Student budget hacks

I think I've written a lot about the many aspects of wellbeing throughout the various posts here, and I've just recently realised that I've not written about finances at all. It's quite a tricky subject, but nevertheless, I think it's a crucial aspect of wellbeing. Bills and fees are sources of stress for most of us after all. I think, like with mental wellbeing, a good place to start is to have good habits in place. Mindfulness and meditation are good daily practices which give us the ability to better weather challenging times in our life. Creating a budget allows you to prioritise the things you value, such as:

• saving up to visit family and friends and take them out for a night;
• weekly coffee catch-ups with peers who keep you focussed on your academic goals;
• donating to a charity;
• keeping a healthy body so budgeting for annual gym memberships; or
• just saving for much longer-term goals.

First thing to do is sit down and create a budget plan. List all the money you expect to come in, then subtract all your expenses. Decide how much you’d like to allocate as your savings and then have a look at how much money you have remaining. Create a separate bank account for your savings and one for your impulse or splurge expenses.

Where can you cut down on costs? Check Services SA and see if you are eligible for student allowances. Also, have a look to see if you’re eligible for any of the scholarships offered through the University. Have a look at the CareerHub website for any casual and part-time work available. Bring your reusable coffee cup. Check to see if you can buy second-hand books or even just hire them. Make use of student discounts, even Spotify offers reduced fees for students.

Budgeting isn't about limiting yourself - it's about making the things that excite you, possible.Anonymous