After you’ve applied for your funding, you can now think about how you’ll spend your money when you get to university. Whether it’s the first time you’ve had to manage your finances or you’re swapping a salary for a student loan, if you start to look at and prepare for potential costs early, it will be easier to create a budget – allowing more time and energy to enjoy your new life at university.
Money may not buy happiness – as the old saying goes – but it can have a huge impact on your wellbeing. So if you are having financial problems, this can have a negative effect on all aspects of your life and study, including your health.
It can be so tempting to fritter away money on things you don’t need. If you’re having a bad day or stressful week, splashing out on a new top or a takeaway pizza can feel like the best way of taking the edge off, but you might not thank yourself the next time you check your bank balance. While you should allow yourself some room for treats in your budget, clothes and food are areas where students often overspend; so stop feeling guilty and take steps to mend these habits.
Welcome back – we hope you had a fun and relaxing Christmas break! It’s the start of a new term and a new year. Your next loan payment is due to be made today, which is enough to make anyone happy about coming back to university! But whether you mastered your money like a pro last term or let spending get the better of you, it’s not too late to make a fresh start with a brand new budget.