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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Topping up student finance

72 replies

MyWetFlannel · 01/05/2024 22:38

Our son is going to university in September and will receive minimum maintenance loan. We've already paid for his first year self catering halls as he has an unconditional offer so he'll just be living off his loan. My question is, is it reasonable to top up his weekly budget so he'll have about 150 per week so he'll have enough for decent food, a good social life, not have to worry about any materials he'll need to buy etc?

He's had a job since he was 14, is very resourceful and fully intends to work during his studies as he has for the last four years. I just want to make sure he doesn't have to make too many difficult decisions. I was a very poor student and working too many hours resulted in me not doing as well in my degree as i could have so I just don't want that for my son.

I've no worries about his work ethic or motivation as he has buckets of this and suprises me constantly with his ideas on how to make money and how hard he works in his various jobs.

Wise mumsnetters please tell me what your child's weekly budget will be and what you'll be contributing. I'd like to see if what I'm thinking of contributing is reasonable or not.

Thank you ☺

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 02/05/2024 08:12

I reckon that you give your student child as much as you can afford.

Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 02/05/2024 08:14

Littlefish · 02/05/2024 08:08

He sounds amazing!

Perhaps start him off with a little less and then supplement with treats (I occasionally send my daughter £20 pizza money if I know she's working up to an assignment deadline.). You can always review things at Christmas.

It also really depends where the Uni is. My dd is at a university in the north, where student services, bars, local transport etc are well known to be very reasonable.

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Thanks little fish. He is amazing really, he's been with his gf for four years and she chosen to uni in the same city as him so she obviously thinks so too lol ☺

I like the idea of sending treats. A nice surprise now and then. I've bought some postcards to send them so might slip a bit of pizza money in there ☺

OP posts:
Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 02/05/2024 08:16

caringcarer · 02/05/2024 06:50

No, not too much because bus pass and course books are so expensive. My niece has some friends who worked so many hours they jeopardized their grading. She says they got a classification lower than her because they didn't spend any time revising as they were always working.

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Indeed it's that I'd be wanting to avoid

OP posts:
caringcarer · 02/05/2024 15:26

MyWetFlannel · 02/05/2024 08:16

Indeed it's that I'd be wanting to avoid

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My DD was prone to tonsillitis and I used to send little care packs through the post with soluble Aspirin, Strepsils, throat numbing spray and ice cream money.

Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 02/05/2024 15:32

caringcarer · 02/05/2024 15:26

My DD was prone to tonsillitis and I used to send little care packs through the post with soluble Aspirin, Strepsils, throat numbing spray and ice cream money.

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That's so lovely ☺

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/05/2024 15:38

Most live off way less than £150 pw even in expensive areas. We paid dc rent and they lived off loan and any holiday earnings.

Phphion · 02/05/2024 16:11

I would firstly work out how much his essential expenses are likely to be, so things like travel, laundry, books and equipment, a reasonable diet, any bills. Then see how much he would have left out of £150 pw for fun money and decide if that seems reasonable or not.

You can look for your son's university here: Student living costs to see how much students there typically spend.

This is how much students at different universities are spending every month

Here's what you can expect to be spending.

https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-budgeting/what-do-students-spend-their-money-on.html

Pieceofpurplesky · 03/05/2024 01:11

@MyWetFlannel I think £150 a week is a huge amount for a student. DS has £200 per month and managed on that. I guess it's all relative - DS grew up with not much money. Do what you feel is right - or save the £50 per week towards his next step

NiveaisUnderrated · 03/05/2024 03:06

He is amazing really, he's been with his gf for four years and she chosen to uni in the same city as him so she obviously thinks so too lo

I'd find that quite concerning actually.

FeatheryStroker · 03/05/2024 07:34

My dd has the minimum loan and we top up to what she would have got if she'd got the maximum.

I pay her phone and we pick her up and drop her off at the start and end of each term.

Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 03/05/2024 10:27

NiveaisUnderrated · 03/05/2024 03:06

He is amazing really, he's been with his gf for four years and she chosen to uni in the same city as him so she obviously thinks so too lo

I'd find that quite concerning actually.

Interesting, in what way?

OP posts:
BusyCM · 03/05/2024 11:14

I actually thought I'd come and contribute to this thread, I have one DS about to finish year 2 and one about to go to uni in September.

However, some if the language used by the OP makes me really uncomfortable. I'd just advise caution by contributors.

Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 03/05/2024 11:31

BusyCM · 03/05/2024 11:14

I actually thought I'd come and contribute to this thread, I have one DS about to finish year 2 and one about to go to uni in September.

However, some if the language used by the OP makes me really uncomfortable. I'd just advise caution by contributors.

Wow, I'm really sorry if I've made you uncomfortable that's not really what I was intending. I've tried to be respectful of all posters and chosen my language carefully so as to make sure everyone feels I've listened to their opinion whether they agree with me or not. I really was just asking for weekly amounts so I can get a feel for what's reasonable.

OP posts:
Iwasafool · 03/05/2024 11:41

His maintenace loan will be worth more than £100 a week during term time. I'm bringing up GS and he is off to uni in September. We've worked out his loan to cover the academic year, the summer, and probably other holidays, he will be here and fed. He will work through the summer to have enough to boost his income through the year.

I will be giving him a lump sum, maybe £500, to see him through freshers.

Mactoba · 03/05/2024 12:23

I’m not going to be able to pay my dd’s rent for her. Her loan will just cover her rent for the first year with about £60 left.

She's planning on working as much as possible over the summer to try to save up and will have to get a part time job at uni.

I have managed to save 6k for her over the years so will give her 2k of that each year of her degree to help her out. Works out about £38/week.

I will also continue to pay for her phone contract as it’s only £7/month and will send her off with a shop of toiletries and non perishables to help her out. I’ve also paid the deposit for her accommodation.

When I was at uni there were loads of us just living off our loans without parental contribution so I naively thought it would be the same now but now that I’ve seen how high accommodation costs are these days I can see that it’s very difficult. I’m quite worried about how dd will afford it all tbh.

Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 03/05/2024 12:28

Iwasafool · 03/05/2024 11:41

His maintenace loan will be worth more than £100 a week during term time. I'm bringing up GS and he is off to uni in September. We've worked out his loan to cover the academic year, the summer, and probably other holidays, he will be here and fed. He will work through the summer to have enough to boost his income through the year.

I will be giving him a lump sum, maybe £500, to see him through freshers.

Thank you that's helpful. I agree I'd like to send mine off with a bit so he can join the club etc that he wants. I doubt mine will have found a job within the first week but who knows.

OP posts:
Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 03/05/2024 12:32

Mactoba · 03/05/2024 12:23

I’m not going to be able to pay my dd’s rent for her. Her loan will just cover her rent for the first year with about £60 left.

She's planning on working as much as possible over the summer to try to save up and will have to get a part time job at uni.

I have managed to save 6k for her over the years so will give her 2k of that each year of her degree to help her out. Works out about £38/week.

I will also continue to pay for her phone contract as it’s only £7/month and will send her off with a shop of toiletries and non perishables to help her out. I’ve also paid the deposit for her accommodation.

When I was at uni there were loads of us just living off our loans without parental contribution so I naively thought it would be the same now but now that I’ve seen how high accommodation costs are these days I can see that it’s very difficult. I’m quite worried about how dd will afford it all tbh.

Thanks for your thoughts. It seems you have a good plan so I'm sure your dd will be fine and have plenty looking at some of the responses so far.

I agree about how high accommodation costs are, they really are huge and many folks are getting caught out by not realising in time. Well done you for your saving efforts though your dd is very lucky ☺

OP posts:
Iwasafool · 03/05/2024 16:48

MyWetFlannel · 03/05/2024 12:28

Thank you that's helpful. I agree I'd like to send mine off with a bit so he can join the club etc that he wants. I doubt mine will have found a job within the first week but who knows.

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GS is planning on going to university city in August and handing out his CV to pubs/shops/restaurants. We live in a seaside town so he has done various part time jobs so has relevant experience for all of them. He hopes to get in ahead of the rush.

Motheranddaughter · 03/05/2024 19:31

we pay our DC 1100 a month to cover rent and spending money
No fees as in Scotland
I don’t want them saddled with loans or working term time
Also pay a few legacy things like mobile phones and contact lenses and essential clothing

NiveaisUnderrated · 03/05/2024 20:03

I have a DD(19). I wouldn't have been happy if she'd followed the boy she'd been dating since she was fourteen to university.

I'd want her to have some independence, new friends, new experiences. 14 is too young to settle.

Notellinganyone · 03/05/2024 20:18

We pay our son’s rent and his Aunt and Grandparents give him an extra £150 per month between them. We still have to bail him out occasionally too. He plays first team sport so that leaves little time for work. I’d do it if you can afford it.

Original poster
MyWetFlannel · 03/05/2024 20:48

NiveaisUnderrated · 03/05/2024 20:03

I have a DD(19). I wouldn't have been happy if she'd followed the boy she'd been dating since she was fourteen to university.

I'd want her to have some independence, new friends, new experiences. 14 is too young to settle.

We're not too concerned about it. They will be going to different unis, have different accommodations and make different friends on different courses and at different clubs. They're pretty mature and independent people with their own interests and friends now so i don't see that changing. If it works it works if it doesn't then they will have their own unis and friends ☺

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