Gosling's Grouse: Introduction to debt

18-year-olds offered loans

One of my children reached 18 recently - a momentous occasion in any kid's life and similar for the parents, but the days when you sent them out into the world at this age are long gone.

I am not going to go into a rant about university fees, but guess what my child got a few days after their 18th birthday? No, not a bill from me for the cost of rearing - it was the offer of a loan from 118 118. At just 18 and still doing exams, if the average student debt will be about £50,000, then being introduced to debt and loans at a young age might be a good thing. And the offer was only for £5,000, not £50,000. At the end of the day, the government doesn't write to university applicants with the offer of a £50,000 loan as they apply. Gosling's Grouse: Time for clarity on inves...