Student Journalist Izabell’s insight on the cost of living at uni.

The average UK University student spends about £1,142 a month on living expenses. This may sound like a lot at first, but you should still be able to make ends meet and enjoy yourself while you’re studying. With a little planning and balance, you can manage your responsibilities without feeling like you must give up all the things that make university life enjoyable.

Shopping

Ten money tips

A report from 2023 claimed that UK students were spending an average of £44 per week on groceries. This figure highlights the financial pressure many students faced at the time, especially as the cost of living continued to rise. Grocery spending often takes up a significant portion of a student’s weekly budget, leaving less room for other essentials such as rent, transport, books, and social expenses. For many students, even small increases in food prices can have a noticeable impact on their day-to-day and overall financial well-being. 

During my time at university, I would plan my meals before going shopping and make lists based on meals I knew I would actually eat. By doing so, I ended up only buying the ingredients I actually needed, as well as stopping me from impulse buying. I would also compare prices from different shops, so I knew where I was getting the best value for money. Buying supermarkets’ own brand of items was also a cheaper alternative to buying branded food.

Socialising

Roehampton student union events

Socialising is an important part of university life, but it can quickly become expensive if you are not careful. Going out for meals, drinks, or activities with friends can add up, especially when you are already trying to manage rent, food, and travel costs. 

What helped me was planning social activities in advance, which led me to avoid spending more than I can afford. Finding student club nights would usually lead to cheaper tickets; therefore, knowing what day the student night is at your favourite club would help you get the best deals. Overall, being familiar with the London student nightlife led me to feel more comfortable with the amount I was spending during the week, as I knew what the kind of prices would be like on student nights.

Lifestyle

Living in southwest London

Living a balanced lifestyle at university is important when managing the cost of living, as it can be easy to overspend on non-essential things. Small habits such as setting a weekly budget, using student discounts, and choosing low-cost activities can help you stay in control of your money without missing out on university life. I also reviewed a lot of my subscriptions to see whether I was getting the best deal as a student; some services I subscribed to have a student discount, such as Spotify. Small things like this led me to save more money in the long run. Although time consuming to go through all your subscriptions, it is worth it to save money. Remember to cancel any subscriptions which have given you a free trial. Apps like ‘Emma’ can help you take control as well as set budgets.

Overall, I’ve found that managing the cost of living at university is really about making small, sensible choices that add up over time. Things like planning meals, using student discounts, and finding cheaper ways to spend time with friends have helped me save money without feeling like I’m missing out. It can be difficult at times, but with a bit of planning, it is definitely possible to stay on top of your finances and still enjoy university life.

Learn more on how to budget with this guide and prepare yourself for the big changes in university life. Stay safe, stay smart and make your finances work for you.