How much do you spend on socialising while at university?

I am quite worried on how I am going to survive through the first year of university since I have never really budgeted before. I am currently making my finance plan for each month but I am not really aware on how much I should be putting aside for socialising?

I don't drink so I am guessing that should cut quite a bit off but I don't mind chilling with people in a bar or whatever and order something else to drink/eat. Do people go out everyday or almost everyday? I know that a lot of spending will probably go down in freshers week but after that?

I don't know why but I might feel a little guilty for saying no to people when they invite my out or something because I would rather save up a little.

This is obviously going to vary from person to person but I just wanted a rough idea on how much people spent socialising.

Reply 1

claireestelle

Original post by HassanD

In first year I didn't ever spend more than £30 a week but it varies massively really. I d say people might go out once or twice a week if you re not including drinking :smile:

Reply 2

somnolent

Tbh this depends entirely on where you're studying and the kind of people you're friends with. I knew people who spent their entire budget for the term within a couple of weeks, but that was in London at a uni with a definite reputation for non-stop partying. Not drinking will definitely save you money, and in a lot of cases the novelty of being able to go out to bars and clubs wears out within a couple of months and other people will be more inclined to have quiet evenings in, so there'll be far less pressure on you.

In all honesty, people who judge you for not drinking aren't worth being around in the first place.

The best way to figure out a budget is to find out how much it costs for soft drinks etc at the student union, pubs and bars around your uni, and go from there. You'll probably find you're spending more on food - people get tired of cooking their own stuff really quickly!

Reply 3

JustGeorgeJ

Original post by HassanD

Not many people have budgeted when they first get to university, it's a new experience for the majority but you pretty much learn along the way.
In terms of how much people spend on socialising, it's down to the individual person! If you aren't playing on drinking loads, that'll save you some money. Student bars and what not, drinks and food are quite cheap so you don't need a lot. I haven't heard of many people going out everyday, but people (the majority) go out on student nights and what not. After Freshers your spending spreads out once you let your head into lectures.

You don't have to say no. The best way is to go to supermarkets and what not and buy drink from there and save money that way if you do want to go out and not feel guilty but you can still go out with spending anything. Just socialise and dance andw hat not!

I have around £70 on my budget and after shopping which was ony £15 because I shopped with a group, my 'socialising' money was a fair bit but I probably spent around £20-£30.

Reply 4

HassanD

I guess £30 a week is decent and I could manage to squeeze it into my budget. Also what are people like in private accommodation (halls)? Do you usually get social people or people who just prefer to not to go out/study?

Reply 5

lozzielizzie

I have £20 a week in my budget for going out/fun. Whatever I want to spend it on.

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Reply 6

hikkarie

freshers week a few hundred
after that 20-30

Reply 7

HassanD

Original post by hikkarie

freshers week a few hundred
after that 20-30

A few hundreds? On what :s-smilie:

Reply 8

shawn_o1

Do you really need to spend money talking to other people, surely all you need is your and their free time :confused:

Reply 9

SophieSmall

In first year near freshers time if I went out twice a week I'd spend about £30. As time has gone on and we don't even go out every week I just allocate up to £20 for each house party/ pub or going out session.

This estimate doesn't include eating out or things like the cinema, since we don't do that often enough for it to really be an estimate. In the whole of this year I've probably spent less that £60 on those things.

Reply 10

o-glez

Original post by HassanD

Depends on a few factors really. When I was at Liverpool uni, I'd probably spend £15 on a night mid week! That included pre drinks but we also walked into town (the mighty 10 minute walk there and 30 minute drunken stumble coming back). Liverpool was (and still is) cheap for a student. But weekends were more expensive with most places charging £5 to get in. Entrance fees soon add up.

So if you're going studenty places mid week you probably won't spend too much. If you're not drinking, you could manage £70-100 for freshers week. That's just for Liverpool though. Not sure about anywhere else. London or most southern unis could be way more expensive.

Reply 11

cole-slaw

Original post by HassanD

All of it.

Reply 12

HassanD

Original post by o-glez

Thanks for sharing, I am also going Liverpool so this is helpful :smile:

. I guess £70-100 is okay just for freshers week. People made it out to be hundreds and that was worrying.

Reply 13

o-glez

Original post by HassanD

Thanks for sharing, I am also going Liverpool so this is helpful :smile:

. I guess £70-100 is okay just for freshers week. People made it out to be hundreds and that was worrying.

No problem. Like I say, Liverpool is a very cheap city for a student. It gets a little bit expensive at the weekends though. Generally, concert square is the studenty area. Will you be living in the city centre ? If so, you can walk everywhere.