Higher Education Case Studies
Mature student struggles to support four children
My marriage broke down in my first year of study as a mature student, leaving me with four children in short term housing. For a while, my ex-husband paid maintenance but this soon stopped, leaving me and the children to survive on my student loan, grant and part-time earnings. Soon I had to apply for an emergency grant and went to see the Money Doctors.
With all my work and family commitments, it was hard to come to surgeries and group sessions, so I talked to the Money Doctors each week by telephone, text messages, and emails.
With the help of the material I received via email, I did my own financial statement, dealt with benefits agencies, and learnt about budgeting and personal finance. This helped me deal with my next student loan instalment much more effectively. I gained enough confidence to look at income generation with the careers department and access support agencies for help with domestic violence issues and I’ve even started to plan for the future, investigating investments and savings for when I finish my studies and take up full time work.
Other case studies
Student with spiralling debts put on the road to recovery
Confronting debt at the final hurdle
Read Lisa's case study
Tackling the anxiety of catalogue, mortgage and credit card debts