The Aspire Guide - Flipbook - Page 23
Day
3
Today’s Total: £18.30
Wednesday
7:00am: Today’s my earliest start at university, so I grab an orange and head out to catch a bus.
11:00am: By this time, I’ve gotten back home after a lecture. As most of the students in my
accommodation are either still in bed or at university, this is the perfect time to do my laundry
(£2.50 + £3.20 = £5.70). After this, I plan to make lunch (pasta).
8:00pm: The rest of my day has been spent cleaning the kitchen and making sure I have done
everything I need to do ready for tomorrow. As it’s late, I order Chinese takeaway for tea (£12.60) and,
after a quick shower, I will finish my night by chilling in the living room with my flat mates, and then
settling down reading a book later.
Today’s Total: £3.50
Thursday
Day
4
11:00am: I had a late-night yesterday; however, I don’t start until 1:00pm today.
2:30pm: After my first lecture of the day, I’m hungry. I pop over to the Greggs on campus
and get a sandwich and drink (£3.50) and find myself a corner of the library to do some
work ready for my seminar at 4:00pm.
10:00pm: My day at university finished at 7:00pm today. Since getting home, I’ve heated up a stir-fry that I
froze last week and phoned a friend from home. Today has felt like a long day, so this is a good time to go to
bed.
Day
5
Today’s Total: £38.84
Friday
10:00am: This term, I’m lucky to have Fridays off, so I can afford to have a lie in.
12:00pm: After lounging around watching Netflix and having a shower, I decide to leave
my bed and head to Sainsbury’s. I try to go to Sainsbury’s once a week; I do a large shop fortnightly
which involves buying foods that I can use to make bulk meals that I can freeze and reheat, and the
opposite weeks I do a smaller shop which involves replacing necessary perishable foods such as milk,
fruit, or bread. This week it’s a large shop (£38.84).
5:00pm: By now, I’ve put away my shopping and managed to make a stew that I had for tea, which
also filled five containers that I’ve frozen ready to eat during the upcoming week.
10:00pm: I’ve spent the evening working on an essay and doing some of the set reading ready for my
seminar Monday afternoon. Now it’s time to get ready for bed and watch some more Netflix.
This week’s total: £61.84
Weekly Overview
Looking over the past week, I can see that it is very easy to go over my set weekly budget, however, as it
is only a slight amount over, and I know next week’s Sainsbury’s shop will be cheaper, I’m not drastically
worried. This said, it is undeniable that I need to try to plan ahead more as I cannot afford to spend more than
my budget every week, and if I ever want to hang out with friends outside of university, it would be good for
me to have money available.
I know that I could cut down my spending by making sure I have my refillable bottle with me at university,
and by possibly searching for cheaper alternatives whilst I do my weekly shop. Looking over my finances, I
can see it would be good for me to get a part-time job whilst studying so that I have money that goes beyond
basic living each week.
Most universities offer an area for students who are having difficulties to access help. This includes experienced
staff who can help create a budgeting plan for any students who do have financial issues during their time at
university.
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