How much did you save before going to uni?

BrettMorganxD

How much roughly did you save before starting uni, also I think these are a really good idea.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terramundi-Money-Pot-Uni-Fund/dp/B004TR794K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322509941&sr=8-1

V_Chic_Chick

I'd come back from travelling less than a fortnight before when I went to uni, so I had the square root of naff all when I went.

That said, it is best to save up as much as you can before you go, as there are lots of start-of-term expenses that will hit your budget hard - freshers, bus pass, textbooks, that sort of thing. And anyway, by this time of year, most people's bank accounts are either in the red or contain less than £100!

BrettMorganxD

V_Chic_Chick wrote: »

I'd come back from travelling less than a fortnight before when I went to uni, so I had the square root of naff all when I went.

That said, it is best to save up as much as you can before you go, as there are lots of start-of-term expenses that will hit your budget hard - freshers, bus pass, textbooks, that sort of thing. And anyway, by this time of year, most people's bank accounts are either in the red or contain less than £100!

I try my best to avoid debt at all costs, even student debts. I am thinoing £1,000 for college (1 year nursing access course).

And about £2,000 per year in emergency uni expenses (as I am doing nursing, I will get a bursery anyway, and will continue to work part-time)

RosieBee_2

Hello,

This was discussed on the Student Room forum, if you want a look at what they said too http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1157525

Have a look here too for tips on how to save money whilst at uni http://moneyfacts.co.uk/tips/money/how-to-save-money-at-university-090810/

Hope this helps

ultimatedingbat

I had £500 start up money

Oldernotwiser

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

How much roughly did you save before starting uni, also I think these are a really good idea.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terramundi-Money-Pot-Uni-Fund/dp/B004TR794K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322509941&sr=8-1

That's £18.65 you could've saved for a start!

BrettMorganxD

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's £18.65 you could've saved for a start!

I havn't even bought it, im just saying it seems good.

ajwolf

I really wouldn't bother with the pot, what a rip off, get a bank account.

How much you need for uni depends on a lot of factors. Loan amount, staying at home or not, kind of lifestyle you lead, area you are staying in, course related expenses, parents contribution etc.

Just save as much as you can before hand and really look into whether certain things are necessary purchases (e.g books) before you buy them when you start uni.

Nicolay

I had £2000 saved up when I went into my first year (mainly from saving a lot of the EMA I received in the two years I was at college) but I didn't dip into it at all.

I received a university and a government grant due to my parents' income, so after taking out my travel costs for the year and the initial cost of books, I divided the rest up into a weekly budget and stuck to it. However, I lived (and still am living) at home, so I never had the costs of halls and buying food every week, and I went out drinking a lot less than everyone that lived on campus because it was impractical with me living so far away.

I didn't take out a maintenance loan either, so I spent the whole first year living on the grant money and didn't need to use my savings at all.

I'm currently in my second year and actually managed to make my savings increase during the first year by underspending my weekly budget a lot of the time, but obviously if you're living on campus your outgoings will be a lot higher than mine were.

minerva_windsong

I can't remember exactly how much it was but I think about £300 - I'd been saving for most of the year as I went to New Zealand for three weeks the day after I got my A-level results, so a lot of my savings went on that. That said I consider myself incredibly lucky as my parents very generously gave me a weekly allowance on the understanding uni was my job during term and I worked in the holidays to cover expenses then and before term started (eg for things like books, freshers' week, society membership fees etc).

Kiirk

I saved 10k before I got to uni.

I could of come with much less and still be well off. I just happened to enjoy my job, so worked lots whilst at college.

However a few hundred pounds seems to be the norm, I guess it depends upon which type of uni 'experience' your coming for.