Is this a realistic SOA for starting uni?

Raquela

when I was a student my monthly groceries were about £80 a month (still are in fact). I never bought food or coffee on campus if I could help it, so try to take lunch, because if you buy food on campus this will seriously up your budget.

Your utilities seem high - I used to budget £35 a month for this sharing, and it never even came close, so you might find you can cut back a little here. This of course depends on how the existing tenants feel about the heating - I was always turning it off in my house, they were always turning it back on!

What's the £50 a month travel for? That seems high. Can you walk to uni / bike to uni instead?

I always bought new copies of my textbooks, or clean second hand (generally couldn't find clean second hand ones). This cost me more, but I felt it was worth it because I get distracted by other peoples notes, and more importantly, could mess up the book myself to my hearts desire. Plus it meant I could always do the required reading for any class at any time because I had the book, I didn't have to fight the library queues.

I would budget a little more for social activities if I were you, you want to make the most of your time there, and try and join some social clubs as well as the inevitable night out. So up that to about £20-30 a week if possible. I lived like a hermit my 3rd and 4th years of uni and I definitely regret that.

littlepinkstars44

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Contents insurance covers the contents of your home if you are burgled. It also often covers accidental damage to contents. Some policies will also cover a certain amount for personal possessions outside the home (eg mobile phone, ipod, laptop etc) For most students they don't need a huge amount of contents insurance but it is worth having just in case the worst happens. There'll be a load of info on the insurance pages on this site. What it effectively means is that if someone breaks into your flat and steals your ipod and laptop, you can claim for this on your insurance. Not worth worrying about though if you don't have a lot worth stealing or if you feel there's no chance of that happening

thanks, actually i'm sure the landlord covers that in the flat. I'll check that out though!

littlepinkstars44

Raquela wrote: »

when I was a student my monthly groceries were about £80 a month (still are in fact). I never bought food or coffee on campus if I could help it, so try to take lunch, because if you buy food on campus this will seriously up your budget.

Your utilities seem high - I used to budget £35 a month for this sharing, and it never even came close, so you might find you can cut back a little here. This of course depends on how the existing tenants feel about the heating - I was always turning it off in my house, they were always turning it back on!

What's the £50 a month travel for? That seems high. Can you walk to uni / bike to uni instead?

I always bought new copies of my textbooks, or clean second hand (generally couldn't find clean second hand ones). This cost me more, but I felt it was worth it because I get distracted by other peoples notes, and more importantly, could mess up the book myself to my hearts desire. Plus it meant I could always do the required reading for any class at any time because I had the book, I didn't have to fight the library queues.

I would budget a little more for social activities if I were you, you want to make the most of your time there, and try and join some social clubs as well as the inevitable night out. So up that to about £20-30 a week if possible. I lived like a hermit my 3rd and 4th years of uni and I definitely regret that.

well it will just be me and my friend there when i move in, and we mostly agree on the same things, like no point using the dishwasher for 2 of us, or the tumble drier (t be honest we are scared it will shrink our clothes) So hoping that the bills won't be anymore than £30.

Like i said i'm going into 3rd year, and have been a student in college for 3 years. I'm now 22 and don't feel the need to go out every night like i did when i was 18! Plus it all depends on when my friend has nights off work, and isn't in at 7 the next morning To be honest, shes the only friend i have...so at the moment we only go out like once/twice a month...to gigs.

HazelS_2

Has everyone missed this, or am I wrong??

You said earlier that you live in Scotland and therefore don't pay for water... EVERYONE pays for water!!!!!

Your landlord WILL NOT Pay contents insurance - but probably will pay Buildings Insurance - you can't afford NOT to have contents insurance.... for example - guy in the flat upstairs goes out and his washing machine floods the kitchen... and it leaks into your flat and trashes your bedding, laptop etc.... you can say "what are the odds of that happening" but I work in Local Government Housing, and I can tell you - we get AT LEAST one call a week from tenants where this has happened and they need us to clear up the aftermath!

Also - your utilities do seem high... why aren't they included in the rent? That would give you FAR more control over your money - I have a lodger and his rent is £x a month - he knows he won't be slapped with a £50 bill cos the electric bill has come in... etc... ou get the drift. I'd rather pay say £300 a month and know that everything is included!

littlepinkstars44

HazelS wrote: »

Has everyone missed this, or am I wrong??

You said earlier that you live in Scotland and therefore don't pay for water... EVERYONE pays for water!!!!!

Your landlord WILL NOT Pay contents insurance - but probably will pay Buildings Insurance - you can't afford NOT to have contents insurance.... for example - guy in the flat upstairs goes out and his washing machine floods the kitchen... and it leaks into your flat and trashes your bedding, laptop etc.... you can say "what are the odds of that happening" but I work in Local Government Housing, and I can tell you - we get AT LEAST one call a week from tenants where this has happened and they need us to clear up the aftermath!

Also - your utilities do seem high... why aren't they included in the rent? That would give you FAR more control over your money - I have a lodger and his rent is £x a month - he knows he won't be slapped with a £50 bill cos the electric bill has come in... etc... ou get the drift. I'd rather pay say £300 a month and know that everything is included!

Because its a private let, gas and electricty isn't included. At the moment the other 2 just give me friend £200 a month for their share of the rent and the bills, which i think i will just do the same, just give her like £290 a month to cover my half of everything.

I've never heard of anyone having to pay for water, my mum certainly doesn't. Is it maybe included in council tax then?

littlepinkstars44

It is along with the council tax...i just found this through google:

Most domestic users of water in Scotland pay for their services through the domestic water charge and the domestic sewerage charge. The domestic water charge and the domestic sewerage charge are collected by local authorities, along with the council tax. The charges are on the council tax bill but are listed separately

So its part of council tax, so i don't pay then as i am a student

TMoose

In Scotland the water is included in your Council Tax Bill as a standing charge.

I still wonder if the OP might be better to stay put and actually put money towards her debts though...

RAS

littlepinkstars44 wrote: »

Plus it all depends on when my friend has nights off work, and isn't in at 7 the next morning To be honest, shes the only friend i have...so at the moment we only go out like once/twice a month...to gigs.

So how much does a gig cost? price that up and include it in your SOA.

littlepinkstars44

RAS wrote: »

So how much does a gig cost? price that up and include it in your SOA.

Tickets between £8-£20 depends where it is really. And i was including that in the entertainment part of my SOA.

RAS

Jesthar wrote: »

I can also thoroughly recommend getting a slow cooker (I have an Morphy Richards oval 3.5 litre model) as they are great for cheap bulk cooking; I can make an eight portion batch of bolognese sauce for about £5.

Join www.freecycle.org to get this and any other gear you need to free. Definately a good place to look if you want that TV, but also bedding, curtains, furniture, iron, vacumn-cleaner etc.