2 kids at uni at same time … help!!!

[Lollypop701]

Eldest is already at university in Leeds and got minimal loan so we top up accommodation and give him living expenses each month. He deferred for a year.

Dd is applying for September… I really don’t think we can afford to fund them both at same time and will be for 2 years. Anyone any idea how it works. I don’t know what to do, how do I tell dd she can’t go

You need to work this out, find out what maintenance loans can be claimed, and share what you can afford between the two of them.

The older one will have to get a job. As will the younger.

I know we were very lucky as my DS got a degree apprenticeship which paid him sufficient to fully live and rent a homeshare room. We had been.lined up to expect to pay 1 year of double rents.

I know this isn't helpful but you should have thought about this when your eldest went really. Still, water under the bridge now.

You may find she gets more loan as you’re already supporting one dependent. If not you’ll have to discuss it with them both!!

What subjects are they studying? Any chance of part time jobs alongside?

Are they working PT now? They need to be and saving hard.

Personally I don't think you can say she can't go. Youll just have to dial back on what you give your eldest and share that amount between the 2 of them

She could defer for a year and save too.

Of course she can go. The oldest can get a summer job and you subside DC2 the same as you did them for y1.

OR

They both can get jobs and you subsidise both and then you subsidise DC2 for the same amount as DC1 when DC1 leaves assuming they are on a 3 year course.

You knew this was a possibility from their ages so should have been anticipating it.

But way to show which is the favourite golden child if you are telling DC2 they can't go because you are only choosing to help DC1 because this is a choice.

I thought it would be an overlap for a year… and we could manage.

But it’s now 2 and cost of living has shot up. So he needs more financial support, cost of his housing next year is over £4k on top of his loan. Yes he’s working and yes going to have to cut it back.

There is no golden child, just life throwing curved balls

You can’t let ds have a year out, heavily subsidise him and then tell dd she can’t go to uni because of her brother! That is so wrong! Both will need to see how much loan they can get (can ds get more if he’s only taking the minimum now?) and then you share what you can evenly between them. Your dd shouldn’t end up with a higher loan just because she happened to be born second. They will both need to try and find a job and cut their cloth accordingly. You absolutely cannot favour one child over another.

Doesn’t work like that.
We’ve got three in Uni…..

DS is currently funding shortfall in loan from part-time job during the holidays. Could they work during the term as well as holidays?

Well it's obvs too late but you should have saved when your oldest was doing a gap year which would have given you money for one year of the two overlaps...

Agree with others you can't possibly tell the younger they can't go because you didn't save when you could have done. Second job, sell stuff, credit card, eat value beans on toast for a year.

I'm not sure why this has come as such a surprise to you that you may have 2 children at uni at the same time.
I currently have 2 in the same year because elder child had some time out.
You absolutely can modern your daughter an opportunity that you have your son.
Can he get cheaper accommodation? Are either able to live at home?

3, how do you cope financially??? Any handy hints appreciated.

and for other posters I’m not going to tell dd she can’t go obviously but looking for any help I don’t know about. Dd has applied and got offers and hoping she gets the grades.

You can’t tell dd she can’t go.

DS will have to take a hit and you split what you can afford between them! They will both have to have the same and find a way to make it work.

I do sympathize, we have 2 at university at the same time, for 3 sodding years due to ds1 doing a 4 year degree.

It’s a little easier this year as ds2 is living at home and commuting but we still pay them £600 every 4 weeks between them (not equally due to ds2 staying at home) and on top of that we have to top up DS1’s rent!

Similar situation here
Luckily my son secured a Degree Apprenticeship - no Student Loan
and we’re encouraging our daughter to go to a Uni within a commutable distance to save on accommodation fees

Any capacity to work more hours yourselves?

Worried about this myself - tho DS is adamant he doesn't want to go to uni.

A bit off topic but

Your dd shouldn’t end up with a higher loan just because she happened to be born second.

The government doesn't think that. My second-born is heavily disadvantaged by the terms of the new student loan agreements from 2022. 40 year terms instead of 30 and a lower starting point for paying back. I feel awful about it but there's nothing I can do.

Your DD will have to defer for a year, then at least you will only have one year of crossover. And they will have to work, holidays, evenings, weekends, whatever works best for their course.

If dc1 deferred did you not save the funds you would otherwise have spent?

@MandyMotherOfBrian
I also have 3 at uni! My youngest gets more loan than the other two. Don’t ask me why ?

I had 2 and dp one all at the same time, it's tough!

We coped by thinking ahead, I saved for my two from birth (too late for op but for anyone with younger kids reading this, start of you can) and dp set aside money from a house move (to cheaper area). University has been expensive for many years now but it still seems to surprise people.

As I said, if you've already got older teens there's not a lot you can do but for younger children you need to plan.

Alas my woes aren't over as dd is doing a masters next

Because, by sheer coincidence, we paid off our mortgage three months after the last two started their course. The amount we now pay out each month just to keep them afloat is actually a bit more than our mortgage was, but it’s doable. We hadn’t planned it that way but we had been overpaying when we could. We were a bit naive about the real costs tbh. One is doing an MA abroad and one took a gap year as the course was still online due to Covid when she would have started, so it all happened at the same time. The eldest works as EFL teacher abroad alongside her course, the second will take a placement year (and hopefully get paid enough to save for her final year) and the youngest can’t work as her course commitments don’t allow for it (concerts/gigs evenings and weekends on a regular basis). We just about squeak through.

Twins.
Slightly shitting myself.

Is the Uni in London? Or are the others living at home?

You may find she gets more loan as you’re already supporting one dependent

Nope, sadly not!

@MandyMotherOfBrian
Ha, yes London, my bad!!! Menopause brain!!! Apologies op

I'm not aware of any financial help as such. We cope by having planned for it for ages and cutting down what we spend. It's been eighteen months for us now and we're nearing the end...