International Student Handbook - International Student Office

International Student Handbook 2013-14
Managing your money
36
How can I make my money go further
Budget
The best way to make your money go further is to
decide on a budget and stick to it. It’s important
to have a clear idea of how much money you
have to spend each week and what your essential
costs are, so you know how much you have left
to spend on non-essential things. You could start
by using the International Student Calculator to
create your budget or you could design your own
spreadsheet. You can visit the Student Advice
Centre for confidential face-to-face advice on
budgeting.
http://international.studentcalculator.org
Shop around
It‘s always worth checking several different
shops and service providers to compare prices
before buying. When shopping online always
search on more than one site to be sure you have
found a good deal. Online price comparison
websites can be very useful. Remember that
online reviews can only give you an idea about
the product – for factual information check the
official product details before you buy.
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Student discounts
Carry your student ID card with you. It’s always
worth asking places whether they offer a student
discount. You can also find out about the latest
deals, discounts and special offers for students
in Leeds on: www.studentbeans.com
Transport and travel
You can save money by walking or cycling. Bus
passes, railcards, coachcards and booking in
advance can make a big difference if you are
travelling longer distances. Read pages 42-45
to find out about other ways you can save money
on travel.
Utility bills
Remember to switch off electrical appliances
and heating whenever you don’t need them. If
you are paying your utility bills separately in
private-sector housing, make sure you are with
the cheapest supplier for gas and electricity. You
can use the uSwitch website to compare costs.
www.uswitch.com
Buy second hand
You can find great bargains on clothes, books
and household items in charity shops and help a
good cause at the same time. Charity shops can
be found on Otley Road in Headingley and in the
city centre. The online auction website eBay has
a huge range of second hand as well as new
goods to buy and you can also use it to make
money by selling any of your unwanted
possessions. The Amazon website is also very
useful for second hand books, DVDs and CDs.
www.ebay.co.uk
www.amazon.co.uk
Buy Second Hand
Leeds University Union's Love Leeds Charity
Shop is on level -1 of the Union building. It sells
second hand clothing, books, cookware,
homeware and bedding at low prices. All the
money raised in the shop supports the work of
Leave Leeds Tidy which helps students love
Leeds by keeping it clean.
Freecycle is an online group which helps people
to find new homes for things that they want to
give away for free. If you join the group you can
receive emails about things that are being
offered and you can send a request for anything
you are looking for.
www.freecycle.org
How can I avoid financial problems
and get help if I need it
Don’t rush into a contract
Never sign a contract for a phone, housing,
insurance, internet/broadband, cable or satellite
TV or other product or service unless you have
read it and you are sure that you are happy with
the conditions, including the length of the
contract. Sales people can be very persuasive
and once you have signed, you will be legally