Budgeting
As a student, you’ll need to manage your money carefully. We strongly recommend that you create and follow a budget to avoid financial difficulties.
How to create a budget
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List your income over a specific period, for example:
- The academic year (37 weeks on average).
- The accounting year (52 weeks).
- A calendar month (4.33 weeks).
- A financially difficult time.
- List your anticipated expenses during this time, ensuring you are honest and realistic.
- Adjust your income and/or expenditure to balance your budget.
- Learn to live within your budget.
Tips on money management
- A good budgeting and money management website is sorted.org.nz. It has lots of great tips, budget calculators, articles and resources. Visit the Sorted website
- Banks offer fee-free tertiary accounts to students. View their websites for more information.
- Buy the essential textbooks first. Look for up-to-date editions of second-hand books or share expensive textbooks. Most textbooks are also available for use in the University Library.
- Carefully plan your insurance for your car and items such as computers, cameras and musical equipment essential to courses.
- If you're an international student, you can purchase a $20 International Student ID Card from STA Travel to ensure maximum long distance travel discounts (eg, on ferries).
- A StudentCard gets you great discounts on everyday items like pizzas, DVD rentals and movie tickets, as well as your power bill and gym membership. Sign up for StudentCard
- Buy public transport fares on campus to get a student discount.
Money and flatting
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- Flatting is usually a lot more expensive than living at home. You'll need to budget very carefully to meet all your expenses.
- Create a realistic budget to manage your money, and always allow an amount for any unforeseen expenses.
- You can find information and forms for tenants on the Department of Building and Housing website.
