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<\/span>Budgeting: <\/strong> Boring But Essential!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Budgeting may not be the most exciting way to spend your time, but it remains one of the most powerful tools for managing your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a budget helps you understand where your money comes from, where it’s going, and where you might be able to cut back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The how-to of budgeting in four easy steps:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Make a list of all sources of money coming in. Remember to include student finance and add all weekly, monthly, termly or annual payments to then calculate a realistic budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Categorise expenditure into Fixed expenses (rent, insurance, phone, car repayments etc) and Variable expenses (groceries, utilities, entertainment, clothes etc). Tracking your spending for a month can provide a clear picture of where your money goes and identify areas where savings may be possible.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Calculate your total income for the term and subtract your fixed expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your term lasts 12 weeks: \u00a31,500 \u00f7 12 = \u00a3125 per week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This gives you a realistic weekly amount for variable and non-essential spending.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Realistically most students don\u2019t have much spare cash at the end of the week or month, but it is always recommended to create an \u2018emergency pot\u2019 to help cover those rainy days (in Belfast we have a lot!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another financial goal may be to clear down any outstanding debt. Prioritise those with higher interest rates and always ensure to maintain minimum payments on all others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial goals do not have to be ambitious to be worthwhile. Even putting away a few pounds each week can provide valuable peace of mind when unexpected expenses arise.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Once you’ve established your budget, the next step is finding opportunities to reduce spending and maximise your income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s not pretend that cutting a daily flat white will miraculously solve all your money worries, however, it\u2019s important to recognise your money draining activities and look for alternatives. The SU Lounge has tea\/coffee making facilities and food preparation areas. Don\u2019t underestimate the savings of bringing a packed lunch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Student discounts are one of the easiest ways to reduce spending. Many retailers offer student discounts, but not all advertise them clearly, so it never hurts to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Popular discount platforms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Translink yLink Card<\/a> is available to 16-23 year olds and offers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay informed of discounts and offers by subscribing to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think haggling but without the awkwardness! Before making larger purchases, compare prices using:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then maximise savings further through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many students (65% to be exact), it can be necessary to supplement any income with part-time employment. While this may help stretch your finances and your social circle, it is worth noting that this should not exceed 15-20 hours per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have any additional spare time, online surveys and research studies can provide a small income boost. Save the Student<\/a> offers a helpful guide to reputable options.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Choosing second-hand helps both your wallet and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food spending can quickly add up, but small changes can generate significant savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re experiencing financial hardship, the University may be able to offer discretionary funding through its financial assistance funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NI and GB students can apply to the Student Support Fund<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International, ROI and EU students may be eligible for assistance through the Financial Assistance Fund<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please ensure to read the guidelines and eligibility criteria before applying and note that each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and an award is not guaranteed. If you need any support with your application, please contact SU Advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re Here to Help<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n SU Advice<\/a> provides free, independent and confidential support on student money matters.Contact the team at su.advice@qub.ac.uk<\/a><\/strong> for advice and guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial wellbeing is often built through small, consistent actions rather than dramatic sacrifices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A packed lunch. A budgeting app. A student discount. An extra \u00a35 saved each week. These actions may seem insignificant on their own, but over time they can make a meaningful difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Talk Money Week, take one small step towards improving your financial wellbeing. It all counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Talk Money Week<\/a> is a national campaign led by the Money and Pensions Service<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As students navigate the pressures of rising living costs, financial wellbeing can feel overwhelming. However, improving your finances doesn’t always require major lifestyle changes. Whether it’s tracking your spending, making use of student discounts, preparing meals at home or setting aside a few pounds for emergencies, every positive step counts. This Talk Money Week, we’re […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,70,5,52],"tags":[35,125,120,364,199,184,85],"class_list":["post-6017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-advice-support","category-health-wellbeing","category-local-living","category-student-life","tag-advice","tag-budgeting","tag-discounts","tag-second-hand","tag-shopping","tag-student-discounts","tag-student-life","czr-hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6B2ST-1z3","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/10\/pexels-cottonbro-3943714-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6017"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6028,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6017\/revisions\/6028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Step 1: Calculate Your Income<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Step 2: Track Your Expenses<\/strong><\/summary>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 3: Calculate Your Budget<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Step 4: Set Financial Goals<\/strong><\/summary>\n
Helpful Budgeting Tools<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Cost Cutters: Making Your Money Go Further<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
1. Review Non-Essential Spending<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Make the Most of Student Discounts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Check before you buy<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Save on Travel<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Sign Up for Savings Alerts<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Compare Prices and Earn Cashback<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Earn Extra Income<\/strong><\/summary>\n
3. Buy and Sell Second-Hand<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Save Money on Food<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Need Extra Financial Support?<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Remember: It All Counts<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
5 Small Actions You Can Take This Talk Money Week<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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