Talking Money

Holly: Because I worked the whole way through uni I had quite a healthy money flow therefore I wasn't too worried about debt or using over-drafts and never was really too short of money.

Jana: At the moment I've been very lucky because I've found two part-time jobs that relate to my course.

Aaron: I don't work part time at uni cause my course is quite demanding of my time which leaves little time for working or... can I do that again?

Working during term

Claire: I work in a city bar. I'm a bar maid there. Which is a chore sometimes because I have to just stand there while everyone else is getting drunk while I'm just serving them.

I do have to work to give me the money. And I think as well it does give me a good sense of being an adult and earning your own living and really supporting yourself.

I did earn six pound an hour when I first started, and I got the amazing increase of fifty pence an hour! It does give me a bit of pocket money now and again. I suppose in the Christmas holidays I can take more hours on if I want to save up for something.

Not only does it show I've taken on responsibility, but it gives customer relation skills. And also, I did chose to go to university and chose to support myself at the same time so I am capable of taking on the responsibility.

I sometimes get jealous because my friends don't have to work, they get lots of support from their parents, so they get to go out more, and they don't have as many worries but I just get over it and carry on.

Working during holidays

Alex: During the summer I worked at Henley Royal Regatta.

Sarah: Over the summer holidays I worked at Chester Zoo.

Alex: I earnt about £6 an hour, it wasn't a fun job, and I had to put up with a lot of bosses being a bit of a pain.

Sarah: Over the holidays obviously you need to save money for university, so I attempted to save money, might have saved about £500, which i think I spent all over Fresher Week!

Alex: Primarily, that money contributed towards my partying.

Sarah: Your family is always your first priority when you get back because you haven't seen them in so long. I think most of the time I made sure my priority was my family, then my friends, then work way below.

Too busy studying

Aaron: My course is a full-time studio based course which leaves little time to get a job to subsidise my student loan. So if you can work, and you do have reading weeks or days where you don't have to be in collage even if you are just working a day a week it will make a big difference. Whether you use that money to pay for your food for the week or for going out on the weekends then I would recommend it.

Can't work?

Aaron: For people who can't afford the time to work, they should look into bursaries for accommodation such as UNIAID housing bursary. Research into Foyer and the hardship fund. This can all help make your university experience a happier one with out the worry of running out of money,

Advice from UNIAID

Jemma: There are other ways in which can suplement your income, part-time work is a big one that lots of students take up either while they are studying or during the holiday time.

I would say that if possible try and look for a job that is either related to your course or maybe related to what you want to do in the future. For example if you are doing Veterinary Science, perhaps try and get some work in a Veterinary surgery to get some work experience as well as earn some extra cash. Try and think of a job that might fit in with your time table or your life style. You don't want to be working really late, untill three o'clock in the morning if you have a really important nine o'clock lecture.

One way in which you might like to try and use your holidays is to try and get an internship. If you are trying to get into a really competitive business, perhaps like accounting, banking or law, try and use your time between terms to get some work experience and meet who might be your future employer.

HSBC on saving money

Lucy: My money saving tip would be that if you've got a part time job and you've got a salary coming in, just pop it into a savings account and it will grow interest in there and you just pop in ... eh ... and you can just draw money in an out but it can make some interest for you and make you more money.

Volunteering

Alex: You get a great deal out of any sort of volunteering. Things like leadership skill, marketing working with others.

Volunteering is absolutely something that could help you get a job. The contacts that you make are invaluable.

It can be quite time consuming and a lot of people see it as working but without getting the pay.

I managed to get two jobs out of working for a volunteering organisation.

I had a fantastic time volunteering and I would recommend it to anybody.