How to avoid a bail-out from 'the bank of mum and dad'

One-in-four students seek "bailouts" because of hidden course costs they hadn't been told about when enrolling, says Liam Burns. "It all adds up" is a refrain many a glum student will be heard to utter towards the end of their first year at university. As summer approaches and money situations grow ever more parlous, the likelihood increases that parents and even more distant family members, or even commercial lenders, will be approached for bailouts. One might respond to this by bemoaning the irresponsibility of today's students, cast as latter day Jack and the Beanstalks, woefully mismanaging their finances. And yet new analysis from our Pound in Your Pocket student finance research suggests other factors are at play. Read more...