Decision

[trouble]

Ok this might be a bit random but i have a bit of a strange dilema.

As far as i understand after the summer break of at the end of year 2 my course doent really have much free time for travel/work ect. Thing is i badly want to get some traveling done before things get harder than they are already.

The qn is....is it worth getting into debt to go travel over what at the moment feels like my last free summer for quite a while?

I know this isnt a cut and dry answer thing but just wanted a to hear some other peoples thoughts on it.

Thanks

[Diya]

Depends how much debt you're talking and what type of a loan. If its a low-interest loan and you're going to do something that needs over 6 weeks to do, then I'd go for it. But you still get up to 1 month at a time (factoring in resits) even in later years so you'll be able to do regular holidays

[trouble]

It would prob be a proffesional studies loan. I would take out enough to clear mine and my partners debt and enough for us both to go away for at least 7-8 weeks, south america im thinking.........

Its not so much a holiday that im after, as some really proper traveling and some volunteering if we come across something suitable on the way.

I swing between graduating with only student loans and the great feeling of being mostly debt free and having really itchy feet and feeling i need to get away while i still can.

[Renal]

Remember you do an elective - designed for travelling if you want it to be.

Otherwise, it makes little difference whether you get into debt in year two or year three, similarly it makes little difference whether that's £10k or £12k of debt.

Be aware that the banks have limits for PSLs, HSBC for example will only give them to 4th years and up whereas Nat West will give them to 3rd years.

[jaanus]

take a loan to go traveling?
seems kind of a... umm a bad excuse to take a loan in my personal opinion.
I would just try to save some money up and go in a few years. And I am sure you will still get holidays afterwards...
systems differ in different countries of course(I, myself, am studying in Estonia), so I should probably not say anything :P
I believe we get at least 2 months of holidays until the end of year 6, unless you work during summers or fail some exams twice in the spring exam periode

[trouble]

It is different in the UK. At glasgow we dont get more than 3 or 4 week off at any one time as of the start of 3rd year (we only do 5).
Thing is its not a holiday in the traditional sence of the word me and my partner want, we have traveled quite a lot in SEA and really want to see south america before i get so trapped in the career path that taking any real time out would make it difficult to get back into training schemes. Ideally we would travel and work together for a year or more but realisticly 3 months during this coming summer is all we could really do.

Anyway, i know its not the most important of posts, really just wanted to see if other people thought a bit like me in the fact than money isnt everything (therefore debt isnt either) and that life is for living and experiancing as much as reasonably possible. Or maybe im just a bit unbalanced......................

[simple]

your not unbalanced, if i were you i think id say sod the extra couple of k debt and go for it. lifes about your experiences not money and even a couple of months in south america would be fantastic (can you tell that im slightly envious!) go for it, to use an old cliche 'you only live once!'

[Madimi]

HSBC do give PSLs to first years - I know a few people who have managed to get one. I was told yesterday though that they wouldn't consider me unless I was prepared to use my mum and dad's house as security!

[Renal]

Originally Posted by Madimi

HSBC do give PSLs to first years - I know a few people who have managed to get one.

That's odd, two of my mates had to switch to Nat West so that they could get at theirs last year.