The Higher Education Loans Board loan is very essential to university students and most of them hope that their applications are successful.
The loan is supposed to be disbursed to students' accounts usually at the beginning of the semester but in most cases there are delays occasioned by unforeseeable circumstances.
But for the successful students, the release of the monies is usually the best news ever. But then how do students spend this cash? Are they worth this loan?
There are indeed various ways comrades utilise these monies:
1. Paying fees:
This is important and very encouraging. Sh8,000 of the loan is automatically used to pay the university fee.
This is inescapable if you are a beneficiary. In addition to this, some students who are needy, use this cash to fully clear their fees, thus surviving on hand to mouth cash latter.
2. Accommodation:
For comrades who are unlucky to get on campus accommodation or for those who want to live a happy lifestyle, this cash comes in handy. They will rent a room near the varsity or in a nearby town to commute to college for classes. And with the shortage of hostels in many varsities, this money is no doubt a blessing.
2. Buying clothes and other luxuries:
This is mostly for the female students who need to change their wardrobes once they receive an alert the cash has been deposited into their account. They go for expensive outfits and ornaments. This is maybe to shine so as to increase their marketability for 'team mafisi' (a name used to describe guys who like girls).
For the male students, they spent this cash buying presents such as dresses and ornaments to impress their girls. This drains them in one week and you will hear them calling back home complaining they are already broke. Home theaters and TV sets are also included into the Helb budget.
3. Outing and alcohol bills:
This is the most loophole of the Helb cash! The university comrades are young people who love the raving life. They spend their cash in clubs and hotels, buying alcohol for themselves and their friends!
Surprisingly, some students applied for the loans even without the knowledge of their parents so money would still flow from their parents pockets.