Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Further to a recent enquiry from a poor student about skiing costs, could I just point out that the easiest way to afford a trip to Bulgaria is to get a job and pay for it like the rest of us. I've been doing it for the last 27 years and whilst it's not a totally new concept, I do find that the little things in life are more attainable. Also, if you stayed at home and studied a bit more you might stand a better chance when it comes round to exams/finals. Furthermore, if you tried to live a little more within your means you might find that you don't have to constantly bore the arse of others about student loans and how the country owes you a living. Cheers have a nice holiday.

When I was at uni I got a full student grant (no loans then and no fees to pay), I was able to claim unemployment during the summer if I wasn't working and I was able to claim housing benefit.

Back then my digs were dirt cheep and very comfortable - £25 a week half board, an extra £5 if I stayed the weekend, and I had a part time job in the students union.

This was only 17 years ago.

I started uni with nothing and finished with a couple of grand of saving... From my university education I now have a well paid job and pay substantial taxes which have more than offset the original costs of putting me through uni.

The story is slightly different now, no benefits to claim, grants all but gone, fees rising year on year and the cost of digs unbelievable!

My nephew finished uni last year with a masters and a £20K debt. He had to work around 20 hours a week in order to make ends meet on top of putting in long hours for his studies. He's now doing voluntry work in the third world as he wasn't able to get a job at home partly due to the number of people coming out with high class degrees now.

It's a bit of a dichotomy that a degree should cost so much now but be worth so little...

Yes some students may swing the lead but the vast majority work hard, have a low standard of living, and will be in debt for most of their lives.