My student-friendly cost of living advice
Lily Harvey
Sport Exercise and Nutrition BSc(Hons)
Hello, I'm Lily and I study Sport, Exercise and Nutrition at the University of Huddersfield. Here are my tips that I use to make the most of my budget and fit in everything I need with the current cost of living.
Cost of Living
Perhaps one of the toughest challenges we face as young people starting our lives in the UK - the cost of living. Many of us remember the elation of finding fifty pence or a pound under our pillow when we lost a tooth. These days, that would barely buy you a can of pop.
Of course, there is an argument that going to university isn’t financially viable in the current climate. I would bid to argue that’s not the case though. Personally, I’m described (for lack of a better word) as a bit of a “stress-head”. If you’re not worried about it, I’ll be worried for you. Because of this fact, I think I’m qualified to assure you that uni is financially doable, and you don’t have to spend every hour of your day dwelling on money.
That being said, there are definitely some things I would consider before committing to being a uni student in the next year. Here are my top tips for a healthier bank balance as a current student.
In order to budget, you must first have somewhere to store your money. I bank with Santander and they offer some good student account benefits - like a free railcard.Making a budget
My first, and probably most important tip, is to sketch out a realistic budget per uni term.
If you receive a student loan, you’ll have a better idea of how much you will be getting per term, then take off rent/commute costs and you can then work out how much money you have per week until your next loan comes in.
This helps me stop panicking immensely, as although not every week looks the same financially, I have a rough idea of how much I have for food or if I can afford social events, etc. Then any money I receive on top of that from part time work is extra cash. I can then budget for trips, one off costs, birthday presents - anything that falls outside of weekly essentials!
Plan for the unexpected
Leading on from that point, plan for unexpected costs. An oxymoron, I know. How can you plan for unexpected costs?
What I mean is, every week I come across things I forgot to budget for: a bus ticket, new shampoo, an eye test. Little things like that, which you forget all about until you need them. I suggest either putting a little extra money aside before starting your weekly budget or adding an extra weekly cost to the budget called “unexpected costs”.
A question you might be asking as a potential student is “should I get a part time job?”. I have had a uni both with and without part time work and I can confirm both are doable.
In my first year, I did some student rep work for the University but as I knew I would want to visit home a lot, I didn’t partake in regular work. I had to be more stringent with my budget as a result and I made sure anything like essential clothing I needed, I asked for as a Christmas present.
It may sound silly but unexpected costs can appear at any time so try save or put some money aside to deal with those as they come along.I’m currently in my final year and have a couple of little part time jobs. Generally, I am someone who enjoys being very busy so I enjoy working alongside studies but my advice would be to allow two spare days per week, one to catch up on uni work, assignments and life admin tasks and one to take as a complete day off. This way, I find I can keep on top of my life, earn some money and not feel burnt out.
Charity shops and student discounts!
Shopping wise, there are things I do regularly to save money. For instance, if I need new clothes, I will first look in charity shops. A few shops in Huddersfield get donated old stock straight from retailers such as Topshop and Zara. I bought a winter coat from the local Oxfam shop the other day that was brand new with tags in, but a fraction of the price!
I also look for reduced items in supermarkets. If they are on the last day of the sell-by date, they’re often reduced very cheap and sometimes they can even be frozen and used at a later date. Finally for shopping, make sure to take advantage of student discounts. Many retailers have discount when provided with a valid student ID, so always ask!
You never know what gem's you can find in your local charity shop.Cost of living has been a challenge for so many of us over the past few years. But, with a bit of forward planning and practical problem solving, your university experience can not only be affordable but also incredibly enjoyable. Try and be sensible, realistic and ask for help where you need it and you’ll be absolutely fine.
Lily, final year student
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