Finance

The Student Funding Office

The Student Funding Office is there to offer advice on financial matters and they also hold the purse strings for the Access Fund and Loans, they can give short term loans if you give them a post dated cheque too, so if you are in dire straits so please don't suffer in silence...they really are friendly and want to help. If you need any advice or just want to come in and chat about your money, you can go and visit them in Senate House, or you can visit the Student Funding Office website.

Self-management

Do yourself a favour and draw up a budget. In one column put in all your out goings, that's rent, electricity, gas, phone (including mobile!), transport (day to day and going home, whether you have a car or use the bus), food (be sensible budget about £15 per week for this, you'll end up ill if you think you can survive off of cheese on toast). If you smoke put this in too.

In the opposite column put in all the money you have coming in. This is your student loan, any money that your parents give you, and any other allowances you may get. If you have more outgoings than incomings then have a look at where you can save some money, if that simply isn't possible than you're going to need to get a job. The Careers Advisory Service run a good jobshop with term time and holiday work. You could always sign up with employment agencies, check out the local paper, or even go into businesses and ask. The important thing about this budget is that it's FOR YOU and you alone so BE HONEST.

The FSA, Britain's financial watchdog, has designed a new website What about money? to give you the facts about money.

The Student Debtline

If you are in a crisis about money and need to talk to someone urgently, The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) have set up a help-line which aims to reduce the number of students who give up studying because of debt or fear of debt. The number to call is 0800 328 1813 . Lines are open 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday.