Letter: Of course students meet these costs

OPINION: Mauveen Millar (Letters, March 13-14) responded to a comment about students surviving on less than National Superannuation by asking "but do they have rates, insurance, health problems, power, phone and upkeep of a home to pay for?"

The answer, as she would realise if she thought about it, is "yes".

Of course students must pay power and phone bills.

Being in rented accommodation, they don't pay rates, house upkeep or house insurance directly, but they certainly pay for them through their rent.

And as renters, they also pay extra to cover the landlord's profit.

Most don't have serious health problems but, as a student, I was one of the minority who did.

And I get annoyed with older people who have developed a serious health problem for the first time and assume that this is something everyone of their age has, but something no younger person could possibly have experienced.

CAROLINE GLASS

Kilbirnie

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Tyler   #2   09:04 am Mar 21 2010

Students do often pay contents and renters insurance, plus car insurance if they own a car.

Bruce   #1   09:29 pm Mar 20 2010

I suppose we could cut Super down to the student allowance rate and force them to take in boarders and work part-time to cope - as students do. One thing is people are only able to cope with low income living for a few years - for the student it is part of an investment in a better future, not how they spend the last 20 years of their life.

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