Buzz Student Guide Buzz Student Guide 2013/14 | Page 33

pic: ALAN CLEAVER CHEAP TRICKS BIG FEES AND SMALL LOANS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO BALANCE, BUT A LITTLE FORWARD PLANNING CAN SAVE YOU FROM A LIFE OF STUDENT SQUALOR. HERE ARE SOME CHEAP TRICKS TO KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR OVERDRAFT. pic: ALAN CLEAVER EVERY STUDENT FEARS THE IDEA of managing their finances; this task is daunting as students are thrown into the unknown world of managing their money independently. discount card’. The NUS card, which gives you access to many different deals for the whole year in shops, restaurants and the Megabus, can be particularly useful. The first steps begins before you have even started packing for university. If you decide to apply for a credit card, it is crucial to select the one with the most benefits that fit your needs. Promotions such as a free 16-25 Railcard may seem like an cheap trick to get your custom, and it is, but it can be extremely useful when it comes to trips home. Be careful with any credit card, however, as they can constitute a slippery slope. Always try and remember that it’s not your money, even if it is interest free for three years. When you finally get to university look out for flyers offering discounts at the student fairs – you can save on everything from gym membership, nights out, takeaways and even body piercings! Always (and I mean always) plan your meals for the week and food shop in advance. It may be seem a hassle and a chore, but if you play your cards right you can spend as little as £20 a week on food and the rest of your budget can either be saved, and then used to pay for books (or, much more likely, for nights out). Another important card which I would advise all students to get is a ‘student You may not think it now, but at university some people will have quite a lot of free time on their hands, especially if you are studying a subject which only requires you to be present for a few lectures and seminars in the week. If this is the case why not consider getting a part-time job? Make sure to see what job services your university provides as they will often be able to find you parttime roles that are flexible around uni. My final tip is to be prepared for the lengthy reading list that will be handed to you on the day of your first lecture. This is nothing to be frightened of, however: you needn’t worry about purchasing all of the books because you can take full advantage of the library. Core books can be useful to buy but there are often plenty of copies stored in the University, so just check your library before you fork out. HELEN TSANGACOS Buzz 033