Students: you can manage your money! - CFN Newsletter Week 130

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 130

> Crucial Credit Action advice for students on budgeting and debt
> News:
> Ex-Boyzone hellraiser says 'I owe everything to Christ'
> Christian Natasha hits top of the charts
> Christian illusionist returns in Monkey Magic
> Sites:
> Back to school - great sites for teachers and anyone leading RE lessons or assemblies
> Marriage MOT: Love ... believes all things
> You've got to laugh: A little humour and wisdom
> Members' Zone latest

> OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS WEEK

CPO: the UK's number provider of resources for churches. Special DVD package of The Passion of The Christ now available at http://www.cpo-online.org.uk

> FROM THE EDITOR

As our children start new classes, youngsters start at college and students head off for Uni, we've packed this issue with helpful advice on finance, and resources aplenty. Take a look below and don't forget to check out the website.

God bless
Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

Your feedback, positive and negative, enables us to develop CFN in the way that is most useful for you - so please tell us if we're off the rails or on the button!

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

ADVICE

Students - you can handle your debt!

THE vast majority of students starting university this September are going to end up in debt, according to money education charity, Credit Action.

But how much debt and how it is handled is key to a comfortable life, both at university and in the post-graduate future.

Credit Action, which has just published a special money advice booklet for students offers the following advice for undergraduates:

  • accept that debt is going to be a way of life for the next few years so don't panic about it – but don't go overboard either. Remember whatever you borrow will have to be paid back some day
  • make use of the cheapest forms of credit available, starting with interest-free overdrafts and Student Loans which will always offer the best deal.
  • shop around to see what the banks have on offer. Moneyfacts.co.uk offers an unbiased and expert guide to the best deals around, including student and graduate loans
  • budget - boring but essential and not the chore it used to be with lots of helpful websites doing the work for you. Try the one at support4learning.org which includes a cost of living calculator
  • be realistic when budgeting, there is no point in going through the process if you don't put down things you just know you can't live without eg coffee, text messages and social life
  • decide your priorities (which is one of the main benefits of budgeting). For example, accommodation is likely to be a major cost but also has a major impact on how you enjoy university. Only you can decide if you would prefer to live close by, where rents are likely to be higher, or, subject to local transport, somewhere cheaper but further away. Is having your own room vital or are you prepared to share?
  • don't re-invent the wheel - there are masses of sources of help out there. Make use of them. Most banks, colleges, student unions etc offer advice about student debt/money. A lot of it is easily accessible on the net so it is easy to peruse
  • and finally, parents can help and sometimes in ways which aren't obvious. For example, if you want to insure something valuable like a laptop (and it is a good idea), check if this can be added to an existing policy of your parents. Remember your parents have something which you don't: a financial history which means they can often get better rates than you.

Try and keep debt in proportion. This year's entrants are expected to graduate with debts of nearly £13k (2004 NatWest Student Money Matters) but it is also estimated that graduates will earn 20 per cent more.

If you do start to worry about money and debts, don't panic. Speak to the college's student welfare officer or contact the Credit Action helpline on 0800 138 1111.

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Ex-Boyzone hellraiser says 'I owe everything to Christ'

Shane Lynch, former singer with Irish boy band Boyzone, has been relating his faith journey in the West Country this summer, telling of his transformation from a hard-drinking 'Mr Angry' to a dedicated Christian.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Christian Natasha hits top of the charts

Natasha Bedingfield reached the number one spot last month in the Top 40 with her second single These Words.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

> Illusionist returns in Monkey Magic

The second series of popular offbeat magic show Monkey Magic - starring Christian illusionist and evangelist Peter McCahon is now running on Tuesday nights at 8.30m on Channel 5.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

Love …… believes all things, and hopes all things

Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to see the good in your spouse or perhaps to listen to them when they tell you the good they see in you.

When things are going wrong it’s so easy to get discouraged. How often, at such times, couples think – “We did the wrong thing. We weren’t meant to marry”.

Hope goes out the window and they turn away in despair. What it is to be able to hope when things look dark, to believe in the other and their potential to change and grow.

One of the things that has made the most difference in my life has been my husband’s willingness to see the potential in me that I cannot. He has encouraged me and cheered me on to overcome my difficulties. When I have been in the depths of PMT or deep in a hole of self pity, he has quietly gone on believing that I will come out of it. He has held on to the picture of the girl he knows I can be. His love has been the light that has driven away my darkness.

What a gift to give your husband or wife – to believe in the wonderful person that they can become!

> EVENTS

Catch up with the latest including Dianne Parsons' Motherhood tour and How to drug-proof your kids at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp

Send your family/church event to info@cfnetwork.co.uk for a free listing.

> SITES WORTH SEEING

Back to school:

The comprehensive UK site for Christian education resources, support, training and events - bringing together the expertise of The Independent Schools Christian Alliance (TISCA), Care for Education, ACT (Association of Christian Teachers), The Stapleford Centre and many others is at www.transforminglives.org.uk

Also for professional Christian training and resources for schools, check out www.e-stapleford.co.uk, and RE teachers should head for the REthinking Network at www.rethinking.co.uk

For Christian analysis and critique of contemporary films, TV programmes, books, music and more, check out www.damaris.org

Recently retired from education? The Senior Volunteer Network (SVN) helps people who are retired from jobs in education to offer support to education projects all over the world. Head for www.svnet.org to find the latest opportunities

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad.
Salvador Dali

Sacred cows make the best hamburger.
Mark Twain

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
Charlie Brown, "Peanuts" [Charles Schulz]

Calvin: People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world.
Hobbes: Isn't the zip on your trousers supposed to be in the front?
Calvin & Hobbes

For more humour and wisdom, check out our Resources section

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Students - you can handle your money!
> The A-Z of student finance
> Eric Spellmann on PC cookies and pop-up adverts

> Kate's Marriage advice - Love ... believes all things

> Resources

> Humour and wisdom for your week
> New Christian adoption conference

> News

> Ex-Boyzone hellraiser says 'I owe everything to Christ'
> Christian Natasha hits top of the charts
> Christian illusionist returns in Monkey Magic

> Sites:

> Back to school - great sites for teachers and anyone leading RE lessons or assemblies

> Events: What's on near you

> Webwatch index: more than 700 sites categorised at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

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