Moving out of home for the first time advice

Lokolo

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I have 5 rescue cats but I certainly wouldn't get one in your situation, particularly when you're already worrying about managing financially. It'll cost you over a fiver a week for food and cat litter and then you have to budget for vaccinations, flea treatment and vets bills. Wait until you're financially stable, for the sake of the cat.

Awww

I only have one (at home home though)

Lokolo

hehe sorry to derail the thread.... but I couldn't stop thinking that ONW maybe looking like this...

minerva_windsong

sh1305 wrote: »

TV licence can be paid in installemtns. (can't remember whether it's 10 or 12 monthlies)

You can also pay it quarterly but I wouldn't do that as it costs more.

rmiller

Everyone here has been talking about bills to condsider, which is great.

I've just finsiehd being a student and the best advice I can give is this:

1.) Keep track of all your finances. I used excel and it was so easy. I knew how much I had coming in each month, deducted all the necessaities and then I knew how much free money I had left for fun!

2.) Use your overdraft as emergency not to buy shoes. When you get out of Uni you need to remember that although you don't have to pay for your studnet loan until you make £16k a year, you only have 1 year until you have to start paying your overdraft off.

3.) Be Realistic. Somtimes your friends will make you want to go out all the time, but think of this: If I spend £30 tonight, that's around a week's worth of food...which is more important?

4.) Cook to have leftovers. I saved quite a bit of money and time by making batches of stuff and freezing it for another night.

5.) Look for student discounts. A good website for this is Student Bean. It has some great offers for entertainment, travel and shopping so have a look and register.

6.) Get a Job. I hate to say it, but having a job at Uni really helped! Just 2 days a week and my food bills were sorted which meant had I money to save up for trips and going out.

7.) Have your parents look after your student loan. My friend was like you and was worried she was going to spend all her student loan in one go. So when her 1st, 2nd and 3rd payments came through, she had them deposited to her parents. Her parents then paid it to her monthly. This way she was responsible for less money and was able to get a handle of money mangement.

8.) Don't worry. You'll be fine! I moved to the UK from another country which was really scary, but if you do your research, keep your eyes on your finances and don't go crazy spending you'll be fine.

Have a great time a Uni it's one of the best expierences in life! :T

divastrop

Just a word about the cat thing. Don't get one if the property has textured wallpaper or you may well find yourself having to fork out money to redecorate.
rmiller's advice is spot on. I wish the internet existed when i first moved away from home

Mankysteve

Our old kitten used to use the texture wall paper to get to the top bunk in my bedroom.

I wouldn't get a cat. How are you going to afford veterinary care, food cost? when at time you will struggle to feed your self. The extra cost of cleaning the house making good the extra damage that a cat will cause. Cats are not cheap in anyway to care for.

Plus I don't really agree with indoor cats. A lot of rescue place will refuse to home cats they don't have excess to the outside.

You've got to clean litter trays regularly have you got the time to look after an indoor cat properly when your cramming for exams/essays indoor cats require lots of care and attention.

Get something a little less time consuming and costly rats for instance make great pets much less costly and you dont cat cat hairs everywhere. After our old cats died it took a good year to rid of all the remaining clumps of hair.

funtime.franki_2

How did your excel thingy work? Sounds interesting!