University life for freshers (2019/20) - Christmas backpacking (or not) and festive homecomings with all the tinseltastic trimmings!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread.

For those of you with younger DC who may be interested in applying to Oxbridge: www.uniq.ox.ac.uk/

So sorry to hear that so many DC are also having toothache/infection/wisdom teeth eruption problems. I hope they all feel better very soon. Toothache really is horrid. I once had an infected root canal (after it had been filled) - worst pain I've ever experienced in my life.

Sorry to hear that so many illnesses/dental issues are dragging on.

Ds had exams last week & now has a week off before Semester 2 starts so is on his way home. Can’t wait to see him!

DS starts back tomorrow, went back on 7th to work on his project which had to be handed in a week ago. Seems a bit silly when lectures did not start until tomorrow but hey ho. He moaned how little sleep he had. 5 hours in two days, still thinks he has done badly. Does not have a close relationship with others on his course yet so that they can get together to work on these projects. Which imo. is a pity.

He is home weekend of 8th February OH birthday as a surprise.

I'm quietly delighted with DD's first quarter results. She's got A, A, A- and A-. For her second quarter she's taken on one extra course. If she does that throughout her degree (and knowing her, she will) then she'll graduate a year early.

OTOH I just got my credit card bill and apparently it's now also 'her' credit card hmmmmmmm.

Hi @HoldMyLobster great results - well done to your DD.

Great news Lobster and here too - saw yet another dentist today who promptly whipped out the 2 top wisdom teeth!!!!! Shock all round but exponential improvement in condition and managed to get the other side of a mcd milkshake and fries drive thru this evening!!!!! Have emailed to ask if he would relieve us of the orher two!

You must be so relieved!

From my experiences, the (bottom) wisdom teeth that never erupted were no problem - I just had them taken out in hospital, ate mashed potatoes and ice cream for a few days, then went back to university.

It was the top wisdom teeth that came through trailing a path of destruction that caused all the grief.

Oh that's a positive result @Baytreemum.

DD won't have all results until her next semester starts.
She has homework to hand in during attendance time, written exams in february and seminar papers to write during lecture free time i.e. february and march.

(I hope I've managed to find the correct translations for those terms, as the systems are different.)
But she has caught the obligatory infection - coughing and sneezing away.

Hoping someone might be able to give me some advice to pass on to my DD regarding payment for private Y2 accommodation.
The landlord has asked them to set up a shared bank account and set up individual standing orders for the monthly rent to be paid in, he wants proof (a screenshot will do) that this has been set up now that they have signed the tenancy agreement. Then one standing order will go out of the account to the landlord every month to cover the whole rent cost. He doesn't want four separate payments every month.
I've never heard of a shared bank account. Has anyone had any experience of private rental for students who is willing to share how payment was made.

Hmmmm I can see that would make life easier for him but it means the others tenants would have access to each other’s money even if it is just for the rent. Depends on how well they know and trust each. Not sure he can insist on it as they’ve already signed the agreement so was it part of the agreement that they signed? My DD has signed hers but nothing about a shared account.

I’ve never heard of this either. And what happens if one of the 4 payments in is late - the account goes into the red when the payment to the landlord goes out.

@Benjispruce it was part of the agreement

Right well in that case they have no choice as they’ve agreed to it. Is it through a letting agent? Perhaps they will be able to advise you.

And what happens if one of them drops out? Would the others become liable for their share?

@simbobs no they are not responsible for each other's payments

@juicy0, my DD and her flat mates have a shared bank account for the bills which seems to work fine. I guess there’s a certain amount of trust?

Don't do the shared bank account thing - no landlord has the right to dictate how their tenants set up their finances. And no student truly knows that one or other of the group won't find themselves in trouble at some point and clear out the account.

Each of them can show the landlord their own standing order instruction (although even this is actually no guarantee the rent will be paid as each of them can just stop the standing order - and that's even WITH the shared bank account!!)

What a bizarre idea to have a joint bank account with fellow students. They hardly know each other really. Certainly not well enough to know that someone might not develop/already have a gambling or drug problem that requires more than a financial fix than they have access to on their own!

I'm really surprised that in this era of super-tight bank regulations, it's even allowed. I cannot for the life of me see how it inconveniences the landlord (other than it might take him a slightly longer glance to check that everyone has paid up on time!) - perhaps he should be the one setting up an account in his name for each of the properties.

Thank you all for your advice. I called the landlord and he has agreed they can pay by individual standing order. Much more straightforward I think!

Phew, that's a relief @juicy0. I think when I was a student our rent was 'all in' which is really a far more straightforward way of doing it. You've really got to know people for more than a year to be able to trust them implicitly, particularly where money is concerned.

Well done @juicy0!

That would worry me too.

That’s reassuring @juicy0 and good that the landlord was approachable and reasonable.