Article: Freshers: here’s how to spend less during your first year of uni

Point 7: If you're printing more than 1000 pages in a year, then I reckon you're doing it wrong for most courses. If you have six essays a year at 30 pages each and you print them twice (a draft for checks then final version), that only amounts to 360 pages. Many unis have electronic hand-in these days, so you might find that halves it.

The amount you might save will depend on how much your uni charges, so do the maths for your uni before buying a printer. My current uni charges 3p a sheet for black & white printing so even 1000 pages a year would only cost £30. And producing that amount on your own printer would certainly mean buying new ink at some point, which is where the major expense of your printer will bite.

Plus a printer needs to be transported home at the end of the year which adds to the chore. The last time I tried moving an inkjet, it leaked coloured ink all over the car boot and never worked again because I couldn't clean the ink out if the internals thoroughly enough.

This is because you are doing things wrong.

Mono laser printers are as cheap as £40. As they do not use ink they do not dry out. Therefore you need a lot less toner as they do not automatically get used up.

I would get a printer as a backup as I imagine some days getting access to a printer may be more difficult, ergo, £40 is a very good investment for your money.

At 3p a sheet, I'd have had to print 1333 pages before I started saving money. It certainly wouldn't have been an economical option where I was an undergrad, and even less so now as they have electronic hand-in and assignments no longer need to be printed. Makes sense to check print costs at uni and do some maths before investing.

Access to a printer was never difficult. There were several in my department and dozens which were open access throughout the campus. If the nearest was busy or broken, you just go to the next one. And now that hand-in is electronic, there are rarely times at which large numbers of people are all trying to use the same departmental printers anyway.

Using Iplayer without a TV licence is illegal now just a heads up

Only if you watch live, isn't it?

No. It"s being changed to included downloading and on demand as well:
*http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/bbc-iplayer-and-the-tv-licence?&WT.mc_id=rdir_tvlcouk-lawchange

Moving away from home can be a big and expensive life change. But don't fear! TSR has compiled 11 money-saving tips for freshers here:http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=17335-Freshers-here’s-how-to-spend-less-during-your-first-year-of-uni
Share your own hints in the comments.