Financial miracles

How on earth are we going to find enough cash for the last two years??

Loans and savings

• Unsecured bank loan.
• Career development loan.
  • DirectGov Career Development Loan Information
• Professional loan??
• Pooled savings? i.e. a bunch of students could put all their savings together into a single account.
  • Asking at HSBC drew some blank looks. The advisor said he hadn't heard of such a request before :-(
  • Could try somewhere a little more dedicated, like Coutts??

Loans available to Mixed Mode and mature students, via the BSO:

• "Osteopathic Student Loan"?
• Hardship loan.
• • DSA  - if you have a disability
  • Adult Dependants Grant  - if you have a partner who is does not work or is on a very low wage
  • Childcare Grant  - if you are a single parent and need childcare
• ...maybe more? Ask Sarah Matthews in room 3.06 or check direct.gov.uk

From Diana:

Tracey was telling me last night about a loan that Nat West do and I think Barclays as well. I haven’t looked into the Barclays one as I’m with Nat West currently but see attached. You can get 20k without having to pay back until you finish studying. It says you have to be in your second year of full time study to qualify but I think we’ll be ok as we will officially be in our 3rd year of full time.

http://www.natwest.com/personal/loans/g1/professional-training-loan/trainee.ashx

More from Diana (I'm paraphrasing here)::

According to Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com:

1. While you're studying, get a "professional training" loan from the bank, but leave it as late as you can, since you'll start accruing interest on it as soon as you get it.

2. Get a career development loan ASAP. This is interest free for the time you are studying, but attracts a huge rate of interest once you graduate. So.......

3. ......when you graduate, get a personal loan from a bank, and immediately pay off your career development loan. Your personal loan will have a lower rate of interest.

MoneySavingExpert article on Career Development Loans.

If you're eligible, sign on as soon as you can! Check out the Jobseeker's Allowance page on Direct.gov.uk

Transport

Apparently we're now eligible to get a 16-25 Railcard, even if you're over 25. Get the form from any rail station -- according to the railcard website, students aged over 25 cannot currently apply online. Bring the completed form into the BSO. You need to get it signed by Phil Heeps. You will also need to get some passport photos before completing the form.

You can get a magic number from the BSO Registry which will entitle you to discount travel using your Oyster card. Talk to anyone in reception. You'll need a registered Oyster card, so if you haven't done that, go to http://www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster and register there. You'll need the ID number on the back of your Oyster card. Also, you need to have completed your registration with Beds Uni!

Council tax

Time to get exemption sorted out!

Bank accounts

Time to ask the bank for a career development loan.