One thing I wish I had known when I first moved to the UK as a student was how much I would spending in my first couple of weeks trying to settle in. From setting up my room (bedding, crockery, house stuff etc), to getting an Uber and going out with friends in the first week of freshers; there were a number of things I just didn’t account for. Here are some other things I’ve learned.
My budget
I’ve found that sticking to a monthly budget is important, not just so that you’re not overspending and neglecting your savings, but also to build financial independence throughout your studies. Some of these payments I pay monthly, but I’ve provided them as a weekly average to make it easier for you to compare.
| Type of expense | How much I spend |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (without bills for the two-bedroom flat) | £94 per week |
| Food / supplies (Aldi/Morrisons/African store) | £30-50 per week |
| Transport |
£32 per week:
|
| Social activities (takeout, eating out, events, lunch on campus) | £30 per week |
| Personal (clothing / hair) | £20-25 per week |
| Spotify and Netflix | £5 per week |
| Utilities (including water, gas and electrics, mobile phone and internet) | £28 per week |
| Other | £15 per week |
I also recommend you budget around £30 for freshers and refreshers events and socials in September, and £6-£10 per year for club and society membership.
Groceries
There are plenty of discounted and student-friendly supermarkets across Leeds, where you can purchase a full month’s worth of groceries for as low as £25! These include Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Morrisons. As a student, you can apply for an NUS TOTUM Card which you can use to get discounts for Co-op, Asda and others.
Transport
You should also factor in the cost of transport, especially if you choose to live in an area that’s not a walking distance from campus. I live in a two-bed flat with a friend in Beeston, which is approximately a 45 minute to 1 hour walk to campus, so I take a bus at least 3 to 4 times a week to get to campus, the main city centre, or the White Rose retail centre in south Leeds. I also travel to Preston once or twice a month, so I spend a good amount of money each month on transport.
Accommodation and bills
As a student in Leeds, I’ve found there are many accommodation options available - some with all bills included - that sit nicely within a student-friendly budget. Figuring out your monthly rent and utilities is a very important step as your rent takes up a large chunk of your monthly spending as a student.
Finding work
Joblink is a one-stop shop for all things part-time and casual work here either on campus or in the city in general! You could even become a student ambassador for the University (such as a Link to Leeds Ambassador) or work in the University Union. If you are arriving in Leeds during the summer, you can pop into their office on the lower ground floor of Leeds University Union to have a chat with them, or you can visit their stall during the Freshers’ fair later in the year!
You can also speak to some of the current ambassadors, to find out about how and where they secured part-time jobs.
Support
The University of Leeds provides some handy guidance around budgeting and saving money and the Leeds University Union also has a comprehensive guide on managing the rising cost of living as a new student in Leeds, where to find discounts both on and off campus and budgeting.