money

If you're an ordinary student, you probably know what it's like to be broke. Who can resist all those parties, take-out meals and Starbucks drinks? Plus, the price of schooling and textbooks is skyrocketing around the world. However, there are a few things you can do that will relieve some pressure off your wallet and save you from living on ramen noodles and air. 

Switch to cash

If you're living off of student loans, you're living on borrowed money. This means you have debt, so don't sink any deeper by over-spending which can be very easy when you're using credit cards. Instead, switch to cash, so you have a better overview of your spending and how much money you have left. 

Get a roomie

If you can't live with your parents, look for a good roommate that will make paying rent a little easier. Apartments today can be quite pricey, so a reliable roomie will allow you to save half of the living costs. 

Students don't have the best reputation when it comes to money management. University is often your first time living away from your parents, with newfound independence and a fairly decent amount of money dropped into your bank account at the start of the term. It's no wonder people struggle with the temptation to start spending.

While it's not the case for everyone, it's no secret that, when you're a student, money can be tight. With some loans barely covering the cost of rent, it is no surprise that the thought of having to live off a student budget is putting more and more young people off going to university altogether.

The good news is that, even though getting by on a student budget can be tough, it is entirely possible - you just need to learn some new skills. To help you get through your next academic year, we have put together some of the best ways to save on student life.

Budget as soon as your loan comes in

If there’s one thing students are known for, it’s travelling the path less taken to make a few quid. In the mad and rushing world of student life, where parties, endless cramming sessions and awkwardly scheduled tutorials make the idea of holding down a fulltime job an impossibility, doing the jobs that no one else will has become something of a rite of passage for pre-graduates.

But they don’t all have to be miserable, drudging experiences. Make the right search and you’ll be able to experience fun and quirky jobs that will take you to a variety of different situations.

So what jobs have we found that can give you an amazing student experience?

The right scent

The right sort of smell is vital to a businesses’ success, although most of them don’t realise it. But with a pongy workplace or retail space, customers will head for the exit quickly.

Enter scent marketing, the most ground-breaking form of promotion right now. Scent marketers create smells from scratch for clients, providing them with signature scents that they can use to satisfy their customers’ nostrils.

I was always weary of people that claimed to be freelancers, feeling that they were mysterious in some way. It seemed like they were trying to be less than transparent, but the truth is I just didn't understand what it meant to be a freelancer. A freelancer is simply a self-employed person that offers their services to people and/or companies without long-term employment. Once I understood the definition of a freelancer, I thought I wanted to become one. I liked the idea of working when I wanted, while having the freedom to take time off when I needed, without anyone's approval. While this career had its perks, I was also doubtful in my ability to make a living as a freelance artist. I may have learned what a freelancer was but I still had no idea how to become a paid freelancer.

Funding your way through university is a daunting prospect for anyone. Despite the help from Student Finance, studying away from home is undoubtedly expensive, and sometimes a student loan isn't enough to pay your rent, bills and all the other expenses that come with student living.

Rather than doing the maths and giving up on university all together, it's important that you explore all options to see if there are other ways to fund your studies. To give a brief overview, here are some options you might want to look into.

Specific University Grants

Being selective about where you choose to study can have a drastic impact on your income. Many universities offer grants for different achievements and circumstances, so if you're expecting to secure top grades at A-level or are particularly talented at a certain sport, then you could be eligible for some extra cash.