack. He did get refused entry at the pub with his student ID though so we had to pop home and grab his passport. Seems a bit silly - don’t want to be carrying a passport just for ID, why isn’t university photo ID enough??

He might apply for a provisional driving license just to avoid that

That's why DD has her provisional licence (although she will learn to drive at some point), much more portable than a passport.

She's home this weekend, with a large amount of laundry that she's having to do herself as my back is still really fucking awful quite bad. But at least it's free

One of her flatmates has moved out (to another place in halls), shame as he was a nice enough lad but gelled with another set of students with a spare room in their flat so off he went. It does mean more room in the fridge though so it's not all bad.

AND she's finally got her repeat prescriptions sorted out! somehow all of her asthma meds had been deleted off the system DH drove over to pick her up yesterday and actually went in with her to her GP appointment (helicopter parent lol) to make sure it was all correct. As much as it's best to let them get on with it, I think we'd all had enough and needed it sorted out once and for all.

You can't mess about with asthma though

Does the Uni ID have your Date of Birth on it?

Have a great weekend rags,. DS has finally started to think about accommodation for next yr, but him and his mates are clueless about what to do, so I will be giving them a quick lesson