Students - Back to Uni Tips, Tricks and Chat

Former_MSE_Andrea · 11 September 2015 at 2:11PM

URGENT! Help fight the Government’s student loan U-turn that means many will pay more
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Hi everyone!

You'll all be preparing for Uni now. It's a great time but there must be questions you want answering!

Well you can pick the brains of students who've been before, get fab tips and learn how to keep your costs down but still have fun (see what we did there?!)

If you have any more questions that aren't below ask away on our Student MoneySaving board and other students will be along to help you.

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Sezzagirl · 14 September 2015 at 12:40PM

This is brilliant and I will be watching it but we took my son to uni for the first time on Saturday so a lot is too late for us

Maybe could be started earlier next year?

Former_MSE_Andrea · 14 September 2015 at 12:43PM

Thanks Sezzagirl, I hope he settled in well!

Hopefully he'll find some of it still relevant and come back to help give his tips to Freshers next year

Molly41 · 17 September 2015 at 1:40PM

Don't forget to get your TV licence for your student halls - one for each room x

thegreenone · 17 September 2015 at 4:32PM

And student exemption for council tax. Which reminds me to remind my son! Off to email him

birjuharia · 17 September 2015 at 7:20PM

A piece of advice I give university students is that once your student loan/grant comes into your account, don't go crazy and spend it on things your not meant to as you will struggle later on. Im not saying don't spend it but be reasonable on what you spend it on, hence I trying to imply that budgeting is a key skill whilst at university and thats coming from a recent graduate

. As well you dont need to buy a TV licence as most students then watch it on BBC iPlayer after the show as been shown on TV so therefore you don't need to buy one. Hope this helps

kiss_me_now9 · 19 September 2015 at 12:10PM

The best piece of advice that I could give to all new students is not to waste your money with a TV licence.

Probably an unpopular opinion but seriously don't bother with a TV licence - I've lived in halls three times now and no-one ever did, they have no way of telling if you have a TV licence and I've never heard of anyone getting fined for it. They send letters whether you have a licence or not.

dekaspace · 19 September 2015 at 11:23PM

Molly41 wrote: »

Don't forget to get your TV licence for your student halls - one for each room x

Is that a joke? or just not the whole picture, you only need a license to watch live broadcasts not for just owning a tv.

Anyway tips to know is things like don't follow stereotypes but marker pens for food are good but can make you seem petty.

Its good to set a budget for nights out, an Id say have a seprate bank card with a small amount i.e £20 emergency cash and leave your main card at home that way if you overspend you can use that for taxi home(not that it should be needed if going in groups but just in case)

Food wise the common things that are recomended are stuff like lentils to make lentil soup, big bags of potato's etc but at same time if you end up eating take outs the tatties will go mouldy and smell.

Have spare sheets at least in case a friend is sick in your room, or another wants to sleep over as too drunk to go home, if its a student house a few large bean bags make great seats..

Bread is good for hung over munchies or when you come home.

Keep some alkaseltzer handy

Indie_Kid · 20 September 2015 at 12:01PM

birjuharia wrote: »

A piece of advice I give university students is that once your student loan/grant comes into your account, don't go crazy and spend it on things your not meant to as you will struggle later on. Im not saying don't spend it but be reasonable on what you spend it on, hence I trying to imply that budgeting is a key skill whilst at university and thats coming from a recent graduate .

When I was a student, I had a second account. I had one account for my rent and another for everyday spends.

I also drew out a certain amount of money each week and that was all I could spend. It also meant I actually had change for the washing machine.

I don't think I ever watched TV (apart from the football, which I either watched down the pub or at a friends) so never bothered with a TV licence.

cybertortoise · 21 September 2015 at 11:08PM

I am starting induction on the 28th Sept. I actually started the same course last year but had to defer due to unforeseen circumstances.

My tips are:
~ Do not buy books at the campus store that they recommend for your course without checking first. Our course had a bundle of 3 books at a great price. I actually only needed one of them for my first year, and another one wasn't even listed on the recommended reading list.
~ Buy a flask and take your own coffee
~ Look for books online rather than at the campus shop. I needed one that was over £100, bought it online for £49.
~ Wait! Don't buy every book straight away, get to the library or see if there is an ebook version available via the uni library. Same book mentioned above was reduced to £39 at the campus shop only 6 weeks in.
~ Do not go mad spending money. A person on the same course as me spent all of their student finance(and I mean all of it) in the first 2 weeks and had to ask for an extension to pay the rent on their uni accommodation.

Hopefully this will help someone.

Former_MSE_Andrea · 23 September 2015 at 2:05PM

Thanks for those cybertortoise!

Really good tips. Check out our Megan's 12 Freshers Week Tips too

Students - Back to Uni Tips, Tricks and Chat

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