A Day in the Life of a Student in the UK: Budgeting Your Expenses 🇬🇧

As a student at UCL, I developed a routine of recording my daily expenses using Excel. Over the course of a year, I spent approximately £43,000, and I hope this serves as a reference for those considering studying abroad.

My Background

I come from a typical middle-class family in Jiangsu, China. During my university years in Nanjing, my monthly living allowance was around £2,500, and I would often return home for meals on weekends.

Daily Routine in the UK

Breakfast 💰

Cost: £1 – A simple meal of milk, two slices of bread, and a fried egg. If I have morning classes, I’ll eat breakfast; otherwise, I skip it.

Lunch

Typically, I have my lunch at the cafeteria, costing around £3. I must say, British food can be quite challenging to enjoy; it’s not the tastiest, and surprisingly, I lost about 10 pounds! When I returned home, my mother made sure to feed me well!

Dinner 💰

For dinner, we usually spend about £5. My four roommates and I often go to Tesco to buy groceries. We prepare meals together, ensuring we have two meat dishes and one vegetable dish for our £5 budget.

All in all, I budget approximately £10 a day for food. If I try to save, I can get by on about £8 to £9 daily.

Transportation and Entertainment 🚊

On weekends, my entertainment expenses vary based on my mood, but here’s an approximate breakdown:

• Visiting friends in Nottingham: Around £100, once a month.
• Going out for drinks with friends: Approximately £30, 2-4 times a month.
• Dining out: About £20-£30, 1-2 times a week.
• Trying to recreate hometown dishes in the dorm: Roughly £30, 1-2 times a month.
• Day trips to nearby cities: Approximately £60.
• Clothing or cosmetics purchases: About £80, every six months.

In total, I find that having a monthly budget of £400-£600 is adequate. £400 ensures a basic lifestyle, while £600 allows me to enjoy life in the UK without too much worry. I’ve accounted for more expenses than I typically have, so the actual costs may be lower. I don’t intentionally save; I spend what I need and save where I can!

Money-Saving Tips for Studying in the UK ⚠

1. If you want to save money, choose an ensuite room. Living alone leads to more takeaway meals.
2. When selecting accommodations, make sure to compare options carefully to avoid poor choices.
3. Seek a reliable study abroad institution to help you apply for scholarships – they can be very beneficial.
4. Find roommates to cook together; saving shouldn’t compromise your health.
5. Be on the lookout for deals and discounts.
6. Develop a practice of tracking your expenses. Understanding where your money goes can help you avoid overspending.

In future posts, I will share my experiences regarding UCL accommodations and some money-saving strategies. Stay tuned! #StudyInUK #UKStudyExpenses #UCL #UCLStudyAbroad #StudyAbroadAgencies #StudentHousingInUK