Ivo
Established Member
I wanted to have a little rant about living costs as a student in Bath. I've been asked to fill out a form by my University detailing my income and expenditure each month, and on an annual basis it shows a deficit of £810!
Here is what I've got (not inclusive of Tuition Fee, because it goes direct to the University, or overdraft because that's used up already):
Income (per annum):
Student loan: £3663
Maintenance Grant: £2907
Bursary: £1200
Total: £7770
That's it. The only jobs available around here are for Bar Work or things that I would end up getting sacked in on Day One owing to clumsiness and general dyspraxia, so I have no other income at all! I don't get anything from my parents either, unlike all the well-off students :cry:
Expenditure (per month):
Food, household and laundry: £125 (based on £20 p/w for food (factoring in days per month), £20 p/m for household and £20 p/m for laundry)
Telephone: £20
Entertainment and social: £50 (including not-essential train fares, such as Challenges on here, which are rare and minimal already )
Clothes: £10 (usually socks)
Rent: £460 (£5545 over 12 months)
Travel costs (home): £30 (average)
Travel costs (other): £15 (usually travel before 0900, e.g. placement)
Books etc (not covered by DSA): £5 (usually printing costs in the University Library)
TOTAL: £255 before rent; £715 (average) after
7770 - 715 x 12 = 7770 - 8580 = -810
Every year I end up on financial support from the University because I just can't afford to leave here. If they charged a more realistic amount for rent, even £100 p/w (which is quite harsh itself), I would be OK, but...
Anyhow, without resorting to "get a job", "move", "quit University", "cheat" (or similar) or "take action against oneself", what suggestions or comments do any of you guys have? Does anyone else here find themselves in this situation time and time again?
Things would be so much easier if I could get DLA, but I applied in October and have been told it'll be at least May before they even consider my case At least if it does happen though I would get extra funding, housing benefit and a DSB...
Here is what I've got (not inclusive of Tuition Fee, because it goes direct to the University, or overdraft because that's used up already):
Income (per annum):
Student loan: £3663
Maintenance Grant: £2907
Bursary: £1200
Total: £7770
That's it. The only jobs available around here are for Bar Work or things that I would end up getting sacked in on Day One owing to clumsiness and general dyspraxia, so I have no other income at all! I don't get anything from my parents either, unlike all the well-off students :cry:
Expenditure (per month):
Food, household and laundry: £125 (based on £20 p/w for food (factoring in days per month), £20 p/m for household and £20 p/m for laundry)
Telephone: £20
Entertainment and social: £50 (including not-essential train fares, such as Challenges on here, which are rare and minimal already )
Clothes: £10 (usually socks)
Rent: £460 (£5545 over 12 months)
Travel costs (home): £30 (average)
Travel costs (other): £15 (usually travel before 0900, e.g. placement)
Books etc (not covered by DSA): £5 (usually printing costs in the University Library)
TOTAL: £255 before rent; £715 (average) after
7770 - 715 x 12 = 7770 - 8580 = -810
Every year I end up on financial support from the University because I just can't afford to leave here. If they charged a more realistic amount for rent, even £100 p/w (which is quite harsh itself), I would be OK, but...
Anyhow, without resorting to "get a job", "move", "quit University", "cheat" (or similar) or "take action against oneself", what suggestions or comments do any of you guys have? Does anyone else here find themselves in this situation time and time again?
Things would be so much easier if I could get DLA, but I applied in October and have been told it'll be at least May before they even consider my case At least if it does happen though I would get extra funding, housing benefit and a DSB...