Welcome to the University of Northampton! Whether you are a new or a returning student, we hope you have a fantastic experience studying with us at our new Waterside campus. Money is often a cause of concern for students so here is a checklist to help you get into good habits early when managing your money:
It’s the summer term and with this comes your final instalment of funding for this academic year. You now need to stretch your money for this term and possibly also the summer too. It’s not as scary as it sounds – see below for our guide to keeping on top of your finances for the final term and beyond.
As a student, you might be offered opportunities to borrow money – this is known as credit. Access to credit can be both positive and negative. Although it’s advisable to try to live within your means whenever possible, sometimes emergencies happen and in these circumstances, credit will be very helpful. Applying for credit can also help improve your credit rating in the future. However, you must remember that credit is not ‘free money’ – it always needs to be paid back – and if you splurge on credit, it can end up costing you a huge amount in interest and charges.
Here are some common credit options – some are okay (providing you don’t go overboard with your spending), and some are best avoided.
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.
Summer is finally here! The days are getting warmer and longer, and it’s not long now until the end of the academic year. You might have sorted out your summer plans already, but just in case you’ve been too distracted by assignments, revising, and sunny afternoons, here are some points you should consider:
If you’re thinking of starting a university course in September, now’s the time to start looking into and applying for your funding: as well as tuition fees, you will also need money for your general living and course costs e.g. food, travel, books, socialising, etc.
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.
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.
There are many benefits to having a job alongside your studies. It’s not just about the money – although it is helpful to have an additional source of income – having a part-time job gives you experience and skills to put on your CV.