Cost of living
Discussion
Daughter is off to uni in September and I’ve been thinking about how much maintenance I should be giving her per week. I did a quick google to see average weekly spend in the U.K. on food and drink. Just £41 apparently. That is both in and outside the house.
Can that be right? I can imagine some people spend close to that just at Starbucks (one coffee plus snack a day)
Any idea how much you are spending on food and drink?
Can that be right? I can imagine some people spend close to that just at Starbucks (one coffee plus snack a day)
Any idea how much you are spending on food and drink?
Firstly - which town/University as that will make a difference.
1st year - assumption she’s in halls of residence ? Is that catered, or self catering ?
Not asking how much you earn - but that will also then in turn effect how much living cost/grant she’ll receive. Also ensure they budget for 52 weeks in a year/when not at Uni - as a good start to adult life etc
We pay for the food shopping/bit extra to top up her cash flow - she has to budget/plan on what she wants to do/go out to etc. she also has a job over summer so extra savings if she wants something particular.
Friends asked us recently how much we sent our daughter - as they were subbing their son by about £400 a month …. By sounds of it he was out a lot more/maybe far too often at their expense etc.
1st year - assumption she’s in halls of residence ? Is that catered, or self catering ?
Not asking how much you earn - but that will also then in turn effect how much living cost/grant she’ll receive. Also ensure they budget for 52 weeks in a year/when not at Uni - as a good start to adult life etc
We pay for the food shopping/bit extra to top up her cash flow - she has to budget/plan on what she wants to do/go out to etc. she also has a job over summer so extra savings if she wants something particular.
Friends asked us recently how much we sent our daughter - as they were subbing their son by about £400 a month …. By sounds of it he was out a lot more/maybe far too often at their expense etc.
I preface with I don’t really drink much any more and take aways are a once a month thing.
But about 50 quid seems about right for one person for food.
Mostly cook from scratch. Morrisons 3 for 10 pound sees enough meat for two for the week. That’s the most expensive part of the meal.
Probably do it cheaper if trying.
But about 50 quid seems about right for one person for food.
Mostly cook from scratch. Morrisons 3 for 10 pound sees enough meat for two for the week. That’s the most expensive part of the meal.
Probably do it cheaper if trying.
Edited by Tigerj on Wednesday 10th April 13:50
My Daughter who is in her final year at Oxford Brooks survived on £70 per week for food / going out. (we paid bills / rent, Uni material seperately)
There were times, such as the lead up to Christmas / end Year where we did occasionally double this as she had a number of events, however she apparently managed to survive on this OK.
There were times, such as the lead up to Christmas / end Year where we did occasionally double this as she had a number of events, however she apparently managed to survive on this OK.
Judging by the fact every time I get a shopping bag full from the supermarket it's £20 I'd budget several thousand a week!
How fecking much for chicken fillets?!?!?!?! robbing b
ds.
Anyway back to your daughter:
Monday Pizza £10
Tuesday Indian £15
Wednesday Chinese £15
Thursday Pizza, then beer and kebab £40
Friday Same as Thursday
Saturday Mcdonalds then beer and kebab £60
Sunday Chinese and cider £30
So around £200 a week
How fecking much for chicken fillets?!?!?!?! robbing b
ds.Anyway back to your daughter:
Monday Pizza £10
Tuesday Indian £15
Wednesday Chinese £15
Thursday Pizza, then beer and kebab £40
Friday Same as Thursday
Saturday Mcdonalds then beer and kebab £60
Sunday Chinese and cider £30
So around £200 a week
When my eldest was at Uni in Manchester 2018-2022, we didn't give her a weekly amount (occasional £100 here and there) and she took out max. student loans and worked in the holidays at Maccies.
Her weekly spending would range from £40 to £100 per week if she had a heavy few nights out
No idea what her total 'debt' is but she's a Transport Planner so will never pay it off nor will it be a huge chunk of her monthly salary either.
She now spends about the same (nights out dependant) and is able to save an amount each month towards a house deposit.
Her weekly spending would range from £40 to £100 per week if she had a heavy few nights out
No idea what her total 'debt' is but she's a Transport Planner so will never pay it off
nor will it be a huge chunk of her monthly salary either.She now spends about the same (nights out dependant) and is able to save an amount each month towards a house deposit.
Surely it will come down to her tastes/preferences?
I lived with someone at uni who had pasta and tinned tuna for dinner every day. Along with the cheapest cereal for breakfast and the cheapest loaf of bread for lunch. Yes... every day.
On the other side of the coin someone else I lived with would regularly buy a sirloin steak from the butchers for dinner.
I lived with someone at uni who had pasta and tinned tuna for dinner every day. Along with the cheapest cereal for breakfast and the cheapest loaf of bread for lunch. Yes... every day.
On the other side of the coin someone else I lived with would regularly buy a sirloin steak from the butchers for dinner.
Daughter at Uni in Newcastle. Lives in a house with 3 others. They shop and cook mostly together, she says they spend about £35 a week per person at the supermarket, plus bits and bobs at the corner shop. So prob £45 a week.
That's only the basics though, I know she spends a lot more on going out and posh coffee that she doesn't tell me about;)
That's only the basics though, I know she spends a lot more on going out and posh coffee that she doesn't tell me about;)
Thanks for responses. Quite a spread.
I was thinking £100 a week so it looks that it is being too generous.
Going to uni a very expensive experience. Ignoring the tuition fees it seem self catering accommodation (admittedly for a private room) is around £9k for 42 weeks. Then there is food, drink and entertainment on top of that.
She says she will get a job but I have mixed feelings. I would prefer her to focus on the course and make sure she does well.
I was thinking £100 a week so it looks that it is being too generous.
Going to uni a very expensive experience. Ignoring the tuition fees it seem self catering accommodation (admittedly for a private room) is around £9k for 42 weeks. Then there is food, drink and entertainment on top of that.
She says she will get a job but I have mixed feelings. I would prefer her to focus on the course and make sure she does well.
Skeptisk said:
Thanks for responses. Quite a spread.
I was thinking £100 a week so it looks that it is being too generous.
Going to uni a very expensive experience. Ignoring the tuition fees it seem self catering accommodation (admittedly for a private room) is around £9k for 42 weeks. Then there is food, drink and entertainment on top of that.
She says she will get a job but I have mixed feelings. I would prefer her to focus on the course and make sure she does well.
Getting a job is not a bad thing. They have plenty of 'spare' time, more than enough. A job can give them a sense of freedom and stress relief. Otherwise they spend a lot of time sitting around.I was thinking £100 a week so it looks that it is being too generous.
Going to uni a very expensive experience. Ignoring the tuition fees it seem self catering accommodation (admittedly for a private room) is around £9k for 42 weeks. Then there is food, drink and entertainment on top of that.
She says she will get a job but I have mixed feelings. I would prefer her to focus on the course and make sure she does well.
Skeptisk said:
Thanks for responses. Quite a spread.
I was thinking £100 a week so it looks that it is being too generous.
Going to uni a very expensive experience. Ignoring the tuition fees it seem self catering accommodation (admittedly for a private room) is around £9k for 42 weeks. Then there is food, drink and entertainment on top of that.
She says she will get a job but I have mixed feelings. I would prefer her to focus on the course and make sure she does well.
Plenty of hours in the week to work a bit. It’s a break from the studying and she isn’t 100% reliant on you and loans. I was thinking £100 a week so it looks that it is being too generous.
Going to uni a very expensive experience. Ignoring the tuition fees it seem self catering accommodation (admittedly for a private room) is around £9k for 42 weeks. Then there is food, drink and entertainment on top of that.
She says she will get a job but I have mixed feelings. I would prefer her to focus on the course and make sure she does well.
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