Budgeting

Life as a student can turn out to be quite expensive. You should be careful about how you spend your money and budget. You can find an estimate of costs of things in Luton and Bedford here: www.beds.ac.uk/studentlife/studyabroad/incoming/live/studentbudget

The International Student Calculator released by UNIAID and UKCISA, helps international students plan and manage their money for studies in the UK.

Avoid using credit cards and store cards. If you do use them either pay off the balance when your bill comes or at least make the minimum payment each month.
Avoid eating out regularly.
When you go shopping for food, buy only supermarkets own brand food.
Buy fruit & vegetable from grocery shops, i.e. – in Bury Park
Avoid drinking alcohol too much.
Limit unnecessary expenditure for example - avoid taxis walk or use public transport whenever possible.
Hire a bike from the University chaplaincy (The Treehouse) – good for your health and it will save you money - tree-house.org.uk.
Keep your bank statements and letters. You can monitor your spending with them and they are also very important documents.
Be careful to stay within your overdraft limit if you have one.