What else can i do to save money?

GrammarGirl

My family were what you would class as 'low income' when I went to uni. I got a grant as well as my loan and my tuition fees were all paid for. I understand it's different now (top up fees and so on) but you should check you're getting all you're entitled to.

My brother is studying graphic design and uses lots of art materials like you - he gets a bursary for this. Also, if you look online you may be able to find wholesalers who will sell the materials you need at a lower rate. Check out your local market if you use lots of fabrics or sewing materials too.

As for your expenses, I agree with others - get rid of Sky or try negotiate a lower rate for a while. Sort out your electricity bill as it really is ridiculous. Visit your university jobshop or similar and get them to help you with your CV and job applications. If you need lots of books for uni, see if there's a second hand book shop near you, or look on Amazon or eBay.

There are lots of things you can do to save money while studying. As someone rightly pointed out, in some senses you're much better off as a student than someone on minimum wage. I found it much easier to budget as a student than I do now... you just have so much more to pay for when you've finished.

Something to look forward to when you graduate!

Money_saving_Martyn

Lokolo wrote: »

Don't generalise pleeeease. My university life is getting paid for by my grandparents (bar tutition fees), but I don't have designer clothes, my car is a J Reg Ford Fiesta (old style, 4 gears + manual choke ), I do not own an ipod, a blackberry and my laptop I paid for through my part time job earnings back in school. I also have a part time job at university and as you can see from my signature I don't spend like theres no tomorrow.

There's a difference between having parental financial help, and having a bottomless account at the bank of Ma and Pa for the purchase of anything and everything pink - to which I think the original poster was referring... See PM.

shorelines

Have your CV/application forms checked with your careers service, just in case you can sell yourself better. Also they'll probably have plenty of part-time jobs listed.

milkybars

You say your spare money goes on uni books... here's just a few tips I learnt during my first degree:

Libraries are a gold mine - most people take the view that course reccomended books won't be available in the library due to demand, because of this they usually are. If you can't take the book out on loan, take advantage of the free warmth, lighting, electricity etc and stay in the library to read them and take notes.

Buy and most importantly sell course books. If you have book reccomended for your earlier years sell them on to younger years by advertising on uni noticeboards. Also you can buy earlier editions (usually not much changes) from older years. Continue the cycle.

Contact your local parish... mine gave me about £50 per year for books. I had to prove that I'd purchased them new by sending a receipt. If this is available to you buy the most needed book. At the end of my degree I wrote to my parish group thanking them for this financial help and informing them of my grade.

Join up with a friend... since you can't study from two books at once. Join up with a mate, agree to buy two similar priced books. Arrange to have for a week or so each then swap. Effectivly half price then!

La-Cara

milkybars wrote: »

Libraries are a gold mine - most people take the view that course reccomended books won't be available in the library due to demand, because of this they usually are. If you can't take the book out on loan, take advantage of the free warmth, lighting, electricity etc and stay in the library to read them and take notes.

if you can't get a book from the library, try looking at google books or for an e-book (these can sometimes be found your uni's library page)

Hutchch0920

I can't believe you have Sky! get rid of the Sky!!!! i agree with everyone's comments, get rid of your damn car, the thing's a black hole! (i know i've got one!)

I think you're spending money that you're not aware of,so get a little notebook and a pen,carry it in your handbag everywhere you go, whenever you get your purse out write down what you are buying. Put it into a spreadsheet and give it columns etc to analyse your outgoings properly.

*Touchwood*through some touch of god we've not been paying electric but our gas bill was 400quid for the winter quarter between 4 of us. Which i think is rather alot, but we live in a damp 50s house with dodgy double glazing and we're all girls so we get cold easy (haha!)

So ....

I am classed as low income, i am rock bottom and get full entitlement which is 2k so i assume that you're not quite at the bottom? Why aren't you getting a bursary? I get 1k a year in two installements,if you're from low income you are entitled to it, you need to apply direct to the uni.

Keep on it with the job hunt, and definately get your CV checked.

Sell some of the things you don't want on ebay, i just made 30quid selling random stuff to put towards my trip to Dublin. Its now free to list things, you pay commission when the item sells

I tried Natwest for 200quid they had off me for bounced Direct debits, on my app i had more going out than coming in and they still rejected my case.

I agree with Proudmum, low income students shouldnt be discouraged from attending university AT ALL, it just means either their family may need to supplement the loan and grant or they will need a job,and i personally champion students having jobs at uni and also dislike "Daddy's credit card" syndrome- maybe its jealousy though?

Anyway Lokolo if you see this, what are you saving for? i'm intrigued. I actually think its easier to save as a student,i'm out on placement at the moment and trying to save to go travelling next summer,last year i just wacked both my loan installments (total 5k) in a savings a/c and then bought a house.At the moment i'm having trouble even saving 200quid a month!

Sorry this is a well rambly post!