[Jenniferann232]

So my parents are paying for food and train fares back home, which is roughly 20 pounds a month.
I think my budgeting is a bit odd because I don't seem to be ending up with major losses

Out:
200 for books
200 for kitchen stuff, room stuff etc.
about 50-55 a month for going out (1 weekend at home, 1 weekend with boyfriend, 2 with flatmates)
railcard (25)
NUS card - not sure on the cost of this and whether the normal one is still availible
3400 accomodation (of which I have to pay a 550 pre payment for so technically it's 2900)

In:
4140 student loan
work: I have 550 already, to cover my pre payment and I expect to recieve 300 more.

this leaves me with quite a lot left over and I can't imagine laundry being that much - am I being relaistic about all of this because I hear of people who's parents pay accomodation fees and they can't afford anything.

Some help would be appreciated

[TenOfThem]

Well you have 600+550+300 more than people on the standard loan which is quite a bit and certainly explains why you have more than accom costs and others do not

Then you are self-catering whereas some people have catered and therefore have higher accom costs

Then your parents are contributing and not all parents can afford too

[WelshBluebird]

1 - You may be under-estimating how much you'll spend going out and on leisure.
2 - What about food?
3 - And as the above post says, you already have some money and your parents are giving you some etc etc.

[kyleball]

(Original post by Jenniferann232)
So my parents are paying for food and train fares back home, which is roughly 20 pounds a month.
I think my budgeting is a bit odd because I don't seem to be ending up with major losses

Out:
200 for books
200 for kitchen stuff, room stuff etc.
about 50-55 a month for going out (1 weekend at home, 1 weekend with boyfriend, 2 with flatmates)
railcard (25)
NUS card - not sure on the cost of this and whether the normal one is still availible
3400 accomodation (of which I have to pay a 550 pre payment for so technically it's 2900)

In:
4140 student loan
work: I have 550 already, to cover my pre payment and I expect to recieve 300 more.

this leaves me with quite a lot left over and I can't imagine laundry being that much - am I being relaistic about all of this because I hear of people who's parents pay accomodation fees and they can't afford anything.

Some help would be appreciated

£50-55 a month on going out, to me, is far too low. However, everyone is different, so you might have a set routine you enjoy that is low cost.

At the start of University, generally, people go out a lot more two weekends a month.. Usually there's student nights throughout the week. To gain as much from University I'd suggest going out with the group of friends you make on a regular basis to create bonds and cement friendships.

Do not waste your time at University, and the social opportunities!

I am not sure what else your parents would cover, but would they cover eating out, mobile phone charges, gym (if you wanted to go), make-up, cinema, electronics, alcohol, gym membership (if you want that), clothes etc.

There are definitely things you're missing, but that's typical when making a budget.

Your social plans worry me, though. To each their own what they do with their university experience, but even if clubbing isn't your thing, this should be replaced with other types of going out, like eating out, or shopping, or hobbies etc, which would all cost money.

[throughthemonsoon]

You need to pay for food, even if you're in catered accomodation, you might want snacks and stuff. Also, I don't think 50 is enough to go out. I dunno how cheap it is where you go out but I would budget a minimum of £15 for a night out, and that's if you don't drink much. Also, you'll probably end up going out more than twice a month with your flatmates, especially during freshers haha, we went out for about 12 nights during our freshers fortnight, so unless you don't enjoy going out much, you're gonna need a lot more

And also, if you want to go shopping for clothes etc, budget for that as well

[Tycho]

Despite what the above say I think "going out" is massively over-rated. I don't get why people want to go out and get hammered several times a week. They will live to regret the damage they are doing to their health. I find students - particularly the young who have never lived away from home before - to be immature; stupid with their money; and very irresponsible. Would I want to socialise with the such... definately not.

Save your money, don't drink it all away.

[Jenniferann232]

parents are paying for food and yeh, I don't tend to spend too much going out clubbing. I went the other day and I only spent 11 pounds but yeh I suppose the left over money will be going on things like laundry, make up, snacks out and freshers. I am worried because they split the loan into installments don't they which is a pain because i'd just rather budget for the whole year, because I don't know how to spend my last 300 from work - do I use it to pay for books? or freshers? will I have my loan availible to spend on books?

Also i'm thinking going out until the early hours in the morning during the week will be seriously unlikely. My course will be really intensive and I know that for a fact, which is a pain but it's pretty much 9-5 every weekday (apart from wednesday afternoon and friday maybe) because it's dentistry.

[WelshBluebird]

(Original post by Tycho)
Despite what the above say I think "going out" is massively over-rated. I don't get why people want to go out and get hammered several times a week. They will live to regret the damage they are doing to their health. I find students - particularly the young who have never lived away from home before - to be immature; stupid with their money; and very irresponsible. Would I want to socialise with the such... definately not.

Save your money, don't drink it all away.

Going out and socialising does not have to be the "go out and get hammered" you say.

[kyleball]

(Original post by Tycho)
Despite what the above say I think "going out" is massively over-rated. I don't get why people want to go out and get hammered several times a week. They will live to regret the damage they are doing to their health. I find students - particularly the young who have never lived away from home before - to be immature; stupid with their money; and very irresponsible. Would I want to socialise with the such... definately not.

Save your money, don't drink it all away.

Wow, living with you must have been fun. It's fine if you don't enjoy clubbing or drinking, but do not judge others for doing it.

Regardless of opinions, and like I already said "above", I made a point just in case clubbing wasn't their thing:

(Original post by kyleball)
Your social plans worry me, though. To each their own what they do with their university experience, but even if clubbing isn't your thing, this should be replaced with other types of going out, like eating out, or shopping, or hobbies etc, which would all cost money.

Basically, most humans need, want, require and thrive on social interaction, and some of this costs money.

[kyleball]

(Original post by Jenniferann232)
parents are paying for food and yeh, I don't tend to spend too much going out clubbing. I went the other day and I only spent 11 pounds but yeh I suppose the left over money will be going on things like laundry, make up, snacks out and freshers. I am worried because they split the loan into installments don't they which is a pain because i'd just rather budget for the whole year, because I don't know how to spend my last 300 from work - do I use it to pay for books? or freshers? will I have my loan availible to spend on books?

These days a lot of books are available online or from the library. Once you have the reading list available the first thing you should do is go straight to the library and see if it's available, if not try e-books. Failing that, get a second hand copy to save money.

I am not sure what the changes have created to the loan system, but for me mine was available a couple of days after confirmation of my enrolment (which occurred on the first day). So it should be available.

Freshers is when social bonds are formed, and a lot of the times these do not change much. It's easier to gel in a group when you've experienced freshers week with them!

(Original post by Jenniferann232)
Also i'm thinking going out until the early hours in the morning during the week will be seriously unlikely. My course will be really intensive and I know that for a fact, which is a pain but it's pretty much 9-5 every weekday (apart from wednesday afternoon and friday maybe) because it's dentistry.

That will make it tougher! My friend did dentistry, and it was similar, but they made a concerted effort to make sure they didn't just focus on academics. I believe you can focus on both the social side and on your course adequately, and you shouldn't have to neglect one to benefit the other.

University is about the degree, but it's also about the experience. I can honestly and truly say I have made friendships for life from going to University, and if I hadn't made an effort to socialise I do not think that would be the case!

Enjoy your year, you will love it

[Radio]

It might help to try the Budget Planner tool on the Money Saving Expert website to figure out what you might be missing.

https://budgetbrain.moneysavingexpert.com/budgetplanner

It covers quite a lot of things so if you're missing something, it will show up!


Oh and a NUS Extra card is £12 But as it lasts a while year this will be a one off expense.

[Jenniferann232]

I have made the mistake before of not balancing academic stuff and socialising, just tired me out and I am looking forward to freshers week don't feel old enough to go to uni in 6weeks! :O
My parents did also say they would mail me vouchers from their tesco club card for restaurants every now and again which should be good I'm grateful for the help they're giving me (whether they actually believe that is up to them) because I know it would be very difficult without it

[Cobain7]

Hi, i'm a postgrad doing a project on laundry services across the country. Just wondering if pple could reply to the following q's;

How much would you pay per week for laundry?
Would you do your laundry per week?

Thanks,

[Jenniferann232]

laundry person, you won't get many replkies on here. How about you make your own thread, that way you'll get more answers to your questions