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Money at uni worry (a tad of topic.....sorry)

Just to say I hate the anonymous function and how it's used; and l'm incredibly sorry for using it as i find it highly impersonal and rude if people are trying to help, but i think it's necessary here as my query is all about staying anonymous! :redface:

Basically, I have a worry about finances and uni -and it's quite the reverse of what you're probably expecting! Due to various circumstances it looks like my pocket will be fairly well padded at uni, and i'm just worried this could get in the way of friendships. Obviously I will be generous -please don't think me tight- when it comes to buying pints etc. However, I can see two possible problems, 1, i'm envied and that get's in the way of friendships; 2, i'm joyrided on for my money - I mean I will of course be buying mates stuff like anyone else but i want it to stay 'like anyone else' and not like 'mr anony who's rolling in the money and thats the only reason we take him out'.

So, could any one suggest ways to get around this - or even just assure me from experience it won't happen!? :biggrin:

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Reply 1

TOD100

Why not just budget like other students will be doing. I don't know how much spending money everyone else will be allowing for, but maybe say to yourself that you won't spend more than £150 a month on going out etc.

This way you will just blend in like everyone else

Reply 2

andy_cole2

yeah just blend in whats the point in pissing away all the money on random other people. the extra money will be far more stressful then not letting anyone know you have it and so not using it. just save it up somewhere invest it in an isa, premium bonds idk, but seriously theres no point spending it all just to prove you don't have it cos tahts dumb. and i would imagine loads of people are hardup at uni, i spose if you made the money urself through some entrepenurial thing then you should be like yeah check me out or if there was a bereavement or something bad but if you were just given the money that i would keep quiet about it and just ave it for somethign else.

Reply 3

alex_ssf

Just don't start with being too generous and try to make friends in class(after lectures) not in bars :smile:

Then when you find the right people to spend your time with everything would be own its place... Don't buy friends drinks etc. too often because then they'll start taking advantage of you and possibly lying that they don't have their money with them etc. Be generous just at the right time(when there's reason for it, for example when you are celebrating sth)

Reply 4

fruitcake

tbh i doubt ppl will want u to buy them pints, because they wont feel comfortable, like as if its charity. theres nothing wrong with buying a round when its your turn though so just do that like everyone else. i think youre probably better off at first not flashing it around, like dont talk about it and dont make it obvious, then when youve made firends regardless of your financial situation, you can maybe make it a bit more apparent. nobody will not want to be friends with you just because youre rich and they envy you unless you flash around your money! id just keep it low profile for a while at least! you never know it might be fun learning how little money its possible to survive and still have a great time on!

Reply 5

Fleece

If you don't flash your cash then no one knows how much money you have or don't have.

Reply 6

bone-machine

why advertise that you have money?..no ones seen your home, your family car. unless your strolling round in designer labels dont even let on, no one needs know and why should they care anyway?, anyone whos looking for rich friends isnt a friend worth having so dont go round buying all the rounds in freshers week. you cant buy friends and the right sort of people will feel akward

i say just live like any other student, don’t rub it in the face of people that are having to struggle with part time jobs on top of uni and also don’t suggest lending money unless they look to be in a desperate situation because most people are very proud and would feel offended

id say there’s no need to be really generous with your money like expensive gifts because it just puts people who could never afford to get you equivalent presents etc in an awkward position

just don’t flash your cash, and if you are the sort that MUST flash your cash, only do so after you have comfortable friendship groups.

also can i point out that if you are rich in terms of student loan your not actually rich at all, you will have to pay all this money back, better to be sensible with your money and budget so your not crippled with debt when you leave uni

Reply 7

Carl

Fleece

If you don't flash your cash then no one knows how much money you have or don't have.

if you find you have too much money, lock it into a regular savings account and use it when you graduate. You'll need it then to tide you through unpaid work experience and possibly the deposit on a house.

Don't waste it buying friends and paying for free loaders.

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

Just to put it in context I'm "rich" as in over 90 quid "pocket money" a week :smile:

And, of course, to an extent I want to share it

Reply 9

Carl

wow that is a lot! my advice, save it! most students have nowhere near that money and to spend that much is extravagent and unneccesary, and you'll find yourself having people freeload on you.

Reply 10

bone-machine

Anonymous

Just to put it in context I'm "rich" as in over 90 quid "pocket money" a week :smile:

And, of course, to an extent I want to share it

there is no need to spend that much you should definitely put some into savings and im telling you that theres not much need to be 'generous' as you put it, i dont expect my friends who are well off to treat me by buying me drinks .....it puts me in an akward position, you'll find that most peopel at uni DONT readily buy things for others as they are all poor student and so dont expect it of their friends

if you really dont want to be looked at any differently for having money i suggest saving the 'treats' for birthdays and other key occassions.

Reply 11

Fleece

I've got round that amount too, prob bit more, but only budget myself about £60 a week and save the rest. It never entered my head about it affecting friendships, because I don't go round telling people I've got heaps of moola.

Reply 12

erk

Last year i lived with a daughter of a multi-millionaire. (russian business man). so yes, she had considerable amounts of spare cash. we didn't know this at first, over time it became obvious, she was oblivious though as she'd been brought up like that and thus was unaware of everything and our reactions to certain things. (like her dad buying her a 20k car and also parking (central london)). she didn't 'treat' us, apart from a meal when it was her bday.

i don't see a problem. you've no need to 'treat' anyone, if you wanna buy someone a pint, do it. i do it, im skint, but some are even worse than me, thus i share my 'wealth' (2quid more than they have). but more than this would be, imo, stupid.

Reply 13

Carl

me and my flatmates are all skint, but money is no problem for us. We all chip in to keep the house bank account topped up, and buy each other pints, the house bread, butter, beer, milk and loo roll without really keeping tabs on who's buying. As long as one person isn't doing all the buying life is good, and it's nice that in our house we don't get too het up about money issues, especially considering how contentious it can be in some student houses.

Reply 14

OC_girl

You'd be surprised how varied student finances are. I had quite a lot of money when i was at uni, my parents paid my rent and tuition fees and gave me a small weekly allowance, i had my student loan which i could spend on clothes, going out etc, i had a £2,000 overdraft, i worked sometimes up to 30 hours a week on good pay, so yeah.. money wasn't a problem.
Most of my friends had to pay their own way and didn't have well-paid jobs while they were at uni so they struggled more. I never told them how much money i had but at the same time i never joined in their chats about being broke.
i would look out for my friends, i'd buy lunch for them sometimes and drive them to uni without asking for petrol money.

Reply 15

dutch_stud

If you have so much money, why don't you buy yourself some common sense?

Reply 16

Carl

money pays for me to eat and have a roof, so I don't appreciate it when people flash what they get given. I work damn hard for my money (160 hours in the last two weeks), and I'll still be working during term time to pay my accom, debts and try to have a good time and a few holidays). Money is only paper when you don't have to work for it, and some of us do have to work for it.

Reply 17

Schroedinger's Pandora

My advice would be not to get too far ahead of yourself. You'll be surprised how quickly money disappears, especially in your first year.

I was spending £40-£60 on each book I needed for my course, I think I ended up with approximately 12 of those. And once you've paid for busses, gym, going out and food shopping, on top of all sorts of other little expenses you find yourself skint very quickly.

I appreciate that you think you may be flush at uni, but perhaps the reality may be somewhat different?

I'm not trying to offend or patronise, I just speak from experience. :smile:

Reply 18

Schroedinger's Pandora

Carl

...And ditto to this.

Reply 19

cullmac

Your making it sound like you will be the only person with money at university, you will have rich students and poor students all around you. To be honest if money isnt a problem i would just use it to make sure you have the best time of your life. Obviously dont be too flash with your money but otherwise just enjoy yourself.