This document provides budget planning information for students including potential income sources like loans, grants, and wages as well as common expenses like rent, food, bills, and travel. It also lists the maximum tuition fee loan amount of £3,290. Additionally, it provides 10 tips for saving money as a student, such as living at home, buying used books, shopping with a list, using free internet access on campus, and getting a student bank account. Examples of potential weekly and total costs are given for various accommodation options as well as prices comparisons for basic grocery items.

1. Budget Planner
Your academic year is normally 39 weeks
Income Weekly £ Total £ (39 weeks)
Maintenance Loan
(repayable)
Maintenance Grant
(non repayable)
Bursary
Family Contribution
Wages
Other
Total
Expenditure Weekly £ Total £ (39 weeks)
Rent/mortgage
Food/housekeeping
Household bills
Travel
Telephone/Mobile
Study costs
Contents insurance
Social expenditure
Other
Total
Balance Weekly £ Total £ (39 weeks)
Maximum tuition fee loan 2010/2011 is £3,290 (repayable)

2. Ten Top Tips
1. Accommodation
a. live at home – contribution to household expenditure
b. Student Accommodation – including utilities
i. University of Greenwich 40 week contract from £87 for shared facilities at
Avery Hill - £102 ensuite, Medway £87
ii. University of Portsmouth – 36 week contract from £74 per week
iii. University of Hull – 31 week contract from £86
c. Shared house – expect to pay anything from around £250 to £300 plus bills
2. Books - you don’t need to buy all the books on your reading lists. Perhaps just buy the
key texts and then make the most of the library. Check student notice boards, local
bookshops and auction websites for cheaper second hand books.
3. Food - when food shopping make a list and stick to it to help avoid impulse buys. Shop
weekly at a supermarket, rather than paying inflated prices at local corner stores and
look at basic brands and special offers. Buy in bulk and share cooking with flatmates.
Shop for food on a full stomach – you’re much less likely to buy things you don’t need,
just because you’re hungry
4. Internet - Make the most of the free internet access available in Halls, the Library and
all university internet suites. Set your computer to print in ‘draft quality’ and save paper
by printing double sided. Good copies are only needed for assessed work.
5. Telephone - Use your phone less during the daytime when peak charges are applied.
It’s easier to budget with a pay-as-you-go-phone and ask your family to send you top-up-
vouchers as gifts. Most deals have good text bundles, use texts where possible or social
networking facilities to communicate with your friends.
6. Bank accounts - check your bank statements regularly to help track your spending and
check for any errors. If you intend to use an overdraft make sure you know the limit and
what charges apply if you go over it. Shop around for the best deal with Student Bank
accounts – some offer – free 16 – 19 rail card for the first year, some offer free travel
insurance – shop around for the best deal for you. All offer an overdraft facility – use
with caution, remember you have to pay it back!
7. Travel – Use public transport – Oyster cards in London. You can buy a Young Person’s
Railcard for £26 or a National Express young persons coachcard for £10 to save up to
1/3 off most train or coach fairs. Visit www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk or
www.nationalexpress.com for details
8. Council tax - If you are a student and live with only full-time students, you do not have
to pay Council Tax
9. TV licence - if you have a TV in your room, you will need your own license. However, if
you will not use the TV during the summer months, you may be able to claim a refund.
For more advice visit www.tvlicensingco.uk/students. A TV license will cost you £142.50
for colour and £48.00 for a black and white licence
10. Student Discounts – Your NUS card will give you discounts in shops,
cinemas and places to eat

3. The Price is right!
Basics - prices on line at Tesco - 1st February 2010
Baked beans Tesco basics 29p Heinz 64p
Penne Pasta Tesco value – 500g 43p Napolina - 500g 96p
Toilet rolls Tesco value 12 rolls £1.32 Tesco Luxury £4.59
Washing up liquid Tesco – 500ml 69p Fairy – 400ml £1.00
Pint of milk 43p
Energy saving light bulbs – currently on offer at 3 for £1
Return off peak rail fare from Portsmouth to London
Without a Young Persons rail card £35.00 - £38.00
With a Young Persons rail card £23.00 - £25.00