How much does an average student spend in their first year at uni?

I was wondering about how much I would expect to spend in my first year as a student if I lived like the average 1st year.

I would be buying food and stuff but I won't be paying and rent or the sort as I've already got accommodation sorted.

So any estimations? :smile:

Reply 1

tearteto

depends how much you go out, the regular is £30 a week, if you go out a lot may be £50 but that's stretching it. blow that up by 52, then add about £300 cushion for things like travelling and other expenses that may occur, it'll be around the 2k mark for the whole year as a guess.

Reply 2

i am groot

Original post by tearteto

Also depends on how frugal you are and your lifestyle too. I'd say double that... so £4k for the year minimum or £95/week... easily achievable with a part-time/weekend job!

Reply 3

XMaramena

I spent roughly £22,000.

But yes, does depend on a lot of factors - lifestyle, location, what you're expecting to spend on, what's already paid for you etc..

Reply 4

OliverG

Original post by XMaramena

I spent roughly £22,000.

But yes, does depend on a lot of factors - lifestyle, location, what you're expecting to spend on, what's already paid for you etc..

How did you spend that much?

Reply 5

XMaramena

Original post by OliverG

How did you spend that much?

Well fees were £11,000, I came back home once in the middle of the year so there were 2 return flights to pay for - they cost about £700 each, then there was rent for the apartment - by that time I'm up to about £17,000 and the rest was on food, utilities, going out etc.

(Bear in mind I did my first year abroad, my uni didn't have halls and I never took out a student loan)

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 6

johnny2face2

Original post by XMaramena

I spent roughly £22,000.

But yes, does depend on a lot of factors - lifestyle, location, what you're expecting to spend on, what's already paid for you etc..

Including tuition and accommodation fees?

Reply 7

XMaramena

Original post by johnny2face2

Including tuition and accommodation fees?

Yes of course - uni fees, rent, flights.... ... ...

Reply 8

OliverG

Original post by XMaramena

Aah, ok. I thought you didn't include tuition fees hence my surprise. I thought i'd be having to ask my parents to help me out even further! I mean, as it stands I will only get the minimum in student finance, and the cheapest accomodation without sharing a bedroom or a bathroom with like 10 people was £110. So before I do anything, i'm down £30 a week!

Reply 9

XMaramena

Original post by OliverG

You'll need £50-80 a week. Don't forget to factor in things like fares and any recurring payments you have going like Xbox live, Netflix, your phone contract etc

Reply 10

Naami

I spent about £55 a week last year on food, laundry & going out. I was quite bad in the fact that I hardly ever made a packed lunch so I regularly ate out. I don't drink which saved me a bit. There were no markets or an Aldi/Lidl near me so my only choice was Tesco.

So £55 x 33 weeks = £1815.

I went home about twice per term which is about £30 for a return trip.
6 x £30 = £180

My phone contract is £19/month.
£19/month x 12 months = £228
I had some months when I went over my allowances though so I'm gonna estimate £260.

Netflix was £6/month which is £72 for the year.

So about £2300 in total. I haven't included stuff like clothes but I'll take a wild guess of about £300.

Grand total = £2600

Reply 11

username660754

I lived in London, catered accommodation but still spent just under about £100 a week. Accommodation was £6.5k for 38 weeks (so £175 a week). Think I worked out that I spent something in the region of £11-12k for the whole year, including accommodation, lunches, extras, drinks, nights out etc. Had to work a fair bit to make up for the difference.