DS and I disagree about what is doable so I wanted to see what others think.
He is going to uni this year and has the maximum loan. I also think I could manage to give him £300 per month. His rent is £6000ish. He has around £20000 in savings/CTF/gifts from GP etc. So he is in quite a good position. We considered him not taking the full amount of the loan as we are aware on the new plan it will all most likely be paid back but ds is highly likely to want to do post-grad study etc so the plan was to take it, put a good amount into ISA and a stocks and share ISA for these future plans. On his course he will not be allowed to work term-time but will obviously be looking to work next summer and has done this summer too, though not a huge amount.
We had another discussion yesterday and I said he should basically be locking away the £20k and living off the loan/what I give him. He started saying he wouldn't be doing this, it was miserable and he didn't want to be limited to this. It really took me aback. He's very responsible, doesn't drink or do expensive stuff. Goes out a lot but not drinking or driving means it's not expensive - couple of AF pints and a bag of chips type stuff! He did go on a lads' holiday for 5 days which he paid for but other than that his socialising is on he cheap.
I'm worried he's going to fritter this money away and if so, maybe rather than me giving him more maybe I should save with a view to helping him out down the line if needed, which I would anyway if I could but I'm not on a huge income and as I approach my 50s I don't want to be thinking I'm having to support him through a masters etc.
He's very sensible normally and we have very little conflict so this has come as a shock. The final comments were doesn't expect me to give him the £300 but he doesn't want me to control what he does with the £20k - he has no intention of blowing it all but it's not my business! What would you do?