Can I afford to move out? How much are bills?

[EvaMichelle]

Hello
I am currently living with my mum rent free (she won't accept any rent from me) however I am wanting to move out for various significant reasons.

I am a single parent (getting no child support!) I don't work but I am a uni student. I assume I will be entitled to full housing benefit so rent is not an issue and I have saved up a large sum of money in order to furnish and pay deposit fee's etc.

In total (child tax, child benefit and student finance) I receive £14,693 a year.

Is this enough to move out? I am only 18 and have lived with my parents for all of my life and fortunately have not been in a position were I have had to worry about bills.

My son, at the moment is a newborn so he is only needing money spent on nappies and formula but how much would food be per month for 2 people (an adult and small child) and also what would my bills be for an adult and child in a 2 bed flat (electric, gas, TV etc)

Thanks

Who will look after your child while you study?

Where do you live? How much to rent privately near your Uni?

Well your student finance is to help with books etc, not for you to move out etc. Why arent you getting financial help from childs father?

Makes no sense to move out at all.

I'm not sure where you are in country but here in Scotland (in my situation anyway and with all my fellow students) a student loan means no housing benefit

Student parents can claim housing benefit.

It was the same in the UK. Student loan = no housing benefit. It's not wise to move out, finish your course first.

They count a student loan as income, SoonToBeSix. It reduces the amount of housing benefit so the OP won't get the full amount.

My mum is a housewife my dad works, my mum has offered to have the child whilst I am at uni which is 3 days a week. If she ever couldn't, then I get 70% of my childcare costs paid anyway.

I travel to uni on the train but hope to move close to the train station and close to my mum, there are quite a few flats up for rent near here anyway.

My child's father doesn't help out or see the child, we were together and was in the process of renting somewhere with him (he worked full time) but he left me whilst I was 6 months pregnant.

Student loan is to pay rent obviously, as many students (with out children) pay there rent/food with this and have hardly any left for books etc, student loan is stated as helping with your living costs and education. My tuition loan is already paid. There is a need to move out due to my living circumstances at the moment (not enough room)

Students can get housing benefit as someone at my uni with a son gets housing benefit as she is a full time student, it must be different in Scotland. I am in South west England

I may not get the full amount, but have checked with CAB and they have said if I do not get full amount a big portion would be covered.

There's different rules about housing benefit when you are a mother and a student

I was a mother and a student. They took my student loan into account. I didn't have to pay council tax though.

Bill wise, you have water £15 a month depending on where you live
Insurance £20 a month ish, varies massively.
Gas and electricity £100 a month ish
Food £50-60 a week
Travel
Childcare
Nappies/toiletries/clothes/shoes
TV licence £140 a year ish
Furniture

It's really tight on 14k a year. Not impossible though.

Well you should ensure the father pays something, so do this via cms/child support agency.

I think its much smarter to stay where you are, finish studies and then think about moving out after that point.

I was also a single parent and student. I wasn't entitled to any benefits except child benefit. You should double check your info on this. My only income whilst at uniwas student loan, which wasn't enough to cover rent and basic bills and so I got into a lot of other debt too.

I was a single parent and a student a few years ago (just before the current fee system) and I got 50% housing benefit during term time, then 100% covered during the summer vacation. Also got income support over the summer vacation as well (and all the other things you get passported for when on IS). Plus during the academic year - student loan, student grant (with childcare and dependent's payments), bursary, hardship fund, child benefit, child tax credit, council tax exemption. Some of these depended on the university/academic grades. I studied in England and this is what my uni student advisor had worked out for me. I covered all my bills pretty easily, and my rental was a council house so rent was already low.

My bills were about £120 for food/groceries per month and £50 for gas & electricity. Depends a lot on the property and which energy company you're with though, my friend spends twice as much as me on fuel.

I'd suggest going to your uni student advisor for help. Sounds like the CAB are helpful, but they aren't always as up to date as the university advisors, plus they might know of discretionary funding which could help which CAB won't be aware of.

As a lone parent and student, you will be entitled to housing benefit.

With student loans and other grants that you can get (parent learning allowance or something like that) as well as child benefit and child tax credit, it's a pretty decent amount.

I was better off when a student in the same situation than I am now but obviously I'm paying back my huge student loans too.

Hello Eva

I assume you will have to pay for

Council tax (you may be exempt if you are a student)
Mobile phone & or landline phone
Internet/broadband
PC or laptop & possibly separate insurance
Some money for emergencies
Gas & electric
Water - water meter
Rent for house, deposit
Travel
Childcare
Food, toiletries. cleaning, washing powder
House/contents insurance
Food
Furniture
Clothing
TV & TV license
Possibly things like hoover, white goods fridge, washing machine, lawn mower unless provided as part of the house rental
Expenses related to your course
Obviously if you are a student you dont have to buy brand new & you can get things on gumtree, freecycle
After paying all this any money left for savings or luxuries ?

Have a look at www.moneysavingexpert.com

I would stay living at your parents until your course is completed. Save up as much money as possible.

Gaining a good qualification will be the best start for yourself & your child for both your futures

You have the rest of your life to think about bills...

OK it is doable to move out, but it may be more stressful & you may have to get a part time job (although job would be a positive)

Good luck

stay where you are to finish your course, but get involved in the household budgeting. Find out what the bills are, get involved with the shopping and budgeting, use the time as a 'training course'

and go after sperm donor for his contribution. He doesn't get to opt out.