Student Survival Tips

Hello there! Welcome to my handy hub for students. Here you will find hints and tips about how to make your money go further whilst you study, as well as offering advice on surviving the university experience as a whole.

I do hope you'll find the advice useful, feedback is greatly appreciated in that sense.

Let's be honest, it's a pretty difficult time for students at this point in time. With the credit crunch affecting everything from the price of food and fuel to the attitudes of banks towards overdrafts and credit cards.

One of the biggest aspects of student life is making sure you're well fed, and this can be difficult if you're short of cash. But before you even think about selling your Playstation in order to be able to eat, it could be worth double checking at the supermarket.

During these difficult economic times, some supermarket chains are constantly having to review their prices in order to get us into their stores, and this can prove advantagous to you and your weekly shop. Many stores will have buy-one-get-one-free offers on a wide range of products to tempt us through the door - ranging from food and drink to cosmetics and everyday household essentials.

Indeed, it is best to make plans for weekly meals in order to ensure that your spending levels are kept healthy, and try not to buy more than you have planned to get (I find shopping on an empty stomach to be the biggest factor)

Frozen food stores can be lifesavers for students, BOGOF deals from these can be useful in helping you accumulate a good amount of stock in the freezer, or offer products which can be used for making further meals to freeze - I find frozen mince and chicken breasts are useful for this purpose.

Also, keep an eye out for any price changes - usually to be found in the leaflets that drop through your letterbox, usually tucked into the local free paper - and don't discount the cheaper stores, for they may just have what you are looking for at a cheaper price.

So, Christmas is over and you're most likely on your way back to halls in the New Year, full of home-cooked food from the festive season and looking forward to swapping Christmas stories with your mates. Oh, and there's also those mid-January exams to get out the way before the next sememster.

Now, you may have made a New Year's Resolution this year, usually along the lines of lose some weight or cut down on your drinking. However, one of the main resolutions you should think about making is to sort out your financial situation after the Christmas period.

You may find yourself living off interest free credit cards throughout the semester, and whilst these may be useful for short-term payments and for surviving throughout the year, paying them back can be a daunting process. However, it doesn't have to be a taxing process, here are a few tips for helping you to pay it off quicker:

• Prioritise your payments - try and pay more than the minimum payment each month if you are able to do so, by doing this you will not only be paying off the debt quicker, but also showing that you're able to prioritise payments, which could help with future borrowing.
• Find some extra income - whether this involves getting a part-time job whilst you are studying or using the internet to rid yourself of some unwanted items, you should always consider how much you are bringing in, rather than spending on yourself.
• Avoid impulse buys - do you really -need- that new CD or DVD, can you wait til you're a bit more financially stable before purchasing it? Who knows, maybe it'll end up being cheaper in the sales, thus saving you a bit of money, or perhaps you could borrow it off a friend in the meantime (just make sure you give it back afterwards)

By thinking a little bit more about your finances and making sure that your payments are kept up to date, you can help ensure that the New Year will go smoothly and hopefully will be more financially stable for you. 

We all know that it's important to make your money last as long as you can when you're at university. This can affect everything from the food you eat to the little things around the house - such as toiletries and essentials for the house.

When it comes to cosmetics and toiletries, look for cheaper options with regards to things like mascara and make-up. You may rely on the expensive stuff to make you look like a million dollars on a night out, but you don't exactly have a million dollars to spend now, do you?

Look for multi-packs on large items such as kitchen and toilet paper, and don't be afraid to turn to the supermarket own brand in order to save a few pennies. Many supermarkets have BOGOF offers on, which can be useful for products which are tinned or dried, and also for those little essentials for around the house.

When it comes to studying, resources are an extremely important part of the process. Whether you're studying art or nuclear physics, the availability of textbooks for your chosen subject can depend on what you've chosen to study.

University libraries are excellent for reference materials - such as journals and almanacs - but with such a volume of students studying the same subject, research material can be difficult to find at times.

Many students choose, in this case, to purchase the textbooks for themselves. This can be an expensive part of the university lifestyle, and some older texts will be out of print (and of course, in demand at the library)

Even art materials - whether pencils and canvasses or clay and paint - can be expensive, many departments will provide materials for students for use on the premises, but for coursework and projects outside ofthe campus, the costs can soon mount up.

Many turn to online bookstores in order to find titles using ISBN numbers, whilst also offering the chance to sell your old textbooks to fellow students through your own personal reading list.

When it comes to shopping for supplies, your student discount card can be a godsend, many bookstores will accept discount cards, although for rare titles it's worth venturing to smaller bookshops - you might even find little surprises that can help with your research.

So you've finished your first year at university, if you were one of those who managed to get a place in the halls of residence for your first year, then good on ya! However, after that first year with your new flatmates it's time to move on again - and it's time to venture out there and find a place of your own for the next couple of years of study.

Finding a new home around your city of study can be a scary and complicated procedure for some, however there are a few things you can do to simplfy the process for yourself.

• Set yourself a budget - there are a variety of different properties available for students, from up-market blocks of flats to house shares on the outskirts of the town where you're studying. Price can vary greatly depending on what's on offer, so it's best to analyse your finances before rushing into a deal.
• Use a variety of resources when searching for a property - from websites to word of mouth - you'll find that towards the end of the year there will be an abundance of 'Housemates Wanted' posters appearing around your university campus. Your student services department will also have access to a range of useful information which can help you in your search.
• When going to view a property, be sure to check every detail - be vigilant about the condition of every room in the house, checking for damp and general wear-and-tear, as well as finding out whether any appliances have been replaced. Also check Corgi documentation for appliances and don't be afraid to ask about the minut details (such as smoke alarms and fire blankets)
• Location is key when it comes to selecting a place to call home for the year (or semester depending on your course) - it can make a big difference with regards to distance from not only the university facilities but also the town centre and the plethora of shops (as well as drinking establishments) available to you.
• Once you've decided on a place to live, be sure to read any contracts carefully, making a note of items which are included in the price and bear in mind any costs for repairs - which may be taken out of your security deposit at the end of your tenancy.
• Report any breakages and other damage to your landlord immediatly, rather than leaving them to discover upon their next visit.
• Be considerate - not just to your flatmates either, for if you've taken residence on the outskirts of tow, remember that you'll be living amongst people with 9-to-5 routines, some of whom will be elderly or have young children.

When the time comes to move out after your studies, remember to leave the property how you found it, your security deposit may depend on it.

One of the myths of studentdom is that your diet goes totally loco in a hurry. With money tight and all the food you enjoyed back at home proving too expensive to live on (especially if you've rent to pay) - so you may not be getting all the nutrition you require.

However, hope is not lost - for with a bit of careful planning and a sensible head about you when you 're doing the weekly shop you can help yourself to stay healthy and ensure you're still not out of pocket.

• Go to market - if your university town has a market in the town centre or nearby, try and buy your fruit and veg from the traders there. You can buy just enough for the portion you want, rather than a bumper pack from the supermarket - half of which probably won't get eaten - plus you'll be helping local farmers to maintain a living.
• Don't be afraid of supermarket budget ranges - try the cheaper options when you're shopping for foods like pasta, rice and tinned products. These cheap and cheerful products can help you to stick to a budget.
• Tin It! - many tinned products in the supermarket - especially own-brand stock - can be a life-saver for those who are looking to cook for a group. Try adding a small tin of tinned vegetable pieces to your pasta sauce or shepherd's pie for some extra nutrition.
• BOGOF Brigade - Buy-One-Get-One-Free deals are lifesavers for students, particularly if you can find a favourite product on sale. Fill up your cupboard with these deals (such as pasta and tinned products) at the beginning of the semester and try and use sparingly throughout the year

A good diet, combined with regular exercise can help you get through your studies effectively, and ensuring that you stay healthy (both of body and wallet) during your time at university can help prepare you for independence (plus it's a great feeling to impress with your cooking)

As we all know, that first week or so - as well as the weeks leading up to the start of your university career - can be a nervewracking experience.

Unless you've gotten accomodation beforehand, you're more than likely going to moving you (and all your stuff) into your new student digs with a bunch of people you've never met before in order to begin your journey into independence.

But fear not! Fresher's Week (or fortnight in some cases) can be a useful period of time for budding students - from getting to know new people, finding a society to join and getting all kinds of neat stuff for free!

Many universities hold Fresher's Fairs, which are an absolutely haven for picking up useful advice - such as details of student accounts and credit cards - to pubs and clubs advertising their presence in the city.

Be sure to take advantage of these deals, whether it be a book of vouchers that'll get you money off purchases in high street stores or a free bag of food from the local supermarket (not to mention all those quirky little freebies from local bars)

When you're at university it is important to have some kind of financial plan in place. No doubt you will find yourself bombared with junk mail and e-mails from banks and building societies offering special rates for students before you even begin studying.

Many will offer interest-free overdraft facilities for the duration of your degree, prices will vary depending on the provider - but be careful as the ongoing credit crunch is making banks more wary of whom they lend money to.

So what should you be looking for when searching for a student account?

• Interest-free overdraft facilities - these can come in very handy in times of dire need (or want if you're a bit of an impulse buyer)

• Discount rates on products such as travel insurance - some will offer additional benefits to existing customers, so it's best to scope out a range of available products before commiting to a plan.
• Free stuff! - some will try and tempt you with a freebie if you sign up to their plans, these can range from small cash sums to novelty products (I can remember getting a popcorn maker in the shape of a duck)
• Interest rates - be wary of these and do your best to ensure that any accumulated overdrafts are wiped out through summer work, otherwise you could have a nasty surprise when it comes to the end of your studies and your interest-free period has run out.

With a bit of careful planning and some shopping around, it is possible to secure a deal that'll benefit you on both your studies and your social life. Don't rush into the first deal you come across (even if they are offering you a toaster or something)