Budgeting

Accommodation, food, books, nights out… You might be surprised how quickly it all adds up once you get to university – especially when you’re settling into student life, and managing your money for the first time. 

Did you know that – accommodation aside – the average student spends £247 per week? This skyrockets to £427 in freshers’ week alone (UCAS ‘Spend Student Lifestyle 2020’ Report).

Managing this cost isn't easy. Almost a fifth of students (18%) told us that financial concerns had impacted their mental health or wellbeing, while 6% of university dropouts were finance-related (UCAS ‘Freshers Experience 2019’ Survey – January 2020).

If the cost of living is making your next steps harder, read our support for dealing with living costs page.

Regardless of what student finance or extra funding you receive, you need to make it last. Luckily there are lots of tips, tricks, hacks, and helping hands for students living on a budget.

Did you know that three quarters of students who applied to a scholarship or bursary, were successful? (UCAS ‘Freshers Experience 2019’ Survey – January 2020). If you haven’t done so yet, explore these extra sources of funding.

Creating a simple student budget based on your income and outgoings is a solid place to start. This should cover your regular, ongoing expenses (such as rent, utilities, phone bill, and gym membership), plus any one-off or special costs.

Start pulling together a barebones budget as soon as you begin thinking about university. This will reveal which money holes you need to fill, giving you time to do so, or factor this into your university decision. Our guide on what to do if your student loan isn’t enough has some suggestions.

Our regional finance guides can give a rough idea of what your key income and outgoings might look like:.

• Student finance in England
• Student finance in Scotland
• Student finance in Wales
• Student finance in Northern Ireland

As you gradually narrow down your UCAS choices, and learn how much you’ll need to live on, you can update your budget to reflect this.

At the same time, you’ll get a clearer idea of your income (once you receive your student finance confirmation, applied for extra funding, saved up money from part-time/summer jobs etc).

While there are lots of budgeting apps out there, an Excel spreadsheet could also do the job. Banks have their own apps to track spending too.

Once you’ve created a budget, it’s just a case of sticking to it. 

It’s easier said than done when you’re in new surroundings, and looking after yourself for the first time – especially when that juicy student loan lands in your account. 

• Move money around: If your student loan, salary, or savings are sitting in your account, it’s just waiting to be spent. Move these into a separate account – ideally one you don’t have easy access to – and set up a direct debit that transfers your weekly budget into the account you use on a daily basis.
• Give yourself a buffer: Don’t budget to the very last penny. If an unexpected expense pops up – like repairing a laptop, or an impromptu trip home – this will throw a spanner into your budget. An interest-free overdraft can help with emergencies like this.
• Pay for essentials upfront: Your budget should prioritise things like rent, food, travel, and books – these are the items you must have to live and study. Buy these first or arrange for payments to go out of your account at the start of term/the month, so you can’t accidentally spend that money. 
• Stick to a shopping list: Plan your meals for a week, and build your shopping list around this. While items like milk, bread, fruit, and vegetables go off quickly, student staples like pasta, rice, tea, and canned goods have longer expiry dates (and can be bought in bulk if there’s a deal going). 
  
  It’s also cheaper to cook big meals from scratch and freeze leftovers – just make sure you defrost/reheat them thoroughly when it’s time to eat.
  
  Finally, don’t shop on an empty stomach – you’ll be less tempted to stray from your list. 
• Resisting treats and sales: Whether it’s a cheeky takeaway, a new pair of shoes, or gig tickets, it’s all too easy to part with your cash online thanks to apps, targeted ads, social media, and quick checkouts.
  
  Hopefully our advice around tracking your spending will curb these impulses. You can also mute retailers or brands on social media apps, unsubscribe from email lists, and delete your card details from your browser. If something catches your eye, sleep on it, and see if you still want it the following day. 
  
  Finally, avoid Black Friday sales unless you’re after a specific item (and you have the money for it). Keep an ongoing list of items you really need, and track their price over time to see if they’re cheaper at other times of the year.
• Track your spending: Almost nine in ten students said they used their bank’s mobile app to manage their finances, while nearly a fifth used an online only bank app to do the same (UCAS ‘Freshers Experience 2019’ Survey – January 2020). Set up alerts for weekly balance updates, every time you use your card, or when your balance falls below a certain amount.
  
  This way, you can see exactly where your money is going, and if you’re on track until your next student loan or payday. If you’re not, you can amend your budget.

One perk of being a student is definitely a student bank account. Save yourself time and effort by using your UCAS status codes when opening a bank account. These codes allow a number of banks to confirm your eligibility for their student accounts. 

As well as tracking your spending using your bank’s mobile app, and moving money between accounts, there are a couple more ways your student bank account can help you manage your money.

• Student accounts will boast fancy extras to catch your eye, such as travelcards, free/discounted cinema tickets, and supermarket gift cards. Don’t be swayed by these alone though. Think about which ones you’ll actually use.
• A travelcard could save you a small fortune travelling to lectures, going home for weekends, or visiting friends across the country. Meanwhile, a discount for a supermarket or cinema will go to waste if there isn’t a branch in your university city.

If you’re struggling with money, get in touch with your university or college’s finance department, and see how they might be able to help. You might have to book an appointment, or there may be regular drop-in sessions.

They can give you trusted, confidential advice around hardship funds, emergency loans, and extra funding, as well as advise you on other financial matters, such as scams.

They can also put you in touch with other appropriate individuals or departments, including legal, wellbeing and jobs services, should you need them.

Whatever your situation, they’ve probably come across it before, having dealt with so many students in the past. So don’t be afraid to reach out.

Need help budgeting? Check out our full guides to the cost of university and what to do if your student finance isn’t enough.