The soaring cost of rent, food, fuel and energy has left students and apprentices at breaking point. 96% of us are cutting back, with a third of us left with just £50 a month after paying rent and bills.
It’s pushing us to the brink –12% of students have taken out loans and 11% are using food banks. 90% of us say it’s affecting our mental health, but only 1 in 5 of us has had government help. And we’re in a cost of learning crisis too - 46% of us can no longer afford course materials. (NUS, 2022)
How does this affect you as a BNU student?
Brandon Tester
What is the cost-of-living crisis?
Here you will gain information and have access to tools which will hopefully make navigating the current crisis that little bit easier. The tools and information within this guide are from a range of different materials and sources ranging from the Students’ Union’s The Big Deal to local councils and online websites.
At BNU there are many students who are all from different walks of life and the cost-of-living crisis affects EVERYONE. It does not discriminate. Well, unless you have a couple thousand pounds as pocket money! Those students who travel to the different campuses are affected by the spike in fuel costs. Students who do a food shop, either for themselves or their families, more than likely will have to cut back on their shopping list and this includes essentials and feel-good treats. Renting students, especially those in private accommodation, are affected heavily with rent increases and energy prices soaring. Although this guide is a tool to help you as a student through this crisis as much as it can, it must be remembered that the cost-of-living crisis is not something that can be changed through fun saving challenges or cutting back on takeaways and nights out. “Bigger changes from the top are needed to get us out of this mess.”
Vice President Education and Welfare (High Wycombe)
Welcome to the student’s guide to the cost-of-living crisis
To be straightforward, the money you receive from the jobs you may work, or your student finance and any other forms of income, doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. The money will go on living costs such as your energy bills, rent, food costs and fuel. This means you tend to have less money to do the things that you enjoy doing. Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, this can also mean having to choose between what bills to pay, potentially going hungry to pay for heating during winter, and being unable to travel to potential job interviews or even your classes.
Replace them bulbs
Saving energy doesn’t have to be a big deal or require much effort. It can be as little as turning your TV off at the plug instead of keeping it on standby. These little tips add up over time and keep money in your pocket to spend later. Some tips and tools mentioned in this section may only apply to those in private accommodation but most of them will apply to those in University halls too.
Dishwashers and tumble dryers
SAVINGENERGY
Replacing all your lightbulbs with LED versions may sound like a faff, not to mention an unnecessary expense, but they save up to 90% of the energy a normal bulb would use and last about 25 times longer. So not only do they use less energy every day, but replacing them less frequently means there’ll be less energy used globally to manufacture and distribute new bulbs.
We all love how easy it is to have these devices in your household, but honestly use that drying rack and the airer. Your bills and the planet will LOVE you. If you have an energy tracking app, you’ll understand the massive difference it makes when avoiding the use of these. Stay cool! Lowering your thermostat and not turning the heating on may seem like a horrific idea, even in winter, but throwing on some socks and a jumper saves you having high energy costs. Also, who doesn’t love fluffy socks and a jumper to stay warm in? Not in summer though…
Although it may be on standby, the device is still eating away at your electricity. Turn your devices off at the plug once you are done using them and the best time to do this is whilst sleeping and leaving the house. Meal prepping Having a day of meal prepping for the week not only gets you some tasty lunches (that you don’t have to worry about on the day for) but bulk meal prepping also saves you switching on that oven as much as you would. Your gas bills will look healthier and this also helps with the cost of meals during the week.
There are many tools and websites that give you examples of brilliant energy saving tools and the best providers to use as a student. One such tool which is well used by BNU students is One Utility Bill, or best known through the website as fusedbills.co.uk
Fused Bills was a great way to manage our utilities when we started house sharing. They gave loads of options for plans and you can customise exactly what services you want, it was amazing having unlimited gas and electric meaning we would never have to worry about overusing and things cutting out!
Energy saving tools, best providers and student reviews
This also included broadband which was added into the cost. It’s so easy to set up and the staff are so helpful.Just one monthly payment for all your utilities and you can extend or shorten however you want. No need to worry about people not paying as you are only liable for your payment and that’s it. I couldn’t recommend them more!
‘One monthly payment with Fused covers unlimited energy, water, broadband and TV for you and your housemates. Join the 23,711 students who’ve let us handle things because they’ve got better things to think about than bills.’ This tool allows you to pick the packages you want to take on and gives the option to split payments between your housemates. This tool also finds you amazing energy deals for a good price.
Turn it off OFF! Keeping things on standby is an easy way to get devices up and running as quick as can be.
- Rajesh Au naturale Get them curtains open and that lovely natural light into your room. Over the autumn and winter it gets dark and gloomy early on so make the best of the sun by doing this instead of turning the lights on. When you do have to use that little electric sun, make sure to turn them off when leaving the room to save on your electricity bill. Even those who live in halls can do this. The less energy used the better.
Keep in mind that as a Students’ Union we have campaigned on Period Poverty and there are free sanitary products around female and non-gendered toilets around all campuses. If you need access to any sanitary products, please ask in the Advice Centre or the Union itself.
Find out more reusable-sanitary-padsecobravo.co.uk/collections/
Shopping second-hand Shopping second-hand is such an amazing way to becoming a more sustainable student and there are multiple apps and even charity shops you can use as a BNU student. Have a walk around the area you live in and check out the charity shops you see. Not only do you bypass fast fashion, but you also give to charity and get yourself some groovy new outfits. This can be applied to apps such as Vinted and Depop.
Period poverty and the link with sustainability
Refurbished tech
The benefits to buying refurbished technology, such as laptops and phones, is that it saves you money as well as being environmentally friendly. This is because refurbished devices don’t require the same number of resources and energy as newly made phones. Refurbished phones are also like new and work almost the same as fresh out of the package.
SUSTAINABILITY-£120x5+£600
While navigating the cost-of-living crisis, you can be sustainable and still get the most out of your money. In this section there will be tonnes of information and little tips on how to do this. Although some costs may look astonishing, it is best to keep in mind how much you will be saving over one, two or even five+ years. Some of the energy saving tips and tools mentioned previously also fall under sustainability and this section also crosses over into Money Saving too.
Disposable pads
Periods are expensive: pads, tampons, new underwear, pain relief and all the extras that go along with it. Even if you only focus on the costs of period products, people who menstruate on average spend £10 a month on period products so roughly £120 a year. The charity Bloody Good Period provides menstrual supplies to food banks, asylum centres and those who can’t afford them. They estimate that the average lifetime cost of having a period is about £4,800. The sustainable swap to reusable pads costs you roughly £30 and should last for five years.
Reusablepads:£30!
dishDIYsoap Hot
Bucks New Usage
washingjobThisbicarbonateBakingofSqueezewaterlemonsoda/sodadoesthesameasyournormalupliquid,withlessoftheplasticwaste!
Instead of printing all that paperwork out, have it emailed across to you. Or, if you are sending, get it done over email. We love the trees, keep it green!
Living in halls or with friends/housemates? Cook a meal together once or twice a week (or maybe more if you all like eating together). This saves on money due to a combined food shop leaving less wastage and allows for the oven to not be overused eating up your energy.
Get using that soap! Handwash tends to come in a plastic bottle and we all know what impact plastic has on the planet. If you don’t, go check out pollution.htmlenvironment/environmental-effects-plastic-eartheclipse.com/
The way the Bucks New Usage initiative work is that students who are leaving University or halls can donate their perfectly good, but no longer needed, items and then new students can pick up something they might need, totally free.
Keep an eye out on Fridays on the High Wycombe Campus at 4pm and the Uxbridge Campus at 3pm. Both our Beats and Pulse cafes will sometimes put out sandwiches on the tables once they have closed their fridge shutters, which can be taken for free.
Oh, water we to do? Sorry… Try taking a timer into the shower and minimise on how long you take to shower. Finding a shower head that reduces water wastage is also helpful to keeping sustainable. Keeping that tap off whilst brushing your teeth is also very ‘green’ of you. I’ll stop…
Bucks New Usage is a service that provides Buckinghamshire New University students with free, second-hand goods based in West Wing of the High Wycombe Campus. They've got everything from pots and pans to cutlery, mugs, and bedding. Even if you were after a toaster or kettle, you might be able to find them along with any similar items that you may need during your time at university.
When going grocery shopping, Lidl and Aldi have the best priced food 9 times out of 10. This doesn’t mean you can’t go to your local Tesco and find a good deal on some food items. Always look around when shopping; keep an eye out for reductions and shop in season.
Don’t fall into the trap of buying fresh new course books or resources. Always have a look around for recently graduated students from the same course who may be selling these books. Joining Facebook pages that specifically sell course resources and making use of the Facebook market is a great place to start.
UNiDAYS and Student Beans offer free discounts for sixth form, college and university students. From tonight’s outfit, to food comas, to living healthier. These tools cram as many different student discounts on different categories ranging from clothing, food and drink, fashion, technology, beauty and lifestyle.
Saving money isn’t just about throwing a couple of quid into your piggy bank. Money saving is applicable to getting discounts on your favourite foods, essential items and even your course books.
Shopsmart
Makethemost of studentdiscounts! MONEY SA
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sites,Theseadd-onsand apps can save youmoney with very little effort.Whilst they might seem great, one missed payment can spell disaster and these companies are never your friend.
Moneysaving apps andwebsitesAvoid‘paylater ’ services Ownbrands are justasgood! FreetrialsAVINGTIPS
When you thinkabout supermarketown brands, you tend tothink about the plain packagingthat doesn’t look very appealing.Well, these own brands must be up to the standards of other productsthat are similar.Fancy some Jaffa Cakes? 26pfor a pack makes themtaste sweeter! Most streamingservices and services ingeneral have a free trialperiod which you can optout of before you buy.Have a look around andmake the most of it.
these opportunities to have fun and improve my professional development, but
be silly not to!” Emilee, BA Hons Dance and Performance SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?DEVELOPMENT EMILEE SAVED: £1,622 Over the three years of a typical degree, some of our members have saved between £3,000 and £5,000. So, what are you waiting for? Make the most of everything that’s available to you by visiting our website bucksstudentsunion.org or popping into one of our offices. EMILEE SAVED: £910 EVENTS AND ACTIVITES EMILEE SAVED: £1,084
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All BNU students are automatically a member of Bucks Students’ Union and that means everything you do with your Students' Union is completely free Whether that’s developmental activities or additional skills sessions, playing competitive sport or Sport for Fun, joining a society or attending one of our many fun and diverse events, it will not cost you a penny. a HUGE total of over three years have sat back and not taken all as it nothing, it would
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CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
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Working while studying can help give you much needed funds, but it can also have other benefits. It will give you real work experience on your CV and essential transferrable skills to talk about in your applications and interviews once you have graduated. You will also meet new people and it can be beneficial to your mental health to take time away from your studies and see immediate results from your hard work. We at the Students’ Union are here to support you in finding part-time work and you can start by looking at our JobShop website at bucksstudentsunion.org/employability/jobshop
“My name is Josh, and I am a second year Business and Psychology student. Like the majority of students, when I initially came to university, money was a constant causal factor of stress, often impeding my focus on my studies. I finally decided to search for a job less than a year into my first year and I found the bar staff roles within the Students’ Union Venue. Now over a year into the job, and with multiple progressions relating to my position, I could not be more appreciative of the positives that have come out of my time working for the Venue thus far. Aiding my financial situation fails to scratch the surface of the benefits of joining the team. The welcoming and friendly atmosphere within the Venue allowed me to learn the fundamentals of hospitality in a comfortable and supportive environment.“
If you don’t see anything on there that you are interested in, or would like some help updating your CV before you start applying, you can either email us at sutraining@bucks.ac.uk or come and see us. We would be more than happy to go through your CV with you and show you where to look for part-time work.
We regularly update our JobShop with new opportunities and advertise vacancies such as: Bar staff/waiting staff Kids activity club assistants Retail SwimmingassistantscoachesSportscoachesCareworkersTutorsandmore.
If you are currently looking for a job, there are sometimes positions available within the Students’ Union and the Students’ Union bar and venue. These can be found via Union jobs (bucksstudentsunion.org) and other opportunities, such as becoming a freshers’ helper, can also be a good source of income with part-time hours.
JOBS
Although we understand the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, we do not recommend students work more than 20 hours per week while studying a full-time course. This is to protect your mental wellbeing, ensure you have enough time to give to your course and give you time to unwind and relax. If you are struggling, we are here to support you so come and visit the Advice Centre or email them at suadvice@bucks.ac.uk for further support.
Care Leaver Bursary / Estranged Student Bursary / Gypsy Roma, Traveller, Showmen and Boater (GRTSB) Bursary – we understand that you face additional challenges and we will do our best to support you at every stage of your studies including accommodation and a mentor.
NHS Funding – these bursaries are available to some students who are studying a course linked to the NHS. Other types of funding and relief can be found by your local council’s website too. BURSARIES
BNU Future Success – here to help you get the most out of your course during your time with us. This package gives you the funds to buy goods specific to your study needs at a better value for money than other online stores.
Most students will have some financial difficulties at some point. This will only increase due to the cost-of-living crisis and it is always better to seek help with financial problems as soon as they occur. Bucks Students’ Union, alongside Buckinghamshire New University, have a variety of funding and bursaries for those students who may be struggling. The Union’s Advice Centre is a helpful service to access information around these opportunities so do not be afraid or ashamed to get in contact. Your main funding will most likely come through as Student Finance if you are a UK student. It is best to keep a look out on the Students’ Union and University website to see if more funding is available too.
BNU Student Success Bursary income families or high deprivation areas. Money should never be a barrier to education. If you are from a an area with high levels of deprivation or an area where very few students go to university, then we will offer you to £1,000 each year of your course your studies and living costs.
BNU Hardship Fund – Provides discretionary financial assistance for students who pay tuition fees to help them access and remain in higher education. Some international students may have access to this if in crisis.
BNU Asylum Seeker Scholarship – For asylum seekers to provide them with opportunities to make the most of their new lives. BNU Refugee Scholarship – to support refugees and provide them with opportunities to make the most of their new lives.
UsetheQR code for moreadvice! FUNDING &
WycombeHighOne Can Trust11DukeStreet, HighWycombeHP136EB01494512277 onecantrust.org.uk WycombeHigh Wycombe Food Hub Unit 26 Chilterns Centre,High Wycombe HP13 5ES 01494 913626 wycombefoodhub.org Aylesbury FoodAylesburyBank Aylesbury have plentyof food banks that youcan find here: aylesbury.foodbank.org.uk/locations Uxbridge 30 Oxford Rd, Denham, Uxbridge UB9 4DQ hillingdon.foodbank If you are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis you have every right to use a Food Bank as going hungry should not be an option. The following will give the addresses of food banks in High Wycombe, Uxbridge and Aylesbury. If you need any more advice or you are struggling with food poverty, then do not hesitate to contact the Advice Centre in the Students’ Union at suadvice@bucks.ac.uk It is advised to go through the normal referral channels, however using the Advice Centre for help on this is more than welcome. These channels will supply you with a food voucher which can be used at the foodbanks. High Wycombe and Uxbridge both have a food bank within their campuses – get in touch with the Advice Centre for more information, or below for other locations.
You should never be ashamed to use a food bank. The UK is going through a major crisis around food poverty, which will only get worse as we navigate through the next major crisis being the cost-of-living. Do not go hungry.
FOOD BANKS
FOOD
Own the brands
Lists keep you on track
The freezer is a good way to store fruit, veg and meat. Freezing food allows you to store produce in portions. This prevents food waste and makes life a lot easier as everything is already divided. It is also a great way to keep food for longer as it stops food from going off.
Freeze it!
As you plan out your meals for the week, start writing up your shopping list. Do this during and after you have planned your meals. This prevents buying unnecessary food which will be wasted.
Food is our energy source and it is a shame that the UK census has 7.1 million adults in food poverty as of April 2022. We shouldn’t have to budget on our food but with little to no support from the top it is an unfortunate topic. We as a Students’ Union will be planning to post recipes and meal cook-along videos and similar projects on our social media over the course of the year so please keep a look out. Meal planning Plan out what meals you will be cooking throughout the week. Keep it simple! Sometimes the simple things just work and cooking extravagant meals means you will have to buy more ingredients or groceries that cost more money.
When going to a supermarket to buy food, try to buy the own goods of the store. For example, in Tesco, buying Tesco’s own products is cheaper than buying a brand of that food. Make the most of your leftovers! Leftovers are crucial when trying to save money when buying food. Every time you cook food whatever you have left over store in the freezer. This means that later in the week, when you don’t have time to cook or don’t want to cook, you can pull out a meal already prepared in the freezer.
Tinned fruits in juices Got a sweet tooth or feeling low on energy? Pineapples.
Tinned tomatoes An obvious staple, a base to many dishes and cheap to buy.
Spices and seasonings Paprika, chilli flakes/powder, all purpose, Italian herbs. Give a bit of flavour to your meals. Don’t be bland. Cooking oil Don’t let them onions stick to that pan!
CUPBOARD STAPLES
Stock cubes Gives your food that extra flavour just in one cheap cube. Pasta Just pasta...
Tinned potatoes Hear me out, it’s middle of winter. Not a penny to your name and you have these bad boys in the cupboard... Get them roasties on the go.
Tinned baked beans Short on cash but need something filling? Beans on toast. Bread THROW IT IN THE FREEZER.
Soups An easy meal when you need that heart-warming kick. Dried noodles Those cheap ones you can throw in a microwave. The beginnings of a banging ramen bowl.
Tinned carrots Essential for stews or if you need to see in the dark at any given time. Plain flour A great staple for the making of sauces like cheese sauce. Mixed beans Fancy a hot chilli but no meat or missing the tofu? rice It’s fairly easy to boil some rice for most people. You learn from experiences...
It’s important to remember that money gets us all down from time to time, and when you’re struggling, you’re certainly not alone. If you’re still feeling lost after reading the guidance in this booklet, don’t panic! Bucks Students’ Union, and Bucks Students’ Union Advice Centre is still on hand to help. Or if you need further help, the Government have some great resources: costoflivingsupport. campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills Bucks Students’ Union Advice Centre High Wycombe Campus tel: 01494 603 016 Uxbridge Campus tel: 01494 605 180 bucksstudentsunion.org/advicesuadvice@bucks.ac.uk