As a student, it can seem difficult to make your money stretch as far as it needs to.
Where do I start?
You should prioritise the things that you have to pay for such as rent, bills and food. By working out your essential costs first, you’ll be able to see how much money you have left for fun stuff, such as nights out or new clothes.
Start with prioritising your spending by making a list with two columns headed ‘Have to Spend’ and ‘Choose to Spend’.
You don’t need to take any drastic action or try anything unsustainable. Here are some really easy ways to get started:
try having at least one spend-free day each week
don’t use credit or store cards
if you’ve run out of money, avoid turning to payday loans – speak to us about our discretionary short-term emergency loans
withdraw your weekly allowance at the start of each week to help you keep track of your spending
if you anticipate having health-related costs, make sure you complete an HC1 form to see if you can get help with them
paying bills by direct debit and signing up for paperless billing often attract discounts – just make sure you have enough in your account to cover any scheduled direct debits
You can get involved in loads of free activities in Newcastle:
each term, the Student’s Union have a program of activities for you to make the most of your spare time – check out the Give it a go page to get an idea of what’s available
take in a bit of culture – most museums and galleries in Newcastle are free to visit
