Community: Real Life

Student spongers


Jade

Jade, 20, studies journalism at Bournemouth University, loves everything about student life (besides the debt) and contrary to this rant, loves her friends.

Hi my name is Jade, I live in a mansion, I drive a convertible car and money is the least of my worries...NOT. I've had it with my friends thinking I'm Little Miss Moneybags.

I admit that when it comes to money I'm reckless; I always go over my phone bill, live in my overdraft and never EVER check my bank statements. Then there was the time I drunkenly hit the £50 button on the cashpoint instead of the intended £10. Judging by my empty purse the next day I did a good job of spending it all.  I don't think anything of buying new clothes and I'm always eating out, but I'm fed up with my friends judging my financial status. They have the idea I've got an incessant flow of disposable cash. Just to clarify, I don't. I just have a very large overdraft, live off beans and never buy bottled water.

They're more than happy to take advantage of me and will happily let me pay for the taxi on nights out, conveniently owing me later. I don't have the cheek to ask for it back, which I think they probably know - and make good use of.

And then there's the maintenance grant - an exclusive non-repayable lump sum available only to those with single or low-income parent. Luckily for me, I fit into both those categories and get the full amount. Apparently this means I should be grateful. Well thank you mum and dad for divorcing, thanks so much because now I get what I always dreamed of, a maintenance grant. I'm made-up your 25 years of marriage have gone down the pan, but hey, let's look on the bright side! Never mind that I don't have a job, our rent's going up and the electricity bill is through the roof. My grant might seem like a lot of money, but it really doesn't stretch far.

Even if I did, by some miracle, have a financial windfall, it would be my thoughtless friends who would deprive me of a luxury lifestyle. "Oh it's only Jade, she won't mind!" I get it all the time. "I hope it's ok, but I borrowed a bottle of your wine." Borrowed my ass. You've taken it (without my permission) drunk it (all) and have absolutely no intention of replacing it whatsoever. Cheers!

It might only be cheap corner shop wine, but it's mine and I paid for it with my money. Don't get me wrong, if she'd asked me for a glass I would have said yes, 'fill your boots, have two if you like' but the whole bottle? Is that not taking the piss just a little bit!?

"I'll have hit the menopause before I pay off my student loan, and just because I don't moan about it doesn't mean I'm not bothered."

Everyone assumes I'm hassle-free when it comes to money... I'm not. I struggle just as much (if not more) than anyone else. I just have a massive overdraft to disguise my poverty and, unlike my spoilt friends, my parents won't bail me out at the drop of a hat, so I've learnt to manage... on my own.

Living on a loan isn't great. And as for savings? Don't be silly! I'll have hit the menopause before I pay off my student loan, and just because I don't moan about it doesn't mean I'm not bothered.

I had to bite my tongue over dinner yesterday. My fortunate friend who has her tuition fees paid for her by her mum and drives a brand new mini cooper paid for by her dad, moaned that she only had £2000 in her savings. I had to restrain myself from jumping across the table and hitting her. What student has two grand sitting in the bank? Certainly not me.

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends, but, with all the taxis, the IOUs and the 'borrowed' bottles of wine, the time has come to draw the line. To my inconsiderate thoughtless friends I would like to say: I'm not a walking cash machine, stop treating me like one.

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