Maintenance Loan just isn't enough money!
When I recieved my maintenance loan and grant this term I paid off my accomodation and deposit (I live in the cheapest accomodation on campus too) I had £74 left. I have tried incredibly hard to get a job and haven't succeeded at all, and have had to live off the money my parents and relatives kindly gave me, but I have already used it up for the whole term, plus £130 overdraft! I understand it's probably expected that everyone will get a job, but Canterbury is a tiny town and theres just nothing going!
I haven't been spending ridiculous amounts of money either, I have been spending £10-15 a week on food, and have had to buy quite a few clothes since I have been here, and I am spending money on socialising, drinks, going to the cinema occasioanlly, I have only been clubbing once on free entry and didn't buy any drinks. But what is really worrying me is that I have to have a 12 month contract for my house next year, and have to pay £1100 for 3 months that won't be covered by a student loan at all. Even if I was able to get a job and start tomorrow I don't see how I can earn enough to get that amount of money by July, plus have enough to live on for the year from working part time.
My point is, how are we actually expected to live off of between £3500-£6000 a year including accomodation? Surely this is a long long way below the poverty line?
I haven't been spending ridiculous amounts of money either, I have been spending £10-15 a week on food, and have had to buy quite a few clothes since I have been here, and I am spending money on socialising, drinks, going to the cinema occasioanlly, I have only been clubbing once on free entry and didn't buy any drinks. But what is really worrying me is that I have to have a 12 month contract for my house next year, and have to pay £1100 for 3 months that won't be covered by a student loan at all. Even if I was able to get a job and start tomorrow I don't see how I can earn enough to get that amount of money by July, plus have enough to live on for the year from working part time.
My point is, how are we actually expected to live off of between £3500-£6000 a year including accomodation? Surely this is a long long way below the poverty line?
(edited 13 years ago)
Get a bloody job then.
if you really cant get a job during term time. get a job in the holidays.
over christmas you can easily earn £1000 if you work full time, same at easter, and you can earn another few grand over the summer.
just put a lot of effort in trying to get jobs which relate to you're degree as it'll help out more in the long run. but if you can't, then just take any job going.
this is how most students i know manage to survive. (most people won't work all of the holidays, but they'll still work for at least a couple of months a year)
over christmas you can easily earn £1000 if you work full time, same at easter, and you can earn another few grand over the summer.
just put a lot of effort in trying to get jobs which relate to you're degree as it'll help out more in the long run. but if you can't, then just take any job going.
this is how most students i know manage to survive. (most people won't work all of the holidays, but they'll still work for at least a couple of months a year)
(edited 13 years ago)
Original post by metalthrashin'mad
I understand that I will probably get neg repped from Middle - upper class eltists who don't really understand money problems and why this is such a big issue for people, but I do think this is a genuine problem for students, and why no matter what the tuition fee issue is, and whether that alone would prevent poorer people from going to university, the living costs as well would surely put them off.
I take it from slamming the middle classes you qualify for extra financial aid and help? My parents have realitively normal jobs, a nurse and a mechanic- and I'm in no way elitist, but I'm going to neg you anyway.
Try recieving only the maintenance loan because your parents are 'too rich' to entitle you to any bursaries, yet too poor to foot the bill for your living costs and tuition fees. I am not looking forward to next year.
If all else fails, sell drugs.
Although, something legal would be better in the long term, probably.
Although, something legal would be better in the long term, probably.
Get a job, and don't start with the whole "there aren't any." Show some bloody willingness to work, even if it's something you won't enjoy doing. I cleaned offices for 6 months in my first year ffs before getting a job with a mobile network which I have held ever since and pays more than twice as much as my previous one for the same amount of hours.
Have a bit of work ethic and actually make an effort before dismissing the prospect of working on the grounds that you 'Can't find anything'.
Actually try looking.
Have a bit of work ethic and actually make an effort before dismissing the prospect of working on the grounds that you 'Can't find anything'.
Actually try looking.
Do you get the minimum maintenance loan only, and no grants? If so, your parents are expected to support you, so you'll have to ask them. Explain the situation and that their income is stopping you getting more.
If you get ANYTHING extra in grants, quit complaining, as I'm afraid many many students live off just a loan of £3500 and get no extra help from parents,who seem to cut them off as soon as they turn 18. Ironically, it's often the ones that bothered to pay for private education for the past 13 years. (Not always though, before I get yelled at).
If you get ANYTHING extra in grants, quit complaining, as I'm afraid many many students live off just a loan of £3500 and get no extra help from parents,who seem to cut them off as soon as they turn 18. Ironically, it's often the ones that bothered to pay for private education for the past 13 years. (Not always though, before I get yelled at).
Unfortunately when you are a student, gone are the days of going out and buying loads of clothes. You really need to try and cut back. Try to limit yourself to going out once a week. Try to not buy clothes unless you desperately need them. Just remember if you dont pay rent, your dont have a home. Everyone is in the same boat. They have rent to pay etc etc.
Basically cut back on luxuries. Try to get a job as soon as you can and save as much of the money as you can. And i mean any job, supermarket, whatever you can get. Doesnt have to be great. If you can aswell, try and find a cheaper place to live, or just live with people for a while.
Basically cut back on luxuries. Try to get a job as soon as you can and save as much of the money as you can. And i mean any job, supermarket, whatever you can get. Doesnt have to be great. If you can aswell, try and find a cheaper place to live, or just live with people for a while.
Original post by metalthrashin'mad
When I recieved my maintenance loan and grant this term I paid off my accomodation and deposit (I live in the cheapest accomodation on campus too) I had £74 left. I have tried incredibly hard to get a job and haven't succeeded at all, and have had to live off the money my parents and relatives kindly gave me, but I have already used it up for the whole term, plus £130 overdraft! I understand it's probably expected that everyone will get a job, but Canterbury is a tiny town and theres just nothing going!
I haven't been spending ridiculous amounts of money either, I have been spending £10-15 a week on food, and have had to buy quite a few clothes since I have been here, and I am spending money on socialising, drinks, going to the cinema occasioanlly, I have only been clubbing once on free entry and didn't buy any drinks. But what is really worrying me is that I have to have a 12 month contract for my house next year, and have to pay £1100 for 3 months that won't be covered by a student loan at all. Even if I was able to get a job and start tomorrow I don't see how I can earn enough to get that amount of money by July, plus have enough to live on for the year from working part time.
My point is, how are we actually expected to live off of between £3500-£6000 a year including accomodation? Surely this is a long long way below the poverty line?
I haven't been spending ridiculous amounts of money either, I have been spending £10-15 a week on food, and have had to buy quite a few clothes since I have been here, and I am spending money on socialising, drinks, going to the cinema occasioanlly, I have only been clubbing once on free entry and didn't buy any drinks. But what is really worrying me is that I have to have a 12 month contract for my house next year, and have to pay £1100 for 3 months that won't be covered by a student loan at all. Even if I was able to get a job and start tomorrow I don't see how I can earn enough to get that amount of money by July, plus have enough to live on for the year from working part time.
My point is, how are we actually expected to live off of between £3500-£6000 a year including accomodation? Surely this is a long long way below the poverty line?
I can live off that amount easily and still have money to spare,
the difference is that I am frugal and know how to squeeze a penny until it screams for mercy
Welcome to life. My loan is £1500 less that my accommodation, i've been saving/working for years to afford uni. Sorry, but it's just how the world works.
Original post by Bryn_DJ
Get a job, and don't start with the whole "there aren't any." Show some bloody willingness to work, even if it's something you won't enjoy doing. I cleaned offices for 6 months in my first year ffs before getting a job with a mobile network which I have held ever since and pays more than twice as much as my previous one for the same amount of hours.
Have a bit of work ethic and actually make an effort before dismissing the prospect of working on the grounds that you 'Can't find anything'.
Actually try looking.
Have a bit of work ethic and actually make an effort before dismissing the prospect of working on the grounds that you 'Can't find anything'.
Actually try looking.
How do you know this person hasn't been looking, have you met them, do you speak to them on a regular basis, i am currently going to the job center and even they admitted to me that there are hardly any student being able to get jobs unless they get them through friend of friends due to the fact that there are older and far more experienced people applying in this climate and they told me at this rate i shouldn't expect a job before i go to university and i live in a relatively big city let alone a small place like Canterbury. And for people who say your parents should help, mine cant, i know they should and they feel really bad they cant but i have a brother at uni and they cant afford to help us both so they can only give us a very little, also why should they? I am 18 years old i am classed as an adult in all other respects why should this be any different? if i cant get a job in the first couple of months i will have to drop out.
There are jobs in Canterbury, I know because I got one :P Which uni do you go to? UKC has the jobshop (ccc might as well, I don't know) which is really helpful. You can also sign up to psychology studies to make a little extra money.
It's hard to make it stretch, but seriously, there are people in worse positions, and next year is likely to be worse as the housing is more expensive off campus. I've pretty much maxed out my overdraft and am living only on my wages for the summer til I get my next loan installment, but it's doable.
It's hard to make it stretch, but seriously, there are people in worse positions, and next year is likely to be worse as the housing is more expensive off campus. I've pretty much maxed out my overdraft and am living only on my wages for the summer til I get my next loan installment, but it's doable.
Oh for gods sake....did you not think that you might need to get a job BEFORE you went to uni to do that rather strange thing of SAVING UP to pay for it??
At 18 you are an adult so get off your arse and earn it....my daughter is juggling 2 jobs and college to have enough to afford uni. she will get the loan and nothing more as we cant afford to help her even though we both work and fall into the same catagory as someone else on here of being 'too rich' to get any help ....my step children on the other hand got £30 ema every week to piss up the wall for 2 years (which they did), grants/bursaries ( one to the tune of £3000 thrown at them simply cause their mum chooses not to work....to this day the eldest has never ever had a job oh and shes been to at least 2 festivals paid for by the student loans company....my daughter has to watch all that going on under her nose but still she works her backside off!!
life isnt fair, get a job and get over it!!!
At 18 you are an adult so get off your arse and earn it....my daughter is juggling 2 jobs and college to have enough to afford uni. she will get the loan and nothing more as we cant afford to help her even though we both work and fall into the same catagory as someone else on here of being 'too rich' to get any help ....my step children on the other hand got £30 ema every week to piss up the wall for 2 years (which they did), grants/bursaries ( one to the tune of £3000 thrown at them simply cause their mum chooses not to work....to this day the eldest has never ever had a job oh and shes been to at least 2 festivals paid for by the student loans company....my daughter has to watch all that going on under her nose but still she works her backside off!!
life isnt fair, get a job and get over it!!!
(edited 12 years ago)
£130 overdraft, is that all?
Original post by lazy smurf
£130 overdraft, is that all?
exactly. Even if you have £2000/3 years to play with that's still £666 (!) a year, which matters. If you're screwed for any other source of income but can get a job within a year of graduation, use your overdraft - that's what it's for.
I completely understand, I'm in the same position.
I'm doing a foundation year which is based at a college in St helens (NOT Liverpool) with the Uni of Liverpool, so it was costing me £30 a week in petrol to get from my halls to college.
I've now moved from halls to a 1 bed flat in St Helens. My maintenence loan is NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH. This is even cheaper than halls, and it still doesn't cover food, house and heating. My parents make me food and stuff which I take back with me and freeze.
Also pointing out: I don't socialise, I don't go anywhere but college and I've got 3 job interviews next week all in relatively menial jobs.
I'm going to try to work nights full time alongside my degree, but if this decreases my student loan then there's no point in working.
We're in that squeezed middle part of society where our parents aren't poor so we don't get anything, but our parents are just managing to pay their OWN bills so we get nothing.
I'm doing a foundation year which is based at a college in St helens (NOT Liverpool) with the Uni of Liverpool, so it was costing me £30 a week in petrol to get from my halls to college.
I've now moved from halls to a 1 bed flat in St Helens. My maintenence loan is NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH. This is even cheaper than halls, and it still doesn't cover food, house and heating. My parents make me food and stuff which I take back with me and freeze.
Also pointing out: I don't socialise, I don't go anywhere but college and I've got 3 job interviews next week all in relatively menial jobs.
I'm going to try to work nights full time alongside my degree, but if this decreases my student loan then there's no point in working.
We're in that squeezed middle part of society where our parents aren't poor so we don't get anything, but our parents are just managing to pay their OWN bills so we get nothing.
This thread is kinda old.
(edited 12 years ago)
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