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Being a parent is a demanding job and it takes a lot of hardwork to successfully help your child through their education up to the point they’re ready to go to university.

They may still be your child, but now that they’re a young adult, your teen may be craving the independence of moving out of home and starting a new life as a student.

Starting at university is a massive milestone, and a crucial stepping stone for your teen to enter the next big phase of their life. While your teen may be ready for their independence, they will probably still need a helping hand from you as they prepare to head to uni. Here are some of the ways you can help to make the transition to university as smooth as possible for your teenager:

Start Looking for Student Accommodation Early

It can be tempting to wait a while before your teen even begins to think about their living arrangements for the new academic year. However, getting ahead of the game and looking for student accommodation as soon as you can will help ensure your teen has the biggest amount of choice and a better chance of getting their preferred housing choice.

Working with a letting agent that specialises in student accommodation is an excellent way to find student housing faster. Plus, the lettings agent will provide a helpful go-between for your teen to contact if there are any issues with their accommodation, rather than being dependent on a landlord.

Get Them Cooking Independently

If your teen is used to having their full bed and board provided for them, they may be in for a shock when they start at university and suddenly need to do everything themselves. Being unable to cook for themselves may mean that your teen fails to take care of themselves properly and relies on convenience food while they’re away from home. It also means they’re much more likely to fritter away their student loan on takeaways.

Teaching your teen how to make some basic, low-cost meals will be much better for both their health and their bank balance. To get them off to the best start with their newfound cooking skills, it is helpful to send them to uni with a care package filled with store cupboard essentials, such as pasta, rice, and canned vegetables.

Teach Budgeting Skills

One final way to prepare your teenager for university is to teach them how to budget. Your teen may not be able to find a student job right away, so knowing how to manage their money effectively is a crucial task. Showing them how to create a realistic budget plan and then how to stick with it will help them to make their student loan last throughout the year. This should include their living costs, money for books and study equipment, and food. Of course, budgeting is not just a skill needed for university, it’s an essential skill they will need to use throughout life.

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