Seeing as it’s that time of year again when people start or return to university/college I thought I would share my ten comprehensive tips to get the most from your experience, whether it involves fun, work or finances.
Get organized
As a student you will no doubt have so much paperwork and information coming into you, that it is important to have some system in place so you don’t get overwhelmed, especially with course-related work. There is lots of potential to get stressed out at university, so having a good GTD based system in place to keep you focused and organized is key. Because you have so much freedom as to how you learn and study, it is so much more important that you are able to manage yourself and your time so as to keep you disciplined. Read some of the posts under my GTD catagory to get you started.
Avoid credit cards!
When it comes to credit cards, loans, overdrafts and other similar financial aid, banks and companies are not offering you them out of the the kindness of their hearts. For example, my friend tried to apply for a loan but the bank said he had too good a chance of paying it back in time. In other words it was not to the advantage of the bank, because they would not get the extra benefits of missed payments, interest etc. It was a rare show of honesty but it summed up their attitude. Students are easy targets for them because they know they are typically short of money.
Track your spending
It’s a valuable habit to get into and being a student, with all the difficulties of juggling expenditure, is a good time to start practicing it. Keep a log of how much money you have coming in and how you are spending it. That way you can tell exactly where your money is going and make important conclusions from it. Found out you are spending the bulk of your money on study books? Look at buying them second hand or using the library.
Textbooks
Speaking of books, they are typically very big expense so buy used ones where possible (Amazon, eBay etc) and then sell them on when you’ve finished with them to cut some of the costs. You will very rarely need to keep the books once you are finished the course anyway. It is always beneficial to have your own copy of a book but do also consider whether you can make do with taking what you need out of the library instead (don’t rely on this approach however, libraries have limited numbers of copies and its quite possible you could miss out). There is also the option of sharing a book between small groups of friends.
Nights out
We all know it’s a pretty common thing to do at college/uni; going to the uni bar, parties, nightclubs etc. If you are worried about spending a lot, do what a friend suggested to me and take out a set amount of money beforehand (and ideally when you are sober) and then leave your bank card at home. Another way to save money is to not go out into town, but buy drinks from the shop and drink at home with a few friends. Bars and pubs tend have inflated prices and that’s on top of having to pay to get into places. Shops – and supermarkets especially – usually have really good special offers.
Use your campus
Get to know your campus quickly. It’s where you will spend a lot of your time and by acclimatising yourself to it early, you will settle in much more quickly, making those first few weeks more pleasant. You will also learn the little quirks like the most quiet place to study, or the busiest time in the canteen. By knowing about your campus you will be able to make the most of the facilities. Any half-decent college/university will host plenty of free/cheap entertainment and special events. They are much better for your finances than expensive nights out round town.
Your social network
On top of getting to know your campus, consider getting to know and befriend as many people as possible, whether it be other students or lecturers. It makes acclimatising to university much more easy if you have people you can talk to and trust. It can also open up lots of opportunities. A lecturer you can comfortably talk to may be able to provide advice on your work, and it can be so much easier to do group work if you have friends on your course. Freshers week is great for achieving all this as there will be so many other people in the same position as you. Look to join groups that have the same interests as yours!
Don’t get a car
Cars may be useful, but they can also be extra expensive, especially when you take into account maintenance, insurance and road tax. Where possible live in or near campus so you don’t have to drive. Get used to using public transport as quickly as possible, because it’s cheaper than running a car and you can typically get some form of discount for being a student. The other problem from having a car is all your friends will expect lifts from you which can complicate matters. If you have no problems being a bit cheeky, ask any of your friends with cars to give you lifts instead ;)
Bad influences
At college or university, there will always be kids with rich parents and relatives and those who willfully walk into debt without a second thought. Avoid hanging around them too much otherwise you may find yourself getting involved in their expensive lifestyles also. Beware of lifestyle inflation! If you get accustomed to their sort of living it can be very difficult to drop back down to a lifestyle more appropriate to your expenditure.
Appreciate your time at college/uni
It’s a unique experience that most people can only really go through once so make the most of it. Some people focus so much on the fun side of things that they come away with a poor degree. Likewise some people are so into their work, they neglect to make friends and gain other experiences. You can work hard and play hard!
August 29, 2007 at 08:54PM
I wish I had read these tips before I left for college. I would have been much more aware of the way I spend my money! In the excitement of being away from home and having control of my own credit card, I didn’t keep track of what I was buying and how much I had in my account. If I had kept a log of what I bought I would have been a lot more careful of how I spent my money!
Another tip I definitely agree with is not having a car. It’s a big adjustment to make from having a car at home to being practically immobile in college, but by relying on friends and public transportation instead you can cut out expensive gas prices, extra mileage, and the hassle of having to park in a crowded, student infested town.
As for spending way too much on textbooks, I’ve learned to stay away from the campus bookstore and only go to copy the ISBN number of books I need. I now rent my books from a site called Book Renter, which lends books for a desired period of time. By renting instead of buying, I save 50% off the standard book price. If I had known about these tips before I left, I could have saved a lot. I hope this post help new and current students save too!
February 3, 2009 at 08:17PM
Really useful! I am on my second year at uni, but not too late to change things! Especially useful for me the topic areas of getting organized, tracking your spending, textbooks, nights out and using your campus. Learn a lesson for life!
February 15, 2009 at 04:30PM
Glad you found it useful Sam. Doesn’t matter what year of university you are in, there is always opportunities to shake things up.
September 11, 2009 at 05:46PM
Cheers for the advice. I’m just about to start university so I’m glad I read this in time. Can prepare myself now, thanks!
September 12, 2009 at 08:40PM
Glad you found the advice useful Peter, let me know how it works out for you!
September 14, 2009 at 01:39PM
I’m starting uni in a couple of weeks and I shall try and remember these tips!
September 25, 2009 at 07:23AM
Great advice James! Tracking your spending is definitely worth it if you don’t want to waste all your money. Money is definitely precious to uni students.