1) Don’t ignore any financial difficulties you have, as they may become a major problem if not dealt with early on.

2) Withdraw the money you need for the week and try to avoid making small cash machine withdrawals – these mount up very quickly!

3) Keep a record of what you spend. After a week/month you can then check your outgoings and see how accurate your expenditure predictions have been.

4) Don’t rush out and buy every book on your course list. Many may not be essential and you may be able to get some of them second hand. Click here to visit the student books website. 

5) If you have to pay for healthcare costs (glasses, prescriptions etc.) make sure you complete a HC1 form first to see if you are eligible for any financial assistance from the NHS. Click here to request a form.

6) If your parents' income drops by 15% or more, you can apply to have your student loan and maintenance grant entitlement reassessed.

7) Make sure you get all possible student discounts for travel, shopping and your social life. Look at the National Union of Students website for further information.

8) To reduce the cost of your utility bills always switch lights and electrical appliances off when not is use. For more ideas on saving money on bills see the NUS’s energy saving tips.

9) For tips on how to save money on your food and grocery shopping see ‘Eating on a budget’ and ‘Cheap shopping in York’.

10) Buy a bike so you can cycle around the city and don’t have to spend money on petrol or public transport.