Living on a Student Budget

Don’t go broke or end up in debt. Work out what you can afford using the downloadable weekly budget below as a guide. It’s important to understand how much money you have coming in each week, how much you’re spending on essentials, and extras on top of that. Food, rent, and power should always take priority. 

How to set up your budget: 

  1. Establish your income
    First up, you need to work out how much money you have to work with.  
  2. Estimate your outgoings
    Next up you need to figure out where all your money is going.  
  3. Calculate your weekly budget
    Once you’ve got all your expenses laid out before you, it’s time to break it down into a weekly budget.  
  4. Set yourself some goals
    Whether you are budgeting for your day-to-day or budgeting to save up for something, it’s all about setting goals to either reduce your spending or increase your income. 

On the OUSA Student Support Hub there is a list of alternative financial support options for students in times of need. Please see this for more information or book an appointment to discuss your financial situation.