Part Time Work And Finances - Help Needed!!!

**nursesteve** · 10-09-2005, 01:03 PM

Hi,

Having stressed about getting in, and then meeting the conditions of my offer, I am now stressing about finances when I am actually there. PLEASE HELP!

I will be over 25 on entry (2006) and therefore able to get the full student loan. I have no idea how much this works out at. Can someone help. I think it should be around £4k for the year. Is this every year?

Furthermore, I am able to work part time as a nurse and COULD do two shifts a week and miss some lectures (not many) and make up for this with self study and have over £650 a month every month term time and able to make more money in the holidays (rest and academic work allowing). I also want a social life and have time for band practice and are scared that work work work will mean no social life but are also scared that without at least work work there will be no social life or food without the money. Am i better off living on the student loan and doing the odd bank shift (worth about £100+ a time) every week say to supplement my earnings? Oh reading this it looks like flexible bank work would only make me about £50 a week worse off and thats not too bad.

I hate this juggling lark. HELP!

Yours, a concerned Steve

x

**Hopeful-1** · 10-09-2005, 01:48 PM

Hi Steve,
I guess that would depend on whether you were an individual or supporting a wife/family. To fund me ( my other half can look after himself) I am looking at about 600 a month- that would include 225 for rent, 20 for utilities, 120 for food, 40 for peterol and 195 for expenses ie car insurance, the odd night out, text books, mobile yada, yada, yada. So thats about 6000 a university year (10 months). Although I can get the full student loan (around 5K) I'd like to be as debt free as possible so I am going to try and squeeze in 15 hours a week which should just about cover my monthly expenses and a little over for a rainy day plus have my student loan in the bank on hand.

Although I am embarking on the GEP course I have experience of working in excess- I have just finished a part-time post-grad study whilst working in a full-time management position. I also finished my full-time BSc while working 32 hours a week. It can definitely be done and I wouldn't say that I missed out on too much party time either.

So what am I trying to say? Give it a go, try working as much as you think you can handle- if it works out fine and you find balance- then congrats you. If you don't then reassess and try another way.

All the best,
H-1

**medics_rule** · 10-09-2005, 02:12 PM

Steve how about working a couple of nights a week eg Friday, Saturday then you wouldn't have to skip any lectures. Have you tried getting on the Nurse Bank at Hallamshire, Northern General, Thornbury?

**WAMS** · 10-09-2005, 04:41 PM

First off - don't panic!

I don't know what your situation is, but I don't have anyone else to look after (eg partner, kids, dog, budgie etc.). I manage to get by with my student loan and working duirng the holidays (I work as an auxillary on the bank). During term time I don't work (I'm doing far too many other things!!), but it kind of evens out following the summer.

Maybe this is a potential problem with mature students - you're used with having a steady income!! Whereas I've never had any money at all, so don't miss it!!

I'd join the bank and do the odd shift at the weekend and maybe during the week. Even if you get 12 hours in a week, on top of your student loan, and cutting back on some luxuries, you'll be fine. I wait until Christmas to get clothes/CDs/DVDs etc! I'm not a person who needs to buy the latest clothes or CDs. I do however like my beer, which is where some of my money goes on! ;-)

**nursesteve** · 10-09-2005, 05:28 PM

thanks you guys. working nights is the devil in human form.... i hate nights. so not an option! my partner has agreed to support me at med school and by that i mean pay the rent and bills and food etc what i earn is just for me (going out, petrol for car when i learn to drive and get one, life, clothes) which i think is really nice but in return he wants an assurance that i will buy him a Mercedes when I am earning the good stuff. Seems fair. So i have had a fink and will tell hospital that i will do one shift a week definate on a part time permanent contract and pick up the odd shift as overtime. this should net me about £90pw term time and potentially over £350 a week holidays. i think thats reasonable for pop and crisps money as my nan would say and i can bank the student loan for a rainy day or a lovely holiday every year. me thinks this is the plan. thanks again

**medics_rule** · 10-09-2005, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by nursesteve

he wants an assurance that i will buy him a Mercedes when I am earning the good stuff. Seems fair. I can bank the student loan and use it for the deposit

I'm sure this is what you mean't to type Steve

hee hee