Richard, firstly I meant "assuming you" as a general thought, not personal to you, sorry if that caused a misunderstanding.
6.5k-7k was the amount guessed at by UCAS whenever I go information from them, for me, the break down of costs:
3.1k accommodation (ensuite but SC)
1.2k tutition fees
£120 or so TV license
£120 internet access/academic year
38 weeks shopping at £23 (give or take) + £5/odds and ends = £1064/38 weeks of academic year
= £5,604 so far
Books to date including purchasing off internet and ebay = approx £160
Various odds and ends throughout the year from stationary/stuff for myself/gifts = say £300
Remember I don't socialise but if I did at £10/week, = £380/year (most people I know obviously spend more than that)
= £6,444
I don't live cheaply but by no means do I live specially, if you say my weekly food bill is high, fair enough, but maybe others spend more eating out/socialising.
So for an academic first year, the amount stated by UCAS isn't far off. Not quite sure if you live very cheaply or if you are forgetting general costs.
I admire people who can do what you do, Helz did similar, I am not sure if I would have the motivation to do so.
My student loan would only cover my accommodation on it's own, I would then have to work to pay off the tutition fees and the other costs, possible of course but Blair IMO should make more funds available.
Anyway, the fact is, like I am trying to say, Blair assumes you have parental assistance, why do I know this? Why else would you have to apply for income assesed support? The fact is the government expects that in the main, the difference between the minimum and maximum would be made up using additional funds say from parents.