A student's guide to money

This guide contains everything a student needs to know about money, from how to save it to how to spend it.

At university, I learnt many things. Learnt, for example, that while pesto goes with just about everything, whiskey, wine and vodka are best partaken separately. That life is short, and sometimes stuff happens you can’t control. That some people do read the entire reading list but no one ever admits to it. That broken hearts heal and good friends stick by you - and copious cups of tea are essential for both, so buy a kettle. 

Oh, and I suppose I learnt a bit about Shakespeare and the Ancient Greeks and odd post-colonial, post-modern piece of ‘literature’ too.

What I didn't learn

What I didn’t learn was how to manage my finances. Looking back, I wish someone had sat me down on the first day in Fresher’s Week and said: “OK, this is how you do it. This is how you make a budget. This is the insurance you’ll need. This is the best current account for you. This is how to save money on your bills. And most importantly, this is how you ensure you don’t fall into serious levels of debt.”

The trouble is, no one did. So that’s what this guide aims to do: provide you with a one-stop shop for making the most of your money. 

It’s packed full of expert financial advice on everything from student loans and credit cards to broadband and book-swapping.

Budgeting at university

• Managing Your Finances At University: How to ensure you always have enough money to buy what you need.
• Managing Your Finances At University - Part Two: How to make a budget at university -- and how to stick to it!
• Students: Reduce Your Bills! How to keep your energy, broadband and mobile phones bills down while at university.

Money-saving tips

• Money Saving Tips For Students: How to save money on nights out, books, computers, food, travel and other useful stuff!

Student debt

• The true cost of credit card debt Here’s why you should be wary of credit card debt!