As the costs of living continue to inflate, for most of us, the student loan now barely covers rent and bill payments. As a result, budgeting has rapidly become an essential part of student life – and there’s no shame in that. The truth is that most of us have struggled financially at some point during our time at university. This article gives you some ideas on ways to start making small decisions to make your money go further as an Exeter student.
My best tip is to start eating seasonally and locally. The BBC Good Food seasonal calendar lets you know when different produce is in season, meaning it will be easier to source locally, subsidising air miles and making it cheaper for us to buy as a result. Additionally, there is no doubt that nothing tastes better than locally grown fruit that you can eat on its own, in a fruit salad, or as ingredients in other dishes.
The Exeter Farmers’ Market, held every Thursday from 09:00 – 14:00on South Street, is a great place to shop for local products including fruit, vegetables and bread.
Shop second hand
Buying higher quality clothing is often cheaper if you shop second-hand, and with online marketplaces like Depop and Vinted gaining popularity in recent years, this is now easier to do than ever before. However, to eliminate shipping costs, Exeter is lucky to be equipped with many charity shops, where you can really luck out on some gems whether you’re browsing for new clothes or looking for an outfit for a society social. Speaking of societies, many often hold clothing sales on campus to raise money for the society or a given charitable cause, and you can find great quality clothes for a cheap price.
Cutting down on bills
For minimising the costs of bills, speak to your housemates before making any big decision, if applicable. Most students will be happy to spend more on heating during the winter, but as the weather improves, it would be helpful to re-think your winter heating allowance. Turning off lights while leaving the room and not spending any more time in the shower than you need to are an obvious must –for the sake of money saving, as well as your housemates who will have to leave for their lecture while you’re standing in the shower pondering your next night out!
Meal Prep
I have found meal-prepping, or simply preparing multiple portions of the same meal, very helpful for planning out my lunches and spending less money on campus – which can add up very quickly. Both Exeter campuses are equipped with microwaves and hot water dispensers available for all students to use as required, so if you need to re-heat anything on campus, fear not – many others are in the same position, and there are often queues for microwaves at peak times. See Emily's blog for more meal prepping tips!
Use up what you have
This year, I have set myself a goal of only buying new makeup and skincare products once I have used up all of the previous ones I own. This way, I know what products work best for me, and I can also go through all of the products I already have before buying new ones. Note to self: I’m sure you don’t need three different tubes of mascara and four different eye creams! Put them to use!
BYOB(Bring your own beverage)
With this, making coffee at home or having some instant coffee packets in your bag are also helpful for minimising the money spent on takeout coffee – something I am still so guilty of myself. Though in my defence, sometimes an oat vanilla latte feels like a necessity after a 2-hour Wednesday lecture, believe me.
Remember that while budgeting most of the time is good, and I’m sure your bank account will thank you for it, the occasional treat while catching up with friends is still okay. I personally find that if I don’t do this, I become very hyper-fixated on money, and this then stresses me out further.
When you’re looking to be more sustainable as well as save money, the Too Good To Go app is a great and cheap option for café treats which are close to their ‘best by’ date, fighting food waste and getting us students great deals in the process.
If you’re struggling financially, remember that the University of Exeter’s SID desk can help with any loan or funding requests, and the Guild Advice desk can also provide help with what to do in times of financial difficulty.