child maintenance...how long?

Foppish wrote:

are your children to completely fund their own way through university then MisterX and/or housing themselves the day after their last A-level is sat?

excellent, very robust parenting.

Its a bit of an unfair comment ......... even if some parents were together and not divorced they would struggle to fund all their children through University.

I don't think it should be taken for granted that parents can afford to do this - whether married or divorced.

Parents often help out any way they can voluntarily, any decisions where a big expense over a long period is required (such as a Degree Course)should be discussed prior to committing to, as a family (or at least with all concerned) regardless of CSA or CM legalities/requirements - its just the right thing to do.

I think financing your way through Uni should be a combination of parental support and paid work for the student, it can't be an expectation that parents will foot the cost regardless without talking to them first.

WR

I think since the grants stopped and loans started students are classed as independent, but I might be wrong.

I agree its tough.

My ex stopped paying as soon as he could and I have spent the last 5 years supporting my son through uni without any financial help from my ex.

However I was aware that the CM would end and that was part of the discussion with my son about how we were going to fund him through uni. Truthfully without my parents support I would have never managed.

Foppish wrote:

sorry - personal experience clouding judgement - so perhaps it is unfair, but it is rare that children become compeltey self-sufficient immediately after their exams. and someone has to foot that bill - I have just read a few too many "how soon can I stop paying" posts today.

Completely understand after reading your post.

I never went to Uni myself - neither me nor my parents could afford, I went straight into the RAF from school. Have had a full time job ever since.

My comments were on my friends who have children of that age and the discussions they have about Uni (again married or divorced Mums and Dads) on how this will be achieved.

Maybe I give posters the benefit of the doubt and assume once they've stopped paying the 'compulsory CSA or CM payments' it doesn't necessarily mean they'll stop supporting their child(ren)

However I do believe parents should encourage children (teens) to get part time work to teach them the value of money, the ethics of working and paying their own way. This isn't replacing parental financial support, but stops the whole 'Bank of Mum or Dad' mentality.

WR

Other factors to be borne in mind:

Vacation jobs are nowhere near as easy to come by now. Some universities have a policy of employing students on campus and they may be lucky enough to get one of those jobs.

Students need somewhere to go during vacations and they need sustenance. It's great having them come home for holidays because when they've flown the nest for the last time you'll have plenty of time to reflect and miss the days when they were home, playing loud music, driving you crazy and eating you out of house and home.

It's a fantastic feeling on graduation day when you can be so proud of all their achievements knowing that without your support most of it would not have been possible.

Funded 3 degrees, 1 year law school and 1 MA by topping up loans.

Mitchum