I just bought a Ps3, 360, £2000 computer and a 40" plasma screen with my Uni grant!

Psyk · 19 Aug 2007 at 13:46

how random said:
I think a lot of parents will help their kids out if they can, i know mine do and three people who im sharing a house with next year their parents do, which is why i think people should be helped out a bit if their parents have low income.

In that case parents with a high enough income should be forced to pay an equal amount to their child going to university.

Rotty · 19 Aug 2007 at 13:49

Psyk said:
In that case parents with a high enough income should be forced to pay an equal amount to their child going to university.

why ? people who work hard and do ok for themselves get screwed at every opportunity as it is, people going into uni at 18 should not be financially dependent on their parents

Spyhop · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:00

You're absolutely right Rotty. I remember having a small argument with someone who was genuinely incapable of grasping the point. We were both on the receiving end of a fairly decent grant. I wasn't going to turn it down, but I acknowledged that the system was flawed and I had no right to expect it.

semi-pro waster · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:07

Rotty said:
why ? people who work hard and do ok for themselves get screwed at every opportunity as it is, people going into uni at 18 should not be financially dependent on their parents

In an ideal world, no, they shouldn't but then again many of the current generation of politicians come from an era when higher education was free/heavily subsidised. The targets for getting students into higher education mean that this is no longer possible (for the state to fund it all) so therefore it does fall to parents who can afford it to do so.

It isn't right but it is probably the most practicable way of dealing with the hash of a system we currently have.

Timdog · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:09

Psyk said:
In that case parents with a high enough income should be forced to pay an equal amount to their child going to university.

you dont have to get your loan tested against your parents income, i didnt and i get £3070 a year plus another 3 grand if i need it (for accomodation but im stayin at home)

pinkacidbootson · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:10

I actually bought nearly all the stuff in the thread title before going to Uni

I wouldn't use my grants or loans for that purpose though, that would be silly.

V4NT0M · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:10

Rotty said:
why ? people who work hard and do ok for themselves get screwed at every opportunity as it is, people going into uni at 18 should not be financially dependent on their parents

This much is true, but you know that reminds me of bioshock...

"Surely a man is entitled to his work and sweat, no says the man in Washington [read London] it belongs to the poor." Or something like that, verry succinct and true.

Personally the only students I know who are buying things like the OP says are people who have perental help. My friend just recently sold his 360 because he needed the money being a student... Amongst some other things...

AFAIK most people are entitled to a loan because it's paid back, so it matters not whether your parents are well off, grants however are more difficult to get, but not needed for everyone regardless of perental wealth.

Giving money to your children to goto uni is a very tricky business, most of them it will be the first time they have not been living at home, its good to have them appreciate the money they do or don't get.

Psyk · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:13

Rotty said:
why ? people who work hard and do ok for themselves get screwed at every opportunity as it is, people going into uni at 18 should not be financially dependent on their parents

I agree. But it's only fair if you are giving students from lower income families free money. That's going under the assumption that higher income parents will give their child money, but since it's not guaranteed they will, they should be forced to.

Either that or give everyone an equal loan.

Psyk · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:15

timmy1988 said:
you dont have to get your loan tested against your parents income, i didnt and i get £3070 a year plus another 3 grand if i need it (for accomodation but im stayin at home)

You only get the minimum loan if you don't get it income tested. Which is what I'd get anyway if they did test it.

georges · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:17

Or you get people like a guy in my school's brother. As their parents are divorced, they get full EMA (despite their dad being a multimillionaire and their mum having a swimming pool etc off their settlement - they're minted).

So he got full loan and just invested it, then paid it off once he'd made a load of cash off it

sid · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:17

I have spent probably 50% of my first 2 years loan on pc parts/gadgets/toys

Thats fine for me as I have practically no other outgoings. Ah the good life.

sid

RuMp3l4$k1n · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:18

Its also assuming that someone who is in the top tax bracket can comfortably afford to fund their child's 15-20k uni education, something that I don't fully agree with. I can't remember from this years forms but does the application take into account any out goings that parents have or is it purely based on how much is coming into the home? The level of support needs to be raised for those people imo.

Killa_ken · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:26

Because theyre stupid. I started this semester with $60 in my pocket a week later I have $9 less because I've been stupid.

Its not a nice feeling and I would never like to be in that situation again, Obviously i can dip into the bank account but I have banned my self as Im saving up for a new car.

1mm3 · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:27

Alternatively, if your university is close to your home/ you have friends family within commuting distance of your campus, stay there

I did this for 3 years of my degree saving me £9000 in rent, all of which i happily blew away on my pc, xbox, holidays, clothes etc..

Work hard, play harder is my motto

Jez · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:33

I put my student loan towards a completely unnecessary sports car, why? Because my parents paid for my education and gave me spending money.

Probably how most people afford to spend their loan on luxuries, bit of a stupid question imho

HeadlessChicken · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:56

I'm quite chuffed, I'm getting the normal maintainance loan (£3350ish I think) then and extra £2750 non repayable grant every year.

Working full time from 18 - 24 then going to Uni does have some benefits I guess

how random · 19 Aug 2007 at 15:09

HeadlessChicken said:
£2750 non repayable grant every year.

You get given £2750 EVERY year :eek:

I wish i was getting some free money.
This is why i think the current system is really unfair :mad:

ChroniC · 19 Aug 2007 at 15:20

If they didnt assess it against parents the government would have to pay out loads. Im 25 and as such am not parentally assesed, and i get a grant, and a lot more than average.

Amp34 · 19 Aug 2007 at 15:42

My parents pay for my fees and accomodation and even though I don't drink there is no way I could afford all of that. Yes I do have about £2-300 each term to spend on a few luxuries but that is only small semi needed stuff.

Budgeting is not that difficult, I can't work out why people find it so hard. It can only be lack of will power.

manic_man · 19 Aug 2007 at 16:07

Because the type of student your referring to tends to end up with 20K of personal debt (loan + overdrafts etc) a poor degree as they spent all their money on things to distract them and ultimately having to sell all their nice new stuff to pay off the debt.

I think it generally happens when someone is either a) used to being spoilt so they cant "help" themselves or b) has never had much money then suddenly they get given a large lump sum.

Why the loans company cant give it out monthly and the uni's alter their accomodation / fee's payments accordingly i'll never know.

Oh thats right, they cant be hassled with the admin that would cause...

These people need protecting from themselves...