How to manage your money while studying at university
From the moment your ‘A’ Level results are known to the final exam of your course, the question of money is sure to appear throughout your studies. Everything from the cost of a sandwich at the student union shop to working out how much your student loan will be worth will no doubt be at the back of your mind. If you’re worried about being able to manage the costs of living away from home whilst studying full-time or part-time, how do you look after what money you do have? Is it possible to afford the basics such as food and electricity whilst having enough left over to pay off your tuition fees? Could you have enough loose change to finance a night out in town?
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Top tips for budgeting during your course
This is often the most difficult bit to get right money-wise is budgeting. However, with a pen, paper and calculator or, better still, a blank spreadsheet to work with, you can make this mundane task a little less of a pain. To budget effectively, here are the basics:
Once you’ve worked that out, divide that estimated amount by three to have an estimate for each term or by the number of months you’ll expect to be in your accommodation for From the termly/monthly total, subtract whatever you expect to spend on rent, food, clothes, toiletries, entertainment and transport
It makes sense to subtract whatever you’re paying in rent from your termly or monthly income when budgeting. That way, you’ll know what you have left to work with for the rest, particularly food and transport. While we’re on the subject of food, it’s well worth setting a limit on the amount you spend on the weekly shop. If living in a flatshare, it’s worth buying staples like pasta, beans, cereal and tinned tomatoes in bulk if you can. This will save room in the boot of your car and save you a little extra on future shopping bills. A useful way of cutting down on food costs is to invest in appliances such as slow cookers. In a slow cooker, you’re able to make several portions of foods such as soups, curries, casseroles and stews, while sandwich toasters can make a quick and easy lunch on a lazy Sunday.
Student discounts in Leeds
Being a student-friendly city, there are many discounts available, whether or not you have an NUS extra card, student ID card or no card at all! To make sure you stand every chance of saving a few pennies, it pays to have both with you - an NUS extra card costs just £12 for the standard version and £14.99 for the NUS/ISIC one. With the NUS extra card, you can get discounts of anything between 5% and 35% on all sorts of things at a variety of shops, bars and restaurants. Just be sure to check websites and shop windows to see how much, if anything, you can expect to see taken off your final bill. Some venues, such as the Carriageworks and West Yorkshire Playhouse, offer discounted or even free entry to some productions if you have your student ID card handy. This means that, if you fancy a night at the theatre, you don’t need to take your NUS extra card! On campus, your cards can give you discounts at some of the shops for lunch deals, clothes, textbooks and stationery, but it’s best to browse before opening your wallet. Alternatively, coupon sites such as Groupon and PinkGorilla will have discounts for everything from three-course meals to haircuts and live music. NUS extra card Groupon Pink Gorilla Vouchers
