It's not all doom and gloom though, as I'm told that the second and especially the third years are comparatively cheaper for the following reasons...
1.People generally tend to live in groups of three or four in a flat, and share major living expenses such as cooking.
2. People actually cook
3. People have to do some work! The work intensifies, especially in terms 2&3, so there simply isn't the scope for going out every night of the week (unless you don't want to get a 2.1 that is).
4. People invest in Sky - £40 a month, split between four people, and providing endless nights of entertainment is actually OK value. Especially when you might otherwise go out on a given evening and blow £40 without a second thought.
5. 2nd and 3rd years don't get ripped off by the shambles that is Freshers' Fortnight!!