University 2020 :8: Use the CAGs, don’t use the CAGs...

[MillicentMartha]

...if you can use the mocks, then use the mocks but not if they're higher than the CAGs.

And hopefully on to university!

Old thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3993327-University-2020-7-Results-tombola-roll-up-roll-up-pick-a-prize?pg=39

Full loan to pay rent & life from. I don’t pay any regular extras, although some travel/shopping etc I pay.

My DC will cope well with the maximum loan, plus bursaries from her university. I don't expect to have to fund her at all, once she has all the finances sorted out. If she needs more money, she can work over the summer. She's lucky that her university is relatively cheap, and offers bursaries.

Thanks @Hoghgyni, @TheDrsDocMartens and @Monkey2001 . I've been really stressed out worrying about it and that's really helped.

They're meant to have to learn to budget at uni. If not, they'll have a shock to the system when they get their first job and have to start paying for their own rent, commuting etc. I know DD will have the odd hiccup and I'm bound to bail her out, but she should soon realise that it's cheaper to eat on site than to buy a burrito each day and she has to decide which clubs etc to prioritise.

She's good at budgeting now thank goodness In London, she'll need that skill.

I imagine so. Think of the fun she'll be able to have though doing free stuff. Even a walk along South Bank or an hour spent in one of the galleries can be a treat.

Dd will have £83 a week after accommodation is paid for over the year.
But the way the maintenance loan is paid in 3 equal payments compared to different number of weeks each term accommodation is charged at leaves her with hardly anything in term 1 & 2. But then loads extra in term 3.
God job she has some other money saved up so she should be ok.

DS is not taking a maintenance loan so his £75pw is it for term time. He budgets £30 pw for food.

Ds will get £75 a week too. Dd
Has managed well on that for the last two years and not stinted on social events or gone hungry ! I do pay for phone and Netflix though.

We are paying rent and DD living on minimum maintenance loan. She has secured a job at uni with 2-3 shifts a week (waitressing so hopefully tips too). I imagine most of her budget will go on petrol and exotic cooking ingredients.

DS is fully catered. We have suggested £100 a month for beers and toothpaste and random other stuff - except phone which we will continue to pay.

He has been working since lockdown lifted, so can dip into his savings if he wants extra.

Really feel for our dc with the new socialising rules. Could be quite isolating for some. Uni experience is becoming more and more restricted as the weeks go on!

Yes, dd was feeling quite low about it last night. It's going to be a tough time for them as socialising is going to be so restricted.
I just sincerely hope she finds good friends in her accommodation.

My DD also worrying about it. She found out last night that 3 of the 5 other people in her flat have decided to stay at home for now as all teaching on their courses are remote and covid rates in their home towns are significantly lower than in Leeds.....

So it sounds like her accommodation could be a bit of a ghost town if people in other flats make similar decisions....

Oof that’s hard. 2/5 in a flat.
Dd2 in Scotland and dd1 in Wales so different rules.

There will be three with DD- but the other two are boys and she has convinced herself that they will buddy up and she will be in her own

Gosh, that is hard . Can she zoom the others and get to know them?

DD off to Cardiff, in two weeks if it's not locked down by then.
I'm not panicking, but it's just getting increasingly difficult to be positive. Just want her to move in sooner now.

They have ‘zoomed’ already. I am sure she will be fine, just the uncertainty she is finding heard. She is in the 10th floor of a 20 floor accommodation block- so hopefully will find others she gets on with. Not sure how the new rules will affect them though!

Oh, blimey, @Swarskid2184, that's a shame. DS should be in a flat of 8 but he hasn't even tried contacting the others.

Ds has not contacted anyone either. Tbh I don't think they find out their flats till they get there.

We have spent this afternoon sorting and packing all of DD's things. My god the pile is huge. I'd forgotten everything we'd bought. There's so much of it. And she's not started on clothes yet!
Really not looking forward to moving in day with just us two having to carry it all up to her room. I don't think there's a lift in her block so it'll be many trips up stairs and I'm guessing we'll have to wear masks as well
We have an hour to park at the accommodation so we're planning on unloading everything and then going off to do a groceries shop with her and get something to eat. I'll then drop her back with her shopping. Not sure if I'll be allowed in again or not.
It's going to be a tiring day.

Swarskid2184 many years ago I lived on 9th floor. It's great for muscle tone if the lifts jammed.

My dining room is completely taken over with uni stuff x2! I have an elderly friend coming to tea tomorrow and I hope the weather's good enough to have tea in the garden!