Australia has the same full-time study allowance (Youth Allowance). When I was at uni it was about $350 a fortnight. Enough money for rent in a share house, foo

Australia has the same full-time study allowance (Youth Allowance). When I was at uni it was about $350 a fortnight. Enough money for rent in a share house, food, a carton of cheap beer and perhaps some petrol. You could survive on it if you were frugal. The weirdest part was the means testing to make sure you were 'independent' and hence eligible to recieve the government money regardless of your parents assets. My parents werent poor but they were in no position to pay my living expenses whilst I went to uni. Proving you were independent involved showing you'd worked full time for over a year or earnt a massive amount of money in a short period of time (I cant remember exactly but it was around $15k). I worked 12 hour days at a factory over the summer break for 2 and a half months and with some other part time work managed to meet the income requirements. I started uni with a very healthy bank account. I just thought it was somewhat weird that I had to work so hard and earn so much money...so I was eligible for the government to give me more money.