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It’s always a nice sight to see your bank account full of money. Money that you’ve never had before, and more than three digits long. Student loans are designed to help you get through your year at university. With help from your student loan, you’re expected to be able to pay your accommodation rent, your bills, and buy your every day essentials.Truth be told, however, that sometimes a student loan may not be enough, and so a part time job comes in handy. Saying this, a student loan can last you as long as you budget properly.
Going out is fun, but not all the time.
A part of university life is being able to take part in freshers. Loads of places host student nights and special events to help you get to know people and learn the local area. Costs for drinks are usually a bit cheaper, and entry is either free or priced at a concessions rate. This is great at first, but going out every weekend, or even during the week, is a quick way to burn through the money you’ve been paid. I don’t want to be a spoilsport on this topic, because I love going out, but unfortunately, they can be costly!
The food shop.
Turns out, when you have to buy your own food, it becomes quite pricey. Gone are the days when Mum and Dad bought you branded products. To save money on your food shop, try looking elsewhere than what’s on your doorstep. Most supermarkets offer delivery, so you’re able to shop at a market that have the cheapest offers. Try buying market own brands: they’re a lot cheaper and taste near enough the same. Try and cut down on eating out at restaurants often.
The canteen.
Whilst the canteen on campuses offer the best-looking meals, it’s a shame the prices aren’t quite cheap enough. Occasionally, why not treat yourself to a full course meal? After all, we have to eat properly. But why not look at making your own meal back at home and bringing that in, instead? You’ll save a whole lot more, and if you get a group of you together it’ll be good fun. Eating every day in the canteen will soon drain that loan.
Takeaways.
Takeaways are super convenient, and they’re everywhere. You can barely walk down a street these days without seeing an outlet offering easy food. They can be cheap, but getting a takeaway every other night is not only bad for your health, it’s bad for your bank balance, too. With the savings you’ve made on your food shop, whip yourself up a meal just as good!
Student Discounts.
Take advantage of your student discounts! Download the apps StudentBeans and UNiDAYS and see what they have on offer. Their discounts range from 10% to sometimes 30%, and those discounts are on clothing retailers, supermarkets and beauty products. Honestly, it’s a great money saver!
Find yourself a part time job.
If you are coming to the end of your student loan, and realising that it doesn’t last forever, then you may be worried that you’re not going to be able to live for the next few months, until your next loan comes in. Don’t worry about it! There are plenty of part time jobs out there that would work perfectly along your studies. You could even be in charge of your hours, too, so you won’t miss out on socialising as a student. Many uni’s offer a careers fayre, where you can meet employers and find part time jobs. Try asking your local bar if they need help, or maybe even see if your university campus needs help.
Sacrificing the non-essentials.
True, we always need to have fun in life. We need those things that keep us going, to take a break from the stresses of study. But sometimes, overindulging drains your bank balance, and you need to cut back. If there are any subscriptions you had before uni that you find you’re not using anymore, then try and cancel them. There’s nothing worse than a direct debit leaving your account with a hefty sum of money that you could use for something else. It may be a hassle to get the problem rectified, but once it’s done, you’ll be glad!
Use the library.
Instead of buying books upon books that you may not even need to read, try and visit the library and rent out a book from the campus. You’d be surprised at the selection, and that is what the library is there for.
Of course, it’s up to you how you spend your money. After all, it’s paid to you. But if you do budget and work out what works for you, then you’ll be glad when it comes to the week before our next installment, and you find you’ve still got a comfortable sum left over!