How to Save Money When You’re Studying

When you have decided what profession or trade you want to work in, the time has probably come for you to start studying. This can be a very expensive time as there are course fees to pay and books to buy among many other costs. For you to proceed with your dream, it might be necessary for you to find some ways of saving money so that you can complete your studies.

Earn While You Study

There are two main ways of achieving this. You could do an apprenticeship such as a cipd qualification with Arch Apprentices or one of the new NHS nursing apprenticeships that are being offered in many parts of the country. These mean you work at the same time as studying. Your college course is usually either a couple of days a week or in blocks of a few weeks at a time. The rest of the time you work in the job. This not only lets you study for your chosen career, it gives you work experience and pays you a wage all at the same time.

The other way to earn while you study is to complete your course online. These courses can be fitted into your lifestyle, so you can work during the day and study in the evenings to suit yourself. There are usually virtual classrooms where the students and tutors can all interact, ask questions and discuss any problems. You are generally allowed longer to complete the coursework than at a physical college or university, but the qualification at the end is just the same.

Student Discounts

Many businesses offer discounts to students, and you should take advantage of them whenever you can if you want to save money. These can help you to reduce your expenses considerably, as the discounters include supermarkets, restaurants, and many entertainment venues and clothes shops.

Don’t Overpay Your Tax

Students have the same free amount of income they can earn before paying any tax. If you have a part-time job or work just in the holidays and your total income for the is below this level, which is currently £11,000, you should not be paying any tax at all. Get in touch with HMRC who will arrange for any tax you have paid to be refunded to you.

Buy Books Second Hand

The price of textbooks is shockingly high, and once you have finished your course you will probably never refer to them again. There are many other students in this position, so there are always some for sale on the second-hand market. This can save you a lot of money, and help them recoup some of what they had to spend.

Save On Transport

You can save money on transport by walking further or investing in a cycle. Although most universities and colleges have excellent transport links, having to pay train or bus fares every day soon amounts to a lot of money. If you live miles away, try walking just to one stop nearer than you would normally get the bus or train. This will not only save you money, it will help to keep you fit as well.

There are lots of ways you can save on expenses while studying and hopefully not end up with more debt than you need to from your student loans. Budget your money carefully, and keep an eye on what you are spending and you might be surprised how far you can make your money go.

*This is a collaborative post.