Children at Uni - what do you pay?
Discussion
One of ours has gone today.
They’ve a student loan and we’ve said we will pay their reasonable costs beyond that.
I used to send pocket money tomorrow but am thinking of stopping that.
I don’t really want them to have to work whilst at uni, other than academic study.
It seems that my friends all have a different approach with their children.
Those of you with university age children: what do you pay for?
They’ve a student loan and we’ve said we will pay their reasonable costs beyond that.
I used to send pocket money tomorrow but am thinking of stopping that.
I don’t really want them to have to work whilst at uni, other than academic study.
It seems that my friends all have a different approach with their children.
Those of you with university age children: what do you pay for?
Our lad is a year away from Uni and, as it happens, is visiting the University of Liverpool today.
My expectation is that we will pay for his accommodation over and above what the maintenance loan doesn't cover then we will give him about a quarter of our monthly groceries bill (for the months he's at uni) as we won't be paying for that at home any more, and pay for any books he needs. I suspect we will still be paying his car insurance too until he graduates. His pocket money will stop.
My view is that even though he'll legally be an adult, he's still in education so I consider him our responsibility for his basic living costs. If he wants to go out drinking very night, like a proper student, then he can fund that himself.
ETA, he's tighter than a duck's arse so I expect him to make a profit from me being soft
My expectation is that we will pay for his accommodation over and above what the maintenance loan doesn't cover then we will give him about a quarter of our monthly groceries bill (for the months he's at uni) as we won't be paying for that at home any more, and pay for any books he needs. I suspect we will still be paying his car insurance too until he graduates. His pocket money will stop.
My view is that even though he'll legally be an adult, he's still in education so I consider him our responsibility for his basic living costs. If he wants to go out drinking very night, like a proper student, then he can fund that himself.
ETA, he's tighter than a duck's arse so I expect him to make a profit from me being soft
Edited by stemll on Saturday 21st September 17:33
When our two were born we started a " university fund" paid into regularly. It was great when they went to uni. We covered fees, accommodation books etc but they took out student loans for socialising. Inevitable little top-ups too!
The loans were not a burden post grad as repaying was linked to salary and only kicked in above a threshold. Not huge repayments and easily managable. Neither had cars as a silly expense.
I do wonder at some claims of massive student debts even without a savings plan like ours. Extravagant over the top lifestyle? Neglecting the "loan" as needing paying back?
Both enjoyed their time at uni both academically and socially without running up huge debt.
The loans were not a burden post grad as repaying was linked to salary and only kicked in above a threshold. Not huge repayments and easily managable. Neither had cars as a silly expense.
I do wonder at some claims of massive student debts even without a savings plan like ours. Extravagant over the top lifestyle? Neglecting the "loan" as needing paying back?
Both enjoyed their time at uni both academically and socially without running up huge debt.
Edited by sospan on Saturday 21st September 17:45
One of ours is hoping to start uni next year. I am a little concerned about being a guarator for their accomodation. It seems to me that I am being asked to provide what seems like an open-ended, unlimited liability insurance policy, free of charge. Should I be concerned or am I overthinking this?
We took the view that neither of us parents had to pay uni fees and we received an LEA grant that covered halls and living costs, so that’s what we’ve done for our daughter. We paid fees, rent, travel and a modest living allowance. She has worked various jobs and saved throughout her 5 years of studies. Means she can start work without student debt hanging over her, and is in the process of buying her first home without having deductions to replay a student loan
Whatever happened to students getting a part time job to help fund themselves?
I was fortunate enough to stay home during uni as it was commutable. I effectively lived rent free and had free food while at home but otherwise it was my part time job that paid for the books, bus, clothes, lunches and going out.
It’s great to have the safety net of parental contribution but uni is also about preparing for the real world so a little work on the side helps money wise and some experience for the CV.
I was fortunate enough to stay home during uni as it was commutable. I effectively lived rent free and had free food while at home but otherwise it was my part time job that paid for the books, bus, clothes, lunches and going out.
It’s great to have the safety net of parental contribution but uni is also about preparing for the real world so a little work on the side helps money wise and some experience for the CV.
Daughter has started Uni this year, just survived Freshers week and she's exhausted.
She has her student loan, that covers her accommodation costs, she's in halls with shared bathroom so it's one of the cheapest halls. That then leaves her some money for food and going out. We'll then assist by doing some shopping when we visit and told her if she needs anything that we can get delivered, then we would.
She should be absolutely fine unless she goes mad, spending wise, but then we'll be having the 'talk'. Next year I expect that we'll have to spend some more as I imagine that student housing will be more expensive than halls.
She has her student loan, that covers her accommodation costs, she's in halls with shared bathroom so it's one of the cheapest halls. That then leaves her some money for food and going out. We'll then assist by doing some shopping when we visit and told her if she needs anything that we can get delivered, then we would.
She should be absolutely fine unless she goes mad, spending wise, but then we'll be having the 'talk'. Next year I expect that we'll have to spend some more as I imagine that student housing will be more expensive than halls.
colin79666 said:
Whatever happened to students getting a part time job to help fund themselves?
I was fortunate enough to stay home during uni as it was commutable. I effectively lived rent free and had free food while at home but otherwise it was my part time job that paid for the books, bus, clothes, lunches and going out.
It’s great to have the safety net of parental contribution but uni is also about preparing for the real world so a little work on the side helps money wise and some experience for the CV.
This is exactly my experience. I was the first in my family to go to uni and tbh would have thought it a bit cheeky to have them paying for what was my own choice. There were some at uni who were parent funded with no part time work but they found it difficult to get a job at the end because they had no experience to call on in interviews other than a few uni group projects.I was fortunate enough to stay home during uni as it was commutable. I effectively lived rent free and had free food while at home but otherwise it was my part time job that paid for the books, bus, clothes, lunches and going out.
It’s great to have the safety net of parental contribution but uni is also about preparing for the real world so a little work on the side helps money wise and some experience for the CV.
John87 said:
they found it difficult to get a job at the end because they had no experience to call on in interviews other than a few uni group projects.
Back in the day I had to work night shift on a production line during university holidays to fund my summer break. Daughter has volunteered in Latin American and completed a fellowship with a Canadian academic institutionGuess which counted for more when obtaining a first proper job
Louis Balfour said:
I don’t really want them to have to work whilst at uni, other than academic study.
Summer internships? After a Masters they will have more relevant experience and better grades than someone who has stacked shelves at the weekend whilst at uni. And probably earn the same money overall too.My son paid the tution and accommodation fees. We paid for food and drink (weekly shop not social life). The last thing we wanted was for him to not eat properly.
We also covered his travel back home so he could visit without having to think of the cost, and a basic £10 phone contract.
Basically enought to cover esentials, but if he wanted a social life that was on him. He got a job in a pub for that.
We also covered his travel back home so he could visit without having to think of the cost, and a basic £10 phone contract.
Basically enought to cover esentials, but if he wanted a social life that was on him. He got a job in a pub for that.
Two of mine have just completed studies, both worked through uni. Various jobs such as COVID test centre, deliveroo, hotel work summers and Christmas.
Ones just starting. He's finding work currently.
Both of them have finished and walked straight into jobs. Unlike course mates who have never worked and not got anything on CV to show they can hack the world of work, so months later a few course mates with good results are still job hunting.
All have had £250 a month, but latest one we are upping it to £300. All we helped out where needed with clothes or a shop here and there.
We're in Scotland so no tuition fees.
Ones just starting. He's finding work currently.
Both of them have finished and walked straight into jobs. Unlike course mates who have never worked and not got anything on CV to show they can hack the world of work, so months later a few course mates with good results are still job hunting.
All have had £250 a month, but latest one we are upping it to £300. All we helped out where needed with clothes or a shop here and there.
We're in Scotland so no tuition fees.
Fees are paid (uni in Scotland)
We’re paying first year rent in halls of residence, that’s £8k
We’re giving him £100/week living allowance
We also pay his mobile phone bill (part of a family group plan thing), Netflix (ditto) and his car insurance (this was his 17th birthday present).
He’s a pretty sensible lad, he doesn’t really spend much money. He has saved up a few grand by working and he’s continuing with weekend work at the same place where he’s worked the last few years but we don’t want him graduating with student debt.
We’re paying first year rent in halls of residence, that’s £8k
We’re giving him £100/week living allowance
We also pay his mobile phone bill (part of a family group plan thing), Netflix (ditto) and his car insurance (this was his 17th birthday present).
He’s a pretty sensible lad, he doesn’t really spend much money. He has saved up a few grand by working and he’s continuing with weekend work at the same place where he’s worked the last few years but we don’t want him graduating with student debt.
Edited by Lefty on Sunday 22 September 07:52
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