Living on your bursary?

[bacon_on_a_boat]

I've just been told that I'll get ?650 as a bursary which I'll have to pay my accommodation with, live on etc.

Can any previous Cadets please tell me if this is enough or do you really need a little extra to top it up with to survive on?

It's my understanding that the 1st year I'll be in halls, but there after do I have to get into a flat? how does that work with me being away for sea phases? can you still stay in halls if you find that easier? what did you do for the 2nd and 3rd years?

[dannyboy]

what bursary did you get

[alistairuk]

I've just been told that I'll get ?650 as a bursary which I'll have to pay my accommodation with, live on etc.

Can any previous Cadets please tell me if this is enough or do you really need a little extra to top it up with to survive on?

It's my understanding that the 1st year I'll be in halls, but there after do I have to get into a flat? how does that work with me being away for sea phases? can you still stay in halls if you find that easier? what did you do for the 2nd and 3rd years?

I guess it depends how much your accommodation will cost per month. When I started as a cadet 6 years ago, we received ?600 p/m - of this around ?450 was spent p/m on accommodation at the college - the remainder was spent on food, drink and random college essentials.

[mak]

It depends where you are I think. As south shields is such an *ahem* up-and-coming part of the country you can get a room in a flat for around 100-150 per month if you look around. With bills and food between four (for the sake of argument) this doesn't get much above 250-300/month all in and is therefore well within the means. It really depends whether you're going to be doing anything else; sports, keeping a car, visiting home a lot, going on the shot. These are the things you might be short of money for.

Some landlords will give you a half rate on a flat while you are at sea, although it is rare.

[ETwhat?]

Halls it will be managable although your not going to be living the highlife, Most people dont bother with renting a flat during sea phases, obviously that may vary if you dont have anywhere else to go it also means that you can save money for the next phase. Phase 3 and 5 most people rent privately theres advantages to this as your much more in control of how your money is spent, but at the same time, internet, tv, gas, electricity, insurance, food, cleaning stuff, all need to be factored into it and some come round in rather large lumps that need dealt with.Theres generally some space for returning cadets in halls but its very much on the terms that they dont need it for 1st phase people so not that easy to count on. I wouldnt agree with Mak's figures mine were certainly a bit higher but then again thats the advantage you can make it suit.

[mak]

Aye you should've seen the place though...

[ETwhat?]

Really i would rather not my biggest issue is i want somewhere that i can keep the bike off the road and that does become a bit of a limiting factor but will see what next year brings hopefully get lucky.

[Ganner]

Having just seen the size of a cabin at fleetwood and realising im expected to fork out around 600 quid a month for the privelege I am absolutley gobsmacked. There are three bed flats of a great standard there for ?500 a months it would be so much cheaper to rent privately it is obviously a money making scheme. 600 quid a month and you have to queue for a crap and a shower? Really un-impressed.

[chris]

wow ?600 for halls, I thought the south shields halls rate was high enough. The good thing about bursarys is that you get paid the same while at sea, so you can save some money.

[Ganner]

I get paid a full salary so i have no problem ffording it ist the fact i Have to live there but easily could live in a nicer cheaper bigger place! It grinds my gears

[dannyboy]

where did you get ?600 from, its ?440 a month

[Ganner]

This was from somone at the college hope it is wrong! ?440 is stll loads for a tiny cell like!

[dannyboy]

yeah but least we get breakfast and dinner with it

[Ganner]

yeah well see if thats worth it or not soon lol

[dannyboy]

and we are only going to be there for less than 6 months