Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Discussion and advice on University Education

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Amber
Posts: 8058
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:59 am

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by Amber »

hermanmunster wrote:
Amber I think that the students can get free prescriptions based on income (otherwise send them to Scottish / Welsh unis :oops: )
DD did get the form once but the income details on it were for parents. The pharmacist confirmed that it was based on parental income. Perhaps I need to have another look as she does have 2 sorts of regular medication. Thanks.

ETA OK I have checked. I think students have to pay unless there are low income issues which seem to be tied to the parents. If I have got this wrong then please someone correct me. TSR is full of students moaning about having to pay as well. :roll:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default ... 6.18_0.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
mike1880
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Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:51 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by mike1880 »

hermanmunster wrote:Amber I think that the students can get free prescriptions based on income (otherwise send them to Scottish / Welsh unis :oops: )
That's out of the budgeting frying pan and into the fire of Student Finance England. Scottish universities have a two term year (early Sep to mid/late Dec and mid/late Jan to late May). SFE in their...wisdom?...still pay the maintenance loan late Sep, mid Jan and mid April. Budget round that if you can.
scary mum
Posts: 8840
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:45 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by scary mum »

mike1880 wrote:
hermanmunster wrote:Amber I think that the students can get free prescriptions based on income (otherwise send them to Scottish / Welsh unis :oops: )
That's out of the budgeting frying pan and into the fire of Student Finance England. Scottish universities have a two term year (early Sep to mid/late Dec and mid/late Jan to late May). SFE in their...wisdom?...still pay the maintenance loan late Sep, mid Jan and mid April. Budget round that if you can.
That's pretty much the same for England - both of mine are more or less finished in early May, but get the largest chunk of loan in April. I know the Scottish universities start earlier in September.
scary mum
loobylou
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Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 5:04 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by loobylou »

I think prescriptions are not free if you have low income, only if you are entitled to certain benefits including tax credits and income support, none of which apply to students.
I think students generally have to pay.
doodles
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Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:19 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by doodles »

We are just heading into this so it is all a big hit and miss. I must say DS is a lot more careful with money and budgeting now he has spent a year earning it the hard way - working :lol:

He's going into self catering halls so we are budgeting on £300 per month for food, general sundries, socialising etc. But like exam marks this may go up or down after review later in the term. I know the start of the academic year can be expensive so we need to get into a normal few weeks before we can really tell what's the right amount. His travel costs will be minimal as everything is within a short walk and I'm hoping he will use the fab indoor market for a lot of his food. He will need the uni rugby kit, and we have said that we will stand this as it may be expensive and being a softie I have given him a gift card for his local coffee shop and another for the local Sainsburys - I am sure some of it will go on cider but knowing his love of food I'm pretty sure the majority will go on food. Unfortunately the big / better value supermarkets are well out of town and would involve a bus journey.
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad !
Loopyloulou
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Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by Loopyloulou »

I believe my children ought to survive on what the government expects the very poorest students to survive on. That is, the maximum student loan of £8700 (outside London) together with a university bursary which differs between different universities but averages about £2000 per annum. Therefore they get £10,700 per annum. We also subsidise their motoring expenses.

They seem to be happy enough.
Loopy
doodles
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Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:19 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by doodles »

As I said this is all new to us and I am very happy for the amount to go down :lol:
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad !
kenyancowgirl
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Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:59 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by kenyancowgirl »

Loopyloulou wrote:I believe my children ought to survive on what the government expects the very poorest students to survive on. That is, the maximum student loan of £8700 (outside London) together with a university bursary which differs between different universities but averages about £2000 per annum. Therefore they get £10,700 per annum. We also subsidise their motoring expenses.

They seem to be happy enough.
But surely not every student can get a bursary??!! Only very occasional students would get them so your children are actually getting 2k more than the majority of the "very poorest" students, plus the motoring subsidies, so they are actually doing quite well!
RedVelvet
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Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:06 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by RedVelvet »

Just a quick note about prescriptions.

Student benefits carry on until you are 19 and in full time education. After that they are means tested. You need to pick up a form HC1 from most healthcare providers. Most students I know of then get the same benefit as they did before they turned 19. It will cover prescriptions, NHS dentistry and eye exams and voucher towards spectacles. I think there's a short form inside to work off if it's worth applying.
RedVelvet
Posts: 546
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:06 pm

Re: Weekly/Monthly budget for University

Post by RedVelvet »

Amber wrote:I have never really got involved in this tbh. DD gets the basic maintenance loan and we pay her rent and that is it. The same plan is about to go into place for DS1. DD always seems to have plenty of money and reckons the only reason students run out is because they drink so much (she is a non drinker). She runs a car as well and we do pay the insurance on that as we have a multi car policy, but she pays for her own fuel (she doesn't drive to lectures, only to shops and when she goes out into the countryside or to the coast with friends). She does a sport which is not expensive and is in a society which is, but we do not pay for either. In the scenario you describe I would not be offering any more money to be honest.

We left DD to budget for herself and will do the same with DS1 - they are both pretty mature and have also both had jobs so know what money is worth. We have said we will be there to catch them once, but so far it hasn't been needed. I suppose if one had a very young and inexperienced person going straight from school who was used to having everything laid on you might have to take a different approach, but I don't get the impression that is what your DD is like DG. :)


This is really helpful, thank you.
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