Ripon Ray phoned in on LBC on Shelagh Fogarty’s show this afternoon to explain how he campaigned against the introduction of student loans during the initial period when the Labour government introduced tuition fees and removed student grants in the 1990s. His partner received full student grants, but by the time he started studying he had to take out loans to cover tuition fees and living costs. It took him over 20 years to pay off his debts. These included not only student loans, but also money owed to credit card companies and friends. This is his story!

Monthly Debt News looks at debts and the causes of debts in Britain from various sources selected for professionals to make the debt sector simple. This month’s Debt News in the new year includes the UK’s child poverty highest among the wealthiest nations, rent arrears high in many northern council tenancies, 28% of southern water companies going to service their debts,   Dutch firm challenge ULEZ fine in High Court, Labour considers student loan right off for NHS workers and bitesize stats to get an overview of the causes of debts in Britain. You can also catch up with previous Debt Talk podcasts if you have missed them.  ——————— Debt News ——————— Child poverty levels in the UK worst among world’s richest nations, UNICEF report finds Child income poverty rates in the United Kingdom were the highest among the world's richest countries, a report by U.N. children's agency UNICEF said, ranking bottom of the table for changes in those rates in the past decade. More here: Link ...

This week, on 12 February 2019, I talk about the cost of being a student. It's a well known fact that the life of a student involves getting into debt: you have to get a loan from the Student Loans Company, an overdraft or a loan from a bank. Maybe, your parents are the bank by default. If you plan ahead you may find ways to minimise debt accumulating. It does involve preparation, preparation and lots more preparation. If you plan early on you could sail through with comfort. For some of you g etting a part time job maybe inevitable. Why not try at your university or places near where you study to ease the financial pressure and save time? On this weekly show you can find out potential grants, scholarship and bursaries available for your course and how can get hold of these benefits. You might be able to get grants by searching on Turn2us.org.uk or individual employers may have funds. Budgeting money would also take you a long way. How do you budget? If you start budget...