It’s not a hidden secret that balancing your money during student life is one of the hardest challenges. University fees and student accommodation have become more expensive. Books and copies alone can run into the 100s of pounds, each. And sure, the `basic` range in most shops is cheap, but eating nutritious and healthy food (which is essential if you want to do well in your studies) comes at a high price. Then there are societies and social nights thrust upon you in Fresher`s Week that at first glance don`t seem too expensive, but add them up and suddenly, the money you came with might start to spend all too quickly.
If this is your first time living away from home, this article will be especially helpful. A system that needs to balance a new life and doesn’t have the income to support it can suddenly take a bit of a shock, but there are ways to keep your spending under control without limiting your enjoyment.
Read our best tips.
Make A Budget and Stick To It
Your reaction to this piece of advice may be “well, duh!”. But you’d be surprised how many students move away from home with only a minimal idea of how much money they have coming in… and more importantly how much they’ve to spend! There are plenty of tools to help you manage your money. Budgeting apps can help you stay on top of things by directly accessing your accounts and comparing your actual and planned outgoings. Whether you choose something high-tech like an app or something relatively basic like a simple spreadsheet listing your incoming and outgoings, the most important questions to answer are the following:
- What income do I have each month?
- What are committed financial outgoings (rent, bills, debt payments, etc.) do I have to spend more money than in my account each month?
- What expenditure do I have control over? (This covers all variable expenditure that is not committed outgoings, whether it’s food, clothing, or social funds.)
- What do I think I should be spending each month?
- What am I actually spending each month?
Answering these questions from the beginning will help you manage your money effectively. This allows you to explore the difference between how much you want to spend each month and how much you actually spend each month. If there is a discrepancy, or credits deviate from this calculation, congratulations! You are on your way to becoming a billionaire. It also helps you identify expenses that can be cut within your budget.
Remember: Everything Costs Money
We understand you understand this. But while dwelling far from mum and dad, you are probably amazed simply how plenty all of the little matters truly cost. You`ve in all likelihood already factored for your huge prices including rent, training fees, or even a weekly meals price range and social fund, and happy yourself that you may find the money for all of your outgoings. But new college students are frequently stuck out via means of the “incidentals”. That’s the here-and-there prices that might not have made it into preliminary calculations however nevertheless I want to pay for it.
Here are a number of the matters which you need to keep in mind to issue into your budgeting, and suggestions on retaining expenses down:
Utilities
If you live in a dormitory, you will pay for heating, water, electricity and even internet. However, if you live in a private rental, you will likely have to pay all of these costs. Gas rates can vary greatly depending on factors such as whether your home has double glazing and whether central heating is powered by a newer, more efficient boiler or an older, less efficient boiler. Electricity bills should be more predictable, and water bills can be metered or set at a flat rate set by the company. It can be difficult to accurately estimate these costs before you move, but you should pay close attention to the bills your family receives during the first few months and budget accordingly (given your heating costs will increase in winter). Most importantly, you and anyone living with you must agree to a plan that pays your bills on time and everyone pays the same share.
Grocery bills
Unless you’re at a full-service accommodation, you’ll have to take into account the weekly grocery and costs. But, like many others, these are “accidents” that can actually be summed up. Plan your store so you don’t run out of essentials like bread, milk, eggs, toothpaste, soap, and toilet paper (with roommates if possible). Regular visits to corner stores where things are more expensive can take a toll on your wallet.
Create a joint fund with your housemate. Each of you donates the same amount once a month, and everyone invests it in communal living. Five bottles of ketchup and milk taking up precious space in your refrigerator are useless. Buying things this way not only keeps things fair but also avoids over-purchasing and moldy products.
Many of the above don’t apply to you if you’re in a catering hall. But soon you can get tired of the same food served in the hall. “Unexpected” costs can increase over time and you will want snacks and snacks from the supermarket. Keep an eye on it – of course, you can self-medicate, but set a weekly or monthly budget and stick to it.
Commute
You’ll need to go to and from your student housing to classes most days unless you reside on campus. Bus rides will either cost a set fare or a fare determined based on how far you’re traveling, depending on where you live. In either event, an average of £1.50 per journey is fair for most one-way bus trips; this climbs to between £2 and £5 for a one-way train trip. You should expect to pay upwards of £30 for a return train ticket if you plan on visiting someone further afield – whether it’s your family home or pals in different towns and cities – and much more if you book closer to the day. You can minimize the costs and help plan for them by doing some or all of the following:
- Buy a 16-25 Railcard, if you travel by train. These cost £30 per year but offer a third of all train journeys so pay for themselves very quickly if you do a lot of traveling by rail.
- If you travel by bus most days, find out the cost of a weekly or monthly pass. Again the savings can be substantial. Even a day rover ticket can offer substantial savings if you make multiple bus journeys on a given day.
- If you’re traveling long distances, plan your travel in advance, compare ticket prices online, and book-specific journeys early. You can pay as little as £5-£10 for your long-distance journey, as opposed to the £50+ it will likely cost if you buy your tickets on or near the day of travel.
Study Material
Your university does, in fact, have a library. Yes, when you’re writing essays and require several references, this is a terrific place to go. No, it’s not a replacement for having the required texts for your module. The last thing you want to do in the two to three hours leading up to your seminar is frantically searching the shelves to see whether one of the three reference-only copies of your core module textbook has been returned so you can improvise a presentation. You’ll need to purchase books as well as a range of other supplies, depending on your course. Looking ahead and purchasing used textbooks from sites like Amazon and AbeBooks can save you money, but there are some textbooks that you won’t be able to get used to, and they can be expensive, costing upwards of £100! Keep in mind that course materials might be a major expenditure, so set aside at least £100 for each module in your budget.
Council Tax
If you reside in shared private housing, you should be aware of this as well. Students living in halls don’t have to worry about it because properties with all full-time students are automatically free from council tax. However, if you’re moving into a shared residence, be sure that everyone else is a full-time student. If even one of you isn’t, the entire household becomes liable for council tax, not just the tenant who isn’t in full-time school.
Socializing Expense
Let’s face it: a social budget is required. Even if you’re a bookworm, you’ll spend a significant amount of time spending meals and drinks out, as well as admission to places. This is going to cost a lot of money, especially in the first few weeks, regardless of how “cheap” the individual drinks promise to be. Looking at your bank statement and seeing how much you’ve spent on alcohol in the last month can be a sobering experience (pun intended). While your first reaction might be to promise yourself that you’ll cut back a little, you must also be realistic.
To Work or Not to Work?
This is the issue. Many students believe they do not have a choice whether or not to work. Despite the amount of debt you’ll accumulate as a student, your student loans are unlikely to leave you with a large sum of money in your bank account at the end of the month. Therefore, many students work part-time during their education and successfully balance their work and academic obligations. However, you should think about the requirements of your degree program as well as the type of work you wish to do. If you’re looking for work, keep the following in mind:
Is the job useful for anything other than making extra money?
When you’re looking for a job as a student, this may be the last thing on your mind, but you should think about how you may improve your CV while also making money. Student jobs that can help you progress your career after graduation aren’t frequent, but they do exist. Jobs as a research assistant listed in your department, as well as jobs with the students’ union assisting and guiding fellow students, look wonderful on your CV. While the latter is more likely to go to postgraduates, it’s still worth asking about: you may build a beneficial relationship with a tutor or supervisor, and you’ll probably need to work fewer hours for the same pay as if you were pulling pints.
What is the wage scale?
As a student looking for work, you may feel like your options are restricted, but don’t take the first job that comes up. Because your degree is your major commitment, you should consider how much money you need to earn each month and how many hours you’re willing to work to achieve it. If you work more than roughly fifteen hours per week, your studies are likely to suffer, so examine whether the employment you’re seeking will assignment help you achieve your objectives.
Are the working hours pleasant?
Bartending is a common student profession that can be socially enticing, especially if you get a job at a hip local pub that plays indie bands four times a week. Working in a pub or club, on the other hand, can lead to some extremely late evenings. And, because it’s safe to predict that you’ll have a few purely social late evenings in a typical week, it’s simple to run out of sleep and struggle to stay awake in class. Working in an office or in administration may be less pleasant, but it may allow you to get a better night’s sleep.
Is it possible to forecast the hours?
As a student, you’ll be more productive if you can arrange a set of hours or shifts that don’t conflict with your classes but still provide you with enough spare time to avoid burnout. If at all possible, avoid “zero-hours” jobs, which require you to work irregular, unpredictable shifts and result in monthly earnings that are unknown.
A Farewell Note:
Student life is among the most struggling phases of human life. Students who do not have strong financial support often end up feeling stressed with the thought of how to manage expenses. Thus, it was necessary to incorporate an article that has all the essential information about money, its management, and the essentials to see while seeking a job. Although managing a job is a bit difficult along with education, you can do it by hiring online dissertation help for dissertations and other academic writing tasks. This help will let you focus on your job without worrying about the grades.