Moving into your first student house is the first step into adult responsibility and this is both exciting and scary. We’ve created a guide to help you budget for costs beyond your rent and the tenants’ utility bills.
Setting up your home
Even if your student house is furnished, there will be pieces of furniture, kitchen accessories and soft furnishings you will want to buy to make your new house feel like a home. Don’t go shopping until you have had a good look round the property and what it contains, then go out and fill in the gaps with what might be a spend of £5 on a colourful cushion for the sofa or £20 for a good frying pan.
Food and groceries
Food shopping is potentially another cost where you might be able to share the bills with your housemates. Have a chat about your expectations early on in your tenancy and you could set up a kitty for essentials such as loo roll and cleaning products. Don’t forget the kitty will need to include tea, milk, sugar and biscuits – not just for you and your housemates but for friends and relatives that come to pay a visit.
Any student found shopping in Waitrose or M&S is either rich or very silly – while these stores offer quality they need meet the needs of a student’s budget. Go elsewhere. Also, avoid corner shops and convenience stores whenever possible as they have much higher prices than the supermarkets and you’re paying extra for their closeness.
Don’t rush your shop, plan ahead so you can actually make meals with what you buy and look for offers. Don’t be tempted by what you don’t need as you’ll create waste. Time it right and you could even catch the discount ticketer … that’s the member of staff tasked with putting the cheap prices so follow them around for the real bargains – but don’t make it too obvious or creepy.
Transport
Your feet should be your first choice for transport. Use them often and you will save money on transport and a gym membership. Walking or riding a bike are free and will start and end your day in a healthy way.
The bus is another cheap option. Check with the bus company and you might find yourself saving money with a weekly or monthly ticket. Plan your journey and make sure you get a cheaper return ticket when you need one.
For longer trips home and for a cheeky weekend away look into travelling by train. Buying a young person’s railcard will save you lots of money overall if you travel by train a lot. The card gets you a third off fares. Choose your route and timings carefully will save you lots of money on the average ticket price too.
Course reading lists
Choose which texts you borrow rather than own and buy second hand when you do.
Some books on your reading list will require only a chapter or two of study so borrowing from the library and photocopying key passages is a cheaper option than buying the whole book.
Reference texts tend to be essential and expensive (think upwards of £30 per book) so pay attention to noticeboards and the course Facebook groups where older students and graduates might be selling their unwanted copies.
Mobile phone
The mobile phone is as much of an essential as utility bills UK, most students would agree. Before you leave home for university get your phone and contract up to date and on a good value tariff. Try not to be tempted by the newest phone and paying £25 a month more for the privilege.
Insurance
Insurance is something that a lot of students will overlook but it really is a vital cost to budget for. Basically, you are protecting items such as your laptop, phone and bike from accidental damage and theft. If the pipes burst in your house flooding your desk and all that is on it you would find replacing them very expensive. For an average of a tenner a month you will have peace of mind and a brand new laptop should you need one.
Fun
Studying for an excellent degree is the ultimate point of university but having fun, making memories and building lifelong friendships is almost as important. Your leisure budget is flexible and will depend on the time of year and how skint you’re feeling. During Fresher’s Week you’ll spend a lot more on nights out than during exam week.
Otherwise, when it comes to organising your student house utility bills you should contact the team at Glide.