Budgeting for Students – Save Money in University

- by Becky Hall

Budgeting in Uni can be challenging. You want to have a good time, but before you know it, you’re out of money. Read on for a detailed breakdown of how to carry out budgeting for students. We’ll get you back on track in no time.

Cashfloat advise on budgeting for students


At Cashfloat, we believe that’s it’s important to teach positive spending habits to children from a young age. In the previous chapter, we discussed ways of helping your teenager to learn the importance of budgeting. Now we discuss budgeting for students. University is often the first place where a teenager will gain real financial independence. Read on for some great tips on how to manage money responsibly to avoid needing unsecured loans.

Budgeting for Students: Step 1

The first thing you should do is calculate your income; add together your maintenance loan, parental contributions, any savings you have (maybe from a summer job or year out), any bursary/scholarship as well as your wages (if you intend to find a part-time job). Don’t include any free overdraft facility you may have been given. Keep it for emergencies only. The total amount might seem a lot, but now you have to break it down into how much you’ll have to spend on a week-by-week, term-by-term basis. Suddenly it doesn’t seem as much as you thought so forget any ideas of hitting the shops. Be careful, as you don’t want to end up needing short term loans.

Cashfloat advise on budgeting for students

Let’s look at the different parts of your budget you need to consider – in order of importance.

Prioritise your Expenses – Rent & Utilities

You should set aside the money you need for the whole term’s rent straight away – ideally in a separate account to the piggy bank account for your day-to-day expenses. This way you won’t be tempted to fritter it away. If you’re living in university-owned accommodation in Halls of Residence, you’re at an immediate advantage. This is since the money you pay also covers the cost of all utility bills as well as internet access. If you’re staying in private accommodation, sums of money will also have to be put by for these bills although remember that students in full-time education don’t have to pay Council Tax. If you find your energy or phone provider is too expensive, you could change your tariff and/or supplier.

The insurer Endsleigh, have calculated that university students have an average of over £1,900 worth of (mainly hi-tech) belongings. Although your parents’ home insurance policy could cover you, it could affect their no-claims bonus. Instead, you can find specialist insurance geared for students for as little as £10 a month. If that seems a lot, think about what you would do if you had something stolen. Could you afford to replace it?

Cashfloat advise on budgeting for students

Budgeting for students: Food & Household Shopping

You should have learnt a few basic recipes in preparation for leaving home. Your money won’t last very long if you’re eating out every day. You can make easy savings and reduce your budget for food without eating unhealthily. Here are some simple food related tips when budgeting for students:

  • Draw up a weekly menu and sticking to a shopping list
  • Cook in bulk and freeze the extra portions
  • Shop in the evenings from supermarkets’ reduced sections
  • Bring in a packed lunch and take it in turns to cook with other students

As for toiletries, forget brand loyalty and take advantage of cheaper supermarket brands, special offers and vouchers.

Making Savings on Course Materials

How much you’ll need to spend on course materials, textbooks, etc. will depend on your degree. When given a list, speak to 2nd and 3rd year students to find out which ones are essential to buy or ask if you could buy second-hand from them (making sure it’s the right edition). Check to see if you can borrow any books from the library or if you could club together and buy them with someone else on your course. Make sure you get an NUS Extra Card and see if discounts are available for course materials.

Cashfloat advise on budgeting for students

If you need to present written essays and projects, it might be worth buying a cheap printer for the entire course since the costs can soon mount up when you pay for every copy. You can find printers for around £50 but make sure the replacement ink cartridges are also cheap.

Getting Around & About

If you’re living on campus, then your travel expenses will probably be quite low as you’ll find everything you need within easy walking distance. If you live further afield, think about the advisability of bringing your bike from home or buying a cheap and/or second-hand one. Ask if there are discounts for students on local buses and apply for a discount card.

For longer journeys, both the train and coach networks offer a Young Person’s Travel Card, which entitles you to a third off regular fares. Make sure you apply for them before you travel to take up your university place and don’t forget how much you can save by booking tickets in advance.

Cashfloat advise on budgeting for students

Making the Most of your Student Days – Going out

It can be very tempting to spend every night propping up the student bar. If you do so, your money isn’t going to last the month, let alone the term. Expect to spend more during Freshers Week but once you have a circle of friends, don’t imagine you have to go out every night to have a good time as you start thinking of other (cheaper) home-based activities.

Take advantage of cheaper entertainment organised by the Students Union and use your card for discounts at cinemas, etc. Sites like www.studentbeans.com have a variety of ideas for cheap days and evenings out. When you do go out, only take the money you can afford to spend in the evening and leave all your cards at home.


Clothes Shopping as a Student

When you’re budgeting for students, clothes shopping might be way down on your list of priorities. This might be the opportunity to check out what’s available in charity shops or on auction sites. Otherwise, you could shop at certain times of the year (such as during the sales) or request money instead of presents for your birthday/at Christmas. Clothes swaps and buying from cashback sites are also ways to clothes shop for less. Remember you’re a student – you could use this as the ideal time to develop your own unique (although not necessarily high-fashion) style!

What Can you do if you Struggle to Get by on your Income?

Unfortunately, in the ‘Which?’, research of April 2017, 15% of students said that they were struggling financially. What can you do if you’re one of them?


Conclusion to Budgeting for Students

This chapter shows that budgeting is important at every stage of your life. Lessons you learn about handling money when you’re a child/teen can stand you in good stead when you take your first steps on the path to financial independence at university. Once it becomes second nature, coping with a salary will be a piece of cake in comparison.

Hopefully, you will already have made your mistakes with smaller sums of money and learnt from them. Once you’ve mastered budgeting for students, you won’t require any same day funding quick loans.

Cashfloat advise on budgeting for students
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About The Author
Becky Hall
Becky transitioned from accounting to financial blogging unexpectedly after earning a first-class degree in Business and Accounting. Initially a freelance bookkeeper, Becky’s exposure to frequent cash flow issues among clients sparked her interest in financial education.
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