[slacker07906]

Are there a lot of job opportunities during freshers?

[Emmzaa]

I have £30 to live on a week. (Sometimes £40 if I take £10 out of my savings.) How do you guys get so much?! Ugh.

Still manage to go out 3 times a week though and have at least 3 healthy, filling meals a day. Skill.

(Original post by slacker07906)
Are there a lot of job opportunities during freshers?

If you go looking for them. The clubs/pubs usually want flyer or 'promotion' people to distribute leaflets to freshers etc to promote their club. Many of these are available. As for more substantial work, shops in University cities/towns tend to have more vacancies towards the start of the academic year as many 3rd years leave their jobs. However if you don't get in there quick, it's not always easy to find a job.

[Pritesh.Mistry]

I think I worked out solely from my student loan I'll have around 60 - 75 pounds a week to spend. However if I go along that line I'll end up with no money left by the end of the year.

I'm going to try to spend 40 pounds or so a week. 20 for food (I'm just going to buy bread/pasta mostly) then the other 20 for drinking/clubbing/transport/gym membership.

First few weeks I'm sure I'll be above 40 pounds though!

[Gob Bluth]

Food will cost up to £25-£40 for me. Drinking and socialising an extra £20-£60.

Then the rest.

[SandyN]

(Original post by slacker07906)
I have just learnt I am going to have just £55 per week to live on per week! I literally don't know how I am going to do it.

How much do you guys live on every week?

Around £60, and £30 off that's down to petrol.

[robthefool]

I'm just wondering, with a £30 - £40 budget on food, what type of meals should I be looking at? I will buy value products most of the time, but things like cereal and a few things I just have to have the branded option.

Meals wise I'm a bit short.. things like mince I will be buying the big value packets and freezing it so that it lasts about 4 meals, but I can't think of many cheap meals? I don't like fish..

So far:
800g value mince - £2.40
500g value penne - £0.30
500g value spaghetti - £0.24
2x 500g mature cheddar - 2 for £5.50 (will probably get through at least 250g per week)
500g tesco bolognaise pasta sauce jar -£0.95
2x frozen pepperoni pizza - £4.00
large pack value chicken breast fillets - £6.00
value bread - £0.47
value butter - £1.19 (will last 2 weeks)
2x garlic cloves - £0.60
2x chicken kiev - £2.00
2x value chopped tomatoes - £0.60
tesco malt wheats - £1.08
4 pints semi skimmed milk - £1.18
1x chips - £1.35
3x onions - £0.51
1x tesco mixed pepper stir fry - £1.00
1x pepper - £0.78
1x tesco fajita meal kit - £2.00 (will last at least 2 meals)
1x value lasagne ready made meal - £0.88
value smoked bacon - £1.50
2x tesco tomato soup - £1.18
1x heinz beans - £0.70

= £36.41 (oh, and i'll probably spend about another £3 to £5 on cakes, buscuits, crisps, sweets etc)

Some of the stuff like cheese and chicken will last me 2 weeks most likely, so accounting for that, my shopping would cost £5.75 less per week , which brings it to about £31. How do people survive on £20? I know that the chicken, cheese and pizza are alone worth about £15, but I cannot survive without these three things. I think from that list I can make a lot of meals for dinner and lunch, with leftovers as well, although it does look quite unhealthy.

Also, how much milk do you guys use a week? do you buy one bottle and use it for the whole week or two smaller ones? because I think it usually goes off within about 5 days

[formanmark]

Well my local shop do meat feast pizzas for £1 so the pizza is overpriced. Also tesco is by far the most expensive when buying value range go asda. And the amount you have put for a weeks shopping is unreal your either a big person or a bodybuilder you really dont need that much food every week.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[formanmark]

This is my over the top expect shopping list. Its all asda cheapest so maybe add £2 for delivery if one not close. Most things last 2 weeks like the pasta cheap but still carnt eat a full bag
Student shopping list :

Big meal tea (dinner)
- cheap curry sauce 12-15p
- cheap pasta sauce 25-30p
- cheap pasta 25-30p
- cheap rice 30p-40p
- cheap beans (tins) 50p
- cheap soups (tins) 50p
- cheap chili-concarnieu 50p
- cheap sausages £1
- loafs of bread £2
- potatoes £1
- eggs £1
- butter £1
- tin of tuna £1
- fruit £2
- meat £2

Breakfasts
-Cereal £2
-Milk £3
-Pure orange juice £1

Dinners
-Bread cost coverd above
-Cheap jam 50p
-Sliced meat x2 £1
-Fruit covered above

Tolietries
-Sower gel with shampoo £1
-Toothpaste £1
-Toilet roll £1
-Total for shopping is £24.00



This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[asparkyn]

What about London people? How much would a person on a budget expect to spend on a week given that he/she wouldn't eat out often (pre-drinks are a must too) and would spend only on food with minimal retail shopping?

[Tabers]

I tend to spend less than £30 maybe even less than £25. Of course some weeks may be more (like the ones where I go shopping in town or go on amazon/ebay) but it tends to be about this. I make a lot of meals that serve 4 and then put 3 servings in the freezer. But then I don't tend to go out so if I did I would spend more.

[slacker07906]

Is it going to be a problem if I can't cook? -_-

Also, do we get a washing machine?

[superpig22]

I used to spend about £20 to £30 a week as a student.....
Bulk buy your meat and freeze it in sandwich bags (basics or poundland ones are fine)
Buy basics where you can but try and avoide basic meat cos it is pretty discusting lol

Meals I used to eat

- chicken curry - chicken breast, whatever sauce is on special, rice, some frozen veg
- pasta with various things
- rice with veg and meat or tuna and something
- Kiev, mash and veg
- fish fingers and chips
- spaghetti Bol
- pies
- salad
- cous cous with tuna and sweet corn
- stir fry with noodles or rice


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[BethaneyJ]

(Original post by slacker07906)
Is it going to be a problem if I can't cook? -_-

Also, do we get a washing machine?

Nah you'll either learn to really quick or get by


You should have access to a washing machine at uni - even if it's the shared ones in the laundry room

[22KT22]

(Original post by slacker07906)
By the way, I am going Lancaster!

I live in Lancaster and live off 50-60 a week and that includes eating out twice a week and socialising so its definitely do able. Just make sure you check out cheap prices on food, theres a market which is good for cheap fruit and veg. Sainsbury basics are good, obviously avoid some things but in general its cheap and quite yummy. Plus there are loads of pound shops and a home bargain.

[Jadelyndsey]

(Original post by robthefool)
I'm just wondering, with a £30 - £40 budget on food, what type of meals should I be looking at? I will buy value products most of the time, but things like cereal and a few things I just have to have the branded option.

Meals wise I'm a bit short.. things like mince I will be buying the big value packets and freezing it so that it lasts about 4 meals, but I can't think of many cheap meals? I don't like fish..

So far:
800g value mince - £2.40
500g value penne - £0.30
500g value spaghetti - £0.24
2x 500g mature cheddar - 2 for £5.50 (will probably get through at least 250g per week)
500g tesco bolognaise pasta sauce jar -£0.95
2x frozen pepperoni pizza - £4.00
large pack value chicken breast fillets - £6.00
value bread - £0.47
value butter - £1.19 (will last 2 weeks)
2x garlic cloves - £0.60
2x chicken kiev - £2.00
2x value chopped tomatoes - £0.60
tesco malt wheats - £1.08
4 pints semi skimmed milk - £1.18
1x chips - £1.35
3x onions - £0.51
1x tesco mixed pepper stir fry - £1.00
1x pepper - £0.78
1x tesco fajita meal kit - £2.00 (will last at least 2 meals)
1x value lasagne ready made meal - £0.88
value smoked bacon - £1.50
2x tesco tomato soup - £1.18
1x heinz beans - £0.70

= £36.41 (oh, and i'll probably spend about another £3 to £5 on cakes, buscuits, crisps, sweets etc)

Some of the stuff like cheese and chicken will last me 2 weeks most likely, so accounting for that, my shopping would cost £5.75 less per week , which brings it to about £31. How do people survive on £20? I know that the chicken, cheese and pizza are alone worth about £15, but I cannot survive without these three things. I think from that list I can make a lot of meals for dinner and lunch, with leftovers as well, although it does look quite unhealthy.

Also, how much milk do you guys use a week? do you buy one bottle and use it for the whole week or two smaller ones? because I think it usually goes off within about 5 days

Haha, you are totally the male version of me!!!

A couple days ago, I posted a few things in a similar thread relating to food and expenses at uni etc (Note, I am not a student, yet haha)

Weekly cost:
• Small loaf wholemeal bread= £0.70
• Garlic=£0.50
• 3X small tin tuna=£2.20
• Pack of onions=£1.00
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes=£0.35
• Bag of mozzarella cheese=£0.85
• Large pack of eggs=£1.50
• Small pack baking potatoes=£0.70
• Warburtons square wraps=£1.50
• Salad pack=£2.00
• Stir fry ingredients=£4.00
• Chicken breast (500g)=£3.25
• WW chicken tikka jar=£1.00
• Milk=£2.00
• Pack of mushrooms=£1.00
• 7 bananas=£1
• Couple poundland extras, i.e. crisps, sweets,=£2

==£26.75

Then there's the monthly cost:
• Shampoo & conditioner=£2.00
• 3X9 pack of loo rolls=£6.00
• 1X toothepaste=£1
• 4X pack of rice=£0.89
• 1kg pasta=£1.79
• Mayonnaise=£1.89
• Frozen peas=£1.90
• Sugar=£1.00
• 750g shreddies, 24 weetabix Cereal=£2.00
• 200g tomato pure= £0.49
• 12 bacon rashers=£3
• Pack of ham (and freeze portions)= £1
• 500g lean mince= £4
• Tomato sauce=£1
• Tea bags=£1
==£29

Which equals £34ish per week when averaged out. This list of stuff feeds me extremely liberal and generous portions, snacks, and leftovers as well as providing a healthy diet considering I normally eat chips with every meal right now Oh, if you're looking for ideas btw, this "shopping list" provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for a week with a bit left on the side if you were to make the below items:

1. 2X wholemeal slices of bread,2 tbspn low fat mayo, small can tuna, bit of salad =Tuna sandwich
2. 100g wholemeal pasta, 2 tbspn low fat mayo, small can tuna, 2 tbspn frozen peas, garlic, dried herbs=Tuna pasta
3. 125g lean mince, ½ diced onion, garlic, 1 cal spray, ½ tin chopped tomatoes, 22.5g tomato puree, dried herbs, water, served with with 100g whole meal pasta=Healthy spag bol
4. Bolognaise(half of spagbol), cheese (40g), 1 jacket potato, and handful of salad=Filled Jacket (with bolognaise and cheese)
5. 1 Warburtons wrap, 40g cheese, 50g chicken, few mushrooms, 22.5g tomato puree=Warburtons wrap pizza
6. 1 Warburtons wrap, small 50g can of tuna, 2tbspn low fat mayo, handful of salad=Warburtons tuna salad wrap
7. 100g chicken breast, ½ pack stir fry sauce, ½ pack egg noodles, ½ pack stir fry veg =Stir fry
8. 100g chicken breast, ½ pack stir fry sauce, ½ pack egg noodles, ½ pack stir fry veg =Stir fry
9. 100g chicken breast, ½ jar chicken tikka (WW), ½ bag boil in bag rice=Chicken tikka with rice
10. 2 rashers of bacon, 1 egg (fried), 1 egg (scrambled), 1 slice of toast, handful of mushrooms=English brekkie
11. ½ bag boil in bag rice, rasher of bacon, ½ onion, 40g peas, 50g chicken, soy sauce, ½ tin tomatoes =Whip round the fridge rice,
12. 2 eggs, 3 slices of bread=Dippy soldiers
13. 100g chicken breast, ½ jar chicken tikka (ww), large handful of salad, warburtons wrap=Chicken tikka salad sandwich
14. 2 slices of bread, 8 slices of ham, and 45g of cheese=Cheese & ham toastie

Obviously, the mince lasts me a while in this respect... When I make spag bol one day, I make like 2 portions and use the next portion on a spud over the next few days with a bit of cheese and salad maybe.

About the milk thing, I normally have about 1.3l of milk during the week on breakfasts alone (cereal and scrambled egg). I also have milk in cups of tea by the bucket load, as well as a glass of milk with biscuits every few days at night depending on how peckish I am so a big 2L bottle of skimmed milk would do me for a week. But, as you say, milk can start to turn after about 5 so I think buying two smaller bottles every 3 days or so would be the best option for me.

Good luck with uni, and good luck with finishing this post

[welshfrankie]

Thanks to Student Finance I have £20 a week to live on. No idea how I'm going to last

[Jadelyndsey]

(Original post by welshfrankie)
Thanks to Student Finance I have £20 a week to live on. No idea how I'm going to last

I would start saving now if I were you! And contact student finance to see if you could be entitled to a bit more, or a partial grant etc. However, I know my cousin had £25 per week and she managed, but she had a part time job too. Wish everyone could be rich, be so much easier!

[kiai8]

(Original post by welshfrankie)
Thanks to Student Finance I have £20 a week to live on. No idea how I'm going to last

Yeah same with me we will survive!

[katehlouise]

So, because I get such a crap maintenance loan, I've worked out that once I've paid for my accomodation I have £542 left... Over 42 weeks (which I think is right), that means £12 per week. How on earth can I live on that?!
I mean, I'm currently saving, so I'll have some money to start with, but I'm going to need to buy stuff for my course when I'm there... Photography stuff is expensive! Arghh.

[swarla9]

(Original post by katehlouise)
So, because I get such a crap maintenance loan, I've worked out that once I've paid for my accomodation I have £542 left... Over 42 weeks (which I think is right), that means £12 per week. How on earth can I live on that?!
I mean, I'm currently saving, so I'll have some money to start with, but I'm going to need to buy stuff for my course when I'm there... Photography stuff is expensive! Arghh.

Maintenance loans are crap! A lot of my friends loans don't even cover their accommodation let alone have some left over Why doesn't everyone get the same since we just have to pay it back anyways!