How do people afford college?

scullersky

How do people afford to live whilst in college?

Like if you were in a city you might have some hope of finding a part time job.. when your from the country its a lot tougher!

Do most people live on BTEA or get help from there parents?

DonT know how I am expected to live on BTEA!

1sparkey

Not going to lie to you its tough but doable, Im on it two years now and I was a good earner during the boom and after. You just have to adapt and give up your life for a few years. Personally I gave up smoking and drinking , plus holidays are a no go for another few years. The way I look at it , it will be worth it in the long run. Hope this helps and good luck.

Annasopra

Tommy-Kerry wrote: »

How do people afford to live whilst in college?

Like if you were in a city you might have some hope of finding a part time job.. when your from the country its a lot tougher!

Do most people live on BTEA or get help from there parents?

DonT know how I am expected to live on BTEA!

A lot of people live at home and their parents financially support them.

shruikan2553

Grant covers most of it and mum and grandparents split the rest. Im the only grandchild which helps. Even in the city a job is hard to find, why get a student when theres someone with the same experience able to work whenever they want.

Don Jon

I'd to turn down my place in DIT this year because my grant was taken from me due to transferring from a level eight to a level eight. Am attending the Dun Laoghrie College of Further Education for the year and taking an advanced entry into the course I was offered next year, saving thousands of euro and most probably guaranteed debt. Have to work consistently to meet rent, living expenses, etc, though which is going to be rough, but its only a year.

What I don't do this year I'll do the next when I know I've worked hard to get where I want.

Media999

Tommy-Kerry wrote: »

How do people afford to live whilst in college?

Like if you were in a city you might have some hope of finding a part time job.. when your from the country its a lot tougher!

Do most people live on BTEA or get help from there parents?

DonT know how I am expected to live on BTEA!

Not being funny but why could you not live on BTEA?

fermanagh_man

I was shocked when I moved to Dublin to hear about college costs today

I went to university in Belfast and got money thrown at me from grants etc and to be honest me and plenty others pissed it against the wall and didn't appreciate how good we had it

longhalloween

fermanagh_man wrote: »

I was shocked when I moved to Dublin to hear about college costs today

I went to university in Belfast and got money thrown at me from grants etc and to be honest me and plenty others pissed it against the wall and didn't appreciate how good we had it

Feck sake :rolleyes:

I work over the Summer and weekends. I live at home and have my living expenses free when I'm at college so it's not too bad.

I make about 700 a month from 17 hours a week.

scullersky

Media999 wrote: »

Not being funny but why could you not live on BTEA?

Hey

Its tough as college accommodation is a cripler, thats the biggest expense..

Media999

I understand that but if your getting 188 and paying 50 a week for a room and another 18 for bills thats 120 a week left.

Im on BTEA myself and honestly think people can get by. Not much spare left over but still get by.

I wouldnt not go to college because BTEA isnt enough or anything. Cant see why anyone would unless they get less for some reason.

longhalloween

Media999 wrote: »

I understand that but if your getting 188 and paying 50 a week for a room and another 18 for bills thats 120 a week left.

Im on BTEA myself and honestly think people can get by. Not much spare left over but still get by.

I wouldnt not go to college because BTEA isnt enough or anything. Cant see why anyone would unless they get less for some reason.

Depends where you're going I suppose. If you're in Dublin then its 80-100 for a room, maybe 20 for buses to college, another 15 for a bus home at the weekend and that's before bills, food, clothes and college expenses.

I remember being in UCD and wishing I was in Sligo as the cost of living was so different.

Henlars67

Tommy-Kerry wrote: »

How do people afford to live whilst in college?

Like if you were in a city you might have some hope of finding a part time job.. when your from the country its a lot tougher!

Do most people live on BTEA or get help from there parents?

DonT know how I am expected to live on BTEA!

Students without BTEA manage to live. I don't know how they do it.

I get BTEA and live on it.

€188
Weekly outgoings work out at roughly:
€100 rent-essential
€30 food-essential
€10 phone-essential
€15 ESB-essential
€5 Internet-essential
€10 Sky- luxury

That leaves me with €18 disposable income, but I'll get the fuel allowance from Oct to March which will leave me with €38 disposable income so I'll probably manage a night out every 2-3 weeks. Can't wait for that.

It's doable but difficult. You just have to cut out things you can do without.
The €40 a month I pay for Sky could be done without, but I'd rather have a few TV channels to help pass the evenings.

Going to try to somehow take out a gym membership shortly as well.

I manage my money much better now than I used to. Earned around €500 a week gross for years and thought it wasn't nearly enough and wasted all of it, and then found myself out of work when the bubble burst.

Had a great time and enjoyed life for a few years, but I'm happy enough to be scraping by now in order to get an education.

jessiblah

I've been looking for a job since the Leaving ended. Sure being in the city means there's more jobs, but with 95% of the employers saying "experience needed" it's not much use! I apply for anything I think I'd last longer than a week in, and I've gotten nothing yet.

I only qualify for half of the student contribution fees, so I'll be getting no grant. I get €90 a month from my family in total for everything. My bus fare to just get in and out of town to go to college is going to be €68.80 a month once I get the Student Travelcard. I don't have one yet, so this month is €73.20 instead.

By taking the bus at €68.80, that leaves me with €21.20 for everything else. Lunch, going out, clothes, birthdays, etc. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do come Christmas!

So to answer "how do people afford college?" I have no idea. If you figure it out, feel free to enlighten me.

zoeenya

We cant afford it thats the thing. I am from a rural place also, i live at home still, I am on btea. and i didnt get the grant so i pay for my fees out of my social. i dont know how it will go yet i have just started first year.

Henlars67

zoeenya wrote: »

We cant afford it thats the thing. I am from a rural place also, i live at home still, I am on btea. and i didnt get the grant so i pay for my fees out of my social. i dont know how it will go yet i have just started first year.

I get my fees paid for, but I pay out €100 a week in rent, so it should be doable for you since you haven't rent to pay.

Not easy and you won't have much of a social life, or maybe no social life at all, but it is doable and should be worth it in the long run.

Ridiculous that a mature student can't get their fees paid through a grant because they live at home.

dazftw

Its tough but doable like previous people have said.. I'm waiting on my BTEA and I'm on 155 a week so its way tougher at the moment. I moved from Waterford to Cork, my means should have been lifted straight away but here I am 2 months later waiting :rolleyes:

My budget goes as follows

€188

Weekly

€58 - Rent
€20 - House Bills
€45 - My Bills (Phone, Car)
€20 - Loan
€45 - Food

Basically I eat food and do nothing else. I could stop paying for the car and save about €30+ a week on tax and insurance, I don't actually drive the car I just pay to have the option if needed.

I can't afford college books and have spent about €3.40 on refill pads and folders for taking notes since I started :pac:

Once my BTEA comes through I'm going to really look for PT work. All you really need is about 80 - 100 extra a week and your life is so much easier.

BonkeyDonker

dazftw wrote: »

Basically I eat food and do nothing else. I could stop paying for the car and save about €30+ a week on tax and insurance, I don't actually drive the car I just pay to have the option if needed.

How often do you actually use your car - if its less than once a week then it may be actually cheaper to use taxis or if the journey is longer public transport. Sure its not as convenient, but neither is not having any money and that €30 would make a huge difference. You could even put €10 away for "transport" each week.

dazftw

BonkeyDonker wrote: »

How often do you actually use your car - if its less than once a week then it may be actually cheaper to use taxis or if the journey is longer public transport. Sure its not as convenient, but neither is not having any money and that €30 would make a huge difference. You could even put €10 away for "transport" each week.

I don't actually drive it unless I'm driving home to Waterford. I cycle everywhere.. I surf as well so that's why I like to have the option to drive.

Amirani

Do a J1, work your ass off and come home with enough money to support yourself for the year.

spurious

Let's take any rants about people receiving grants elsewhere. This is not the forum for it.
I've deleted some rants and replies.
Please stay on topic.