How much money to give DD a month at University?

[tactum]

I really do realise this is a very lucky position to be in that we can afford to think about it....

How much money will you give your kid a month at uni? Obv have basic loans in the bag, and we've said we'll make up the shortfall on the accommodation costs, but that basically leaves her with 0 living income. She's hopefully transferring to a job at uni that will earn her £30 per week.

I'm thinking give her £300 per month?? I'm not sure. I really do obviously realise we're fortunate to be able to give her this, and don't want to discourage her from getting job as I think that's important but just wondered what the general consensus was from people in the position to subsidise. Please don't flame me for being able to.....

I'd say £100 a week for her to have a base level of living, assuming that's to cover food, clothing, going out etc.

Is she in catered halls?

I give mine 50 a week! As well as topping up accommodation shortfall. She works in th r holidays

Our three were given £100 per week but I now think we were too generous…maybe £80 would be ok .

£30 /week for her paid role seems terrible! Can she up her hours? That’s 6-10 drinks maybe depending on the deals! Although the boozy times may not been here thing.

I would do a meal plan/food shop as well as other things like detergent. Also plan in socialising costs. Travel costs. Books. Basically make a budget. Then you will have a better idea.

I give my daughter £50 per week and also top up her rent shortfall. She works in the holidays to cover the rest (drink money!). On top of that I pay for her mobile phone each month. I think that's plenty, however she might not agree 😳

I pay for phone and gym membership as well

If she earns £30 per week then an additional £50 seems more than enough. Don’t give her an extra £100! That’s too much.

And make sure that she has to pay everything out of whatever money she has. This is a good opportunity for her to learn to budget independently so don’t take that chance away from her by paying for her phone contract, buying her a travel card etc separately. Try not to be too involved, just transfer her a monthly amount and let her get on with it. If she overspends then a few days living off beans on toast should set her straight.

Oh also if she wants luxuries like expensive phone contract or gym membership then IMO she should increase her working hours to cover these or at least have to budget with other things (eg nights out) to make up for it. This is why it’s best to let her budget for everything and not just weekly fun money - it’s a good chance for her to learn about balancing priorities. If she wants a nice gym membership then she probably needs to cut back on treats at the supermarket or limit her takeaway coffees etc.

Mine had £50 a week and managed fine. They both had savings from summer jobs and used that to fall back on for clothes etc so that £50 was just for food with some left for social life.

London? Scotland? Do they need to run a car?

I had 325 and I went ten years ago ... I'd say 450 - 550

@lljkk

London? Scotland? Do they need to run a car?

No student NEEDS to run a car....

I pay £200 a month

is 30 a week a realistic amount of hours she could work? I was earning 75 a week over a decade ago in a cafe whilst at uni

Can't you just pay for the accommodation fully

You could argue no one needs a car. Db gave his dc some money to help pay the rent, while she was already working as a doctor. But they are loaded and all his dc were brought up with free cars etc etc

@Roundearth good point. I went 15 years ago and earned £50 per week. £30 is only about 4-5 hours work per week at NMW?

@Christmasfairy2020

Can't you just pay for the accommodation fully

and then let her live on the minimum maintenance loan (assuming that's what she gets). Seems a fairly common approach for that circumstance.

I don't think there's any definitive right or wrong answer on this.

DD is 16 and earns £55ish each week doing a 12hr Saturday shift at minimum wage. Short if your DC being a Med student most bars and restaurants are screaming out for staff post lockdown.

@Christmasfairy2020

Can't you just pay for the accommodation fully

Not everyone can afford to do that-we certainly couldn’t.

DD gets her accommodation paid for by both sets of grandparents and I give her £400 a month. Had the grandparents not offered to pay the accommodation (Edin), I’d have struggled to give her what I do. We are very lucky to be in this position.

We gave £60 a week, paid the rent shortfall, paid for a mobile phone and drove them to and from uni. And we started them off with a full kit including bedding, computer, etc. But that's because kiddos got the lowest loan amount.

I had to run a car as a student paramedic. Lots of healthcare students will be in the same position. No way of getting to and from placement at awkward times otherwise

@Withthemonsters

I had to run a car as a student paramedic. Lots of healthcare students will be in the same position. No way of getting to and from placement at awkward times otherwise

unless you are doing night shifts, students do no need cars.

And should not be using them. Not only is it unnecessary, polluting and damaging to the environment, but they also develop a car mind set, and plan their lives around car ownership, whereas young people need to be getting rid of this lethal mind set altogether