Student Money Guide by Huddersfield Students' Union

Student Money Guide

Welcome We know one of the biggest issues facing students is finance. Your time at University can be expensive, and balancing your bank account can be difficult. In this guide youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find some handy tips about how to save money as well as some advice on what to do if things may go wrong.

Contents 3.

Choosing a Student Bank Account

Freshen Up Your Finances

Seven Danger Zones

Hidden Costs of Study

Yummy Money

Case Study One

10.

Household Bills

14.

Broadband Guide

16.

Winter Money Saving

20.

Case Study Two

19.

A Guide to choosing your smart phone and tablet

22.

Online Safety

23.

What is the Advice Centre

Choosing a Student Bank Account

One of most cost effective ways to borrow money as a student is the student overdraft as it allows you to borrow money, sometimes up to £3,000, at 0% interest with the view that you’ll pay it back once you graduate. But we can’t stress this enough: you WILL have to pay it back.

Choosing the right student bank is one of the biggest financial decisions you will have to make as a student. Not only is it a useful place to keep your money, as opposed to behind the sofa, but there are also plenty of bonuses on offer to students - such as the coveted interestfree student overdraft.

Check the overdraft terms

These are our top tips for choosing a bank account: Shop around You might already have an account with a particular bank before heading off to university but this doesn’t mean that you have to stick with them. Much like choosing which shop to buy a new pair of shoes at, you have the freedom of choice. Use it. The truth is that the banks want you more than you want them, which is the perfect situation as it allows you to shop around for the best deal.

Check the overdraft amount It’s a well-known fact that the standard maintenance loan is not enough to cover the living costs of being a student which means that you’ll have to look for alternative sources of funding.

In an ideal world all of the banks would have similar terms and conditions surrounding their overdrafts but unfortunately this isn’t the case. When looking at the accounts, you might notice that some boast an overdraft of “up-to” a certain value whereas others prefer to “guarantee” an amount. Some banks (usually the ones with the largest overdrafts) like to use a sneaky little trick of offering students up to £X. This is because you won’t be guaranteed to get the full amount depending on your credit history and other factors. Some student accounts also have a tiered overdraft where they offer so much in the first term and then increase the amount at times throughout the year. An important factor if for example, you are relying on the overdraft to pay for an accommodation deposit or course materials. Again, be aware that the overdraft is NOT free money. You will have to pay it back at some point. It’s best to use it as a safety net rather than an excuse to go on a shopping binge.

Beware of interest charges

Check for freebies

If you are confident that you can manage your money then you shouldn’t need to worry about going over the overdraft limit, but it’s still well worth checking what might happen if you do. Once again the banks all have different T&Cs surrounding their charges so check them thoroughly before applying.

It’s YOUR choice

Branch locations and internet banking

If everyone bought the same things and used the same services, then life would be a little bit boring wouldn’t it? Plus, something that works for you might not be ideal for others. So, with that in mind, make sure that you make the right choice for you. Combine all of the factors above and consider which account suits your needs.

The location of your bank is becoming less and less important in these modern times with the introduction of mobile banking apps. However, if you are someone who loves to have a chinwag with your bank manager or needs to cash in cheques and money, then you might want to consider which banks have a presence near our campus.

Freshen Up Your Finances

Seven Danger Zones

Thinking about giving your finances a makeover this year? Here are some tips from the Financial Ombudsman Service – the free, expert service that specialises in sorting out financial problems.

Here are seven ‘danger zones’ where it’s incredibly easy to waste money. The difference to your bank balance will be nothing short of revolutionary.

1. Keep track of your spending – set yourself a weekly budget and stick to it.

2. Check your statements regularly to confirm that you made all the transactions listed.

3. If you think you are going to go

overdrawn, talk to your bank as soon as possible. Tell them the situation – they may be able to help.

4. Keep on track with your credit card.

Try to pay off your balance if you can - or more than the minimum payment each month - to limit the interest you pay.

Getting problems sorted Well over a million people have been in touch with the ombudsman service – the organisation with official powers to sort out problems between consumers and financial businesses. The ombudsman looks at a wide range of financial problems, from credit cards to current accounts and from motor insurance to debt collection. So if you have a moneyrelated problem, you can turn to the ombudsman if things aren’t sorted out with the business involved.

Brand name groceries Even though our heads are saying ‘there’s little or no difference between supermarket own and brand products’, we still often spend that extra cash on brands. Why is that? It’s the familiarity. When you have to make that split-second buying decision you feel just slightly safer with the brand, slightly warmer towards it - you decide to part with the extra cash. The vast ma jority of the time there really is absolutely no difference whatsoever. For example with painkillers, 16 own brand Ibuprofen cost 30p from a wellknown supermarket. 16 branded Ibuprofen cost £2 from the same store. You can also save at least 70p by going for the supermarket’s own brand when it comes to Rich Tea biscuits!

Unused memberships and subscriptions Paid memberships and subscriptions can often be great money savers - the gym, magazines or music. However, when reality sets in and you’ve stopped going to the gym regularly, then it’s time to stop the membership subscription. Go onto the pay as you go option.

You can contact the ombudsman service through www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Nights out with your bank card

Pay day loans

Taking cards on a night out can blow huge holes in your cash reserves, often without you even knowing. Leave the bank cards at home and take enough cash out with you to enjoy your night (and for a taxi home).

Over the past few years we have seen a growing number of pay day lenders target students – with the promise of immediate cash. One of the things they say on their websites is that you shouldn’t approach your university to apply for hardship funds because you’re unlikely to be successful. This is completely and utterly untrue – the University considers every case on its merits. Pay day loans come with huge interest rates and harsh penalties if you miss repayments. If things are bad enough for you to consider one, come and speak to us in the Advice Centre before you take any steps, as we’ll always be able to point you in a better direction.

The “Habit Purchase” This is simply whenever you buy something out of habit instead of actually wanting or needing it. Anything you buy repeatedly in certain places and at certain times are habit buys (often food and drinks, e.g. ‘a latte’, but can be anything) - you buy them because ‘that’s what you do there’. You’ve enjoyed the purchase in the past and you just go on autopilot and purchase again. It’s at these times the purchase can be a complete cash waste. How many times have you thought ‘I didn’t enjoy that’ or ‘I don’t really know why I bought that’?

Shopping when you’re hungry Very simply: don’t do it. You’ll end up buying things you don’t need, and more often than not you’ll waste money on food that’s ready to eat.

Buying rounds It’s a very British tradition buying rounds. It’s a lovely communal thing, it saves bar queuing time and long may it continue. However, it’s also a top money wasting danger zone and we all know why. If there are four of you and you plan on having four drinks (or more), sure, go for rounds. If you’re only planning on having one or two, you’re leaving early or taking it easy, then the round is a dangerous expense and it can suck you in.

Hidden Costs of Study Regardless of which university or college you study at, or what subject you study, there are likely to be some costs that you don’t think about. Save yourself some time later on and read the following hints and tips:

Intensive course Courses like Teaching have six-week long block placements, which mean you’re unable to work part-time during those periods, which can in turn have an impact on your finances during your course. These type of study commitments are present on other courses and limit your availability to work for much of the academic year.

Travel

Whether these take place and the frequency of them is determined by your course. It is best to check course information when applying.

You need to include the cost of travel to your lectures when you are working out your budget. Bus and train fares can be expensive. Look for discounted tickets, and walk or cycle where possible as a way to save money.

Non-compulsory elements

Professional fees

This could be a non-compulsory field trip which provides experience which students can then draw on in subsequent lessons. If you don’t go on such a trip, you might not be as well-equipped as other students (if you haven’t already got similar experience or made your own arrangements), so it’s best to check whether any experience/expectations arise out of any non-compulsory activity. Remember to check you can afford to attend before signing up.

Registration for professional associations and costs for Criminal Records Bureau checks often need to be paid up-front at the start of a course and will vary from subject to subject.

Field trips

First week of the course Your loan payment schedule will give you a date in September/October when your first payment is due to reach you, but you won’t always be paid that day. This is because it is often the first date of your course, and you have to be a registered student before a student loan can be paid to you – most payments happen three to four days later, so it’s best to assume you won’t have your funding for the first week of your course, and make sure you have made your own arrangements.

Termly loan payments The Student Loans Company/SAAS pay in three equal termly instalments, but the terms aren’t equal: two thirds of your income is paid over four fifths of the academic year. This has implications for budgeting accurately for the ma jority of the academic year.

Open days Universities and colleges hold open days to give you the opportunity to visit the campus, see the accommodation options, meet with other applicants and attend talks about your preferred course and issues of relevance. Open days provide an ideal opportunity to ask about costs such as field trips and equipment.

Course materials If you are able to use second hand resources, these can save you money. Look out for the SU second hand book sale that runs every September and February. There’s often no need to buy every book on your reading list either. Think about using libraries and sharing books with course mates where possible. Where your course requires you to use consumable materials, don’t always assume the shops nearest or on campus offer the best student deal: compare prices and check on-line suppliers. For some courses the university may do deals with equipment providers to buy at a more competitive rate, or you might be able to borrow equipment rather than buy.

Yummy Money There are lots of things you can probably manage without when it comes to budgeting, but the one thing you really can’t afford to skimp on is food. Go hungry and your brain turns to mush and while fast food may promise cheap eats it’s hardly the choice of champions. But there are a number of things you can do to make your food budget stretch that bit further. Some are standard bits of advice:

But these days it’s not enough to be an expert food ‘hunter’ you have to be a food ‘fighter’. This is because shops go out of their way to get you to spend more than you need to.

Multibuys Did you know that those eye-catching aisle-end promotions in supermarkets are often there because a lucrative commercial deal is in place between the retailer and the supplier? The same goes for a lot of those discounts and multibuys. Don’t be won over by packs that say things like ‘30% extra free’. You can find a lot of packs like this in pound stores, but when you compare the actual price you pay with the same amount in another store, it may be no cheaper. Don’t take promotions such as ‘buy one get one free’ at face value. DOUBLE CHECK! Supermarkets have been taken to task by consumer organisations for multi-buys that actually work out more expensive.

Pre-packed purchases Often pre-packed fruit and veg costs more than loose (loose is also better for the planet and you can buy exactly the right amount you need). You don’t have to be studying for a degree in higher mathematics to work out the cheaper price.

1. Shop near the end of the day or the

Check your receipt

2. Check out local markets for cheaper

Finally, ALWAYS check your receipt before you leave the store. Multi-buys and discounts may be omitted at the till. Selfservice checkouts seem to be particular prone to this.

end of the week, when supermarkets cut prices on produce nearing their sell by dates. fruit and veg.

3. Get to grips with dried beans and pulses - all great prices.

Case Study 1 Kerrie’s Story

Kerrie approached the Advice Centre in a panic, upset and wondering if she should give up her studies. Kerrie was due to pay her rent in a couple of days and had no money to pay it. Kerrie hadn’t received the student finance she had applied for due to delays receiving paperwork. She was about to run out of money to travel to university and on top of all this Kerrie was a single mother with two children and was struggling to buy food to feed them. The Students’ Union Advice Centre staff sat her down, listened to her issues and set about resolving them; firstly they printed off the relevant paperwork and ensured it was posted to Student Finance by recorded delivery. An adviser spoke to her landlord and explained the situation regarding her student loan and the Landlord agreed to cancel the direct debit and accept payment when Kerrie’s loan arrived. The advisers also gave Kerrie an emergency loan of £20 for travel costs and a shopping voucher to enable her to buy some food. Next an adviser sat with her and helped her fill out a Student Hardship form which would, if successful, provide her with a grant to help her continue her studies.

Finally the Advice Centre sent her to the Finance desk at the University to apply for a small bridging loan to tide her over while she waited for her Student Finance to arrive. Whilst at the University Finance desk, Kerrie explained that her campus card had been damaged and although she had a little money she couldn’t afford to have it replaced at a cost of £10. The finance desk arranged for her to get a replacement free of charge. In the space of a few hours the Advice Centre and the University Finance desk had sorted out Kerrie’s student finance application, supplied her with a food voucher, given her a small amount of money to help her travel to work and live on, helped her apply for a grant to continue her studies and lastly managed to get her a new campus card. The Students’ Union Advice Centre is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We have a team of experienced and knowledgeable advisers to help you with any problems you are having with finance, your accommodation, your studies and if you just need a bit of general advice. We even have a phone you can use to contact Student Finance rather than run up expensive bills on your mobile. Come in and see us or contact us on 01484 473446 or via email at advice-centre@hud.ac.uk

Housing Bills Your first year at university will be all figured out for you if you live in halls, but once you move into a house or a flat of your own with other housemates, and get a little taste of freedom, you’ll also have to educate yourself on personal finance and bill paying. It can seem like a daunting task at first, but if you do a bit of research beforehand, you’ll be just as poised for financial success as you are for educational achievement.

Utility bills First things first; make sure to read your meter as soon as you move in. This will keep you from having to pay for energy that the previous tenants used before they moved out. It can also save you money over the long run. Many households rely on their energy companies to obtain an accurate reading of their energy use but these companies sometimes get it wrong. To make sure that you’re not overpaying for electricity and gas, locate your meters, which are often found beneath the stairs or tucked away in a cupboard. Read them often and compare them to your bills to make sure they match up. When you register for energy in your new home, you should also take care to make sure that your flatmates’ names are on the bill as well as yours. This will ensure that everyone feels responsible for paying the bill on time.

When it comes to utility bills, you should also compare energy prices to make sure that you are signed up for the best tariff for you. There are many discounts you can get as an energy customer, including one for signing up for a dual fuel tariff in which you get your electricity and natural gas from the same supplier. And if you and your roommates choose to sleep in late and do most of your homework late at night, you should consider the Economy 7 tariff or the Economy 10 tariff, both of which offer lower rate prices after midnight.

Paying the bills After you compare electricity prices, the last part of saving money on your bills is administering them with precision. A late payment here or there may not seem like a big deal for you, but those fees can add up. Make sure that you can always pay on time by signing up for a direct debit from your bank account. Some utility companies may even give you a service discount for doing so. And if you’re wondering how you can organise everyone’s bill payments with ease, you and your housemates may want to consider establishing a group bank account to make it easier for everyone to pay the same amount each month. This will certainly take the guesswork out of bill paying for all of you.

Energy saving. You only have to turn on the television or radio or pick up a newspaper to know that energy prices are continuing to rise across the UK. This is a problem for many people, but particularly for those on low incomes and with limited money available for expenditure on day-to-day essentials. As a student you are probably trying to survive on a student loan, grant, scholarship or bursary, and

prices continually increasing outside your control wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be helping. Act now to save money on your utility bills.

Top energy saving tips If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never switched supplier you can still make some big savings across the coming year. There is nothing to stop students changing supplier. If you are concerned about this in relation to your tenancy agreement you should speak to your letting agent or landlord first. If you have no luck it might be worth taking advice from the advisers in your Advice Centre.

Other services Your financial savvy doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to end there, however. You can also lower your bills by signing up for several services from the same provider. You can get a discount on broadband Internet, for example, if you sign a contract for online access, cable, and telephone service with one company. You may also find it beneficial to sign on to mobile service

with your housemates under a group plan, which would save you usage charges while communicating with each other. But only do so if you trust them to front their portion of the bill on time every time.

Things you can do now Check that you are on the best tariff available for you. There are a number of places you can do this. Have a look at the Citizens Advice website for some short video clips about changing energy supplier.

About uSwitch uSwitch.com is a free, impartial, online and telephone-based comparison and switching service, helping consumers compare prices on gas, electricity, water, heating cover, home telephone, broadband, digital television, mobile phones and personal finance products including mortgages, credit cards, current accounts and insurance.

The following tips might help: 1. Check you’re on the best tariff for you. 2. Consider paying by Direct Debit. There are often savings to be had from setting up a Direct Debit to pay your bills monthly. If you have a house bank account this can be straightforward, if not make sure you all contribute and don’t leave it to one person to pay.

3. Switch to an online account. This will

mean you receive statements and other communications via email. It can result in some considerable savings so definitely worth a look.

4. Regularly review your tariff against

others available. Every 6-9months it is worth repeating the comparison to check you are still on the best deal. Be careful to check your current contract as there could be a fee for leaving. Bear this in mind when calculating any potential saving from the switch.

5. Read your meter. Don’t just rely on

the estimated information on your statements, actually check your meter and contact the supplier if there is a large difference between the two.

6. Look at energy saving options. As well as saving money by ensuring you are on the best tariff, it is also possible to save money by taking advantage of other energy saving options.

TV Licence Not all landlords provide a TV Licence. Even if you watch programmes on your laptop, or through catch-up, you still have to hold a TV Licence. One can be obtained online at tvlicensing.co.uk

How will anyone know if I don’t have a TV licence? TV Licensing’s database lists addresses that don’t have a TV licence, including university accommodation. TV Licensing officers regularly visit universities and will be doing so over the next few months, with the consent and co-operation of university authorities. If you use television-receiving equipment without a valid TV Licence, you risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, plus court costs, and you will need to buy a TV licence if you still need one.

TV Licensing refund for students: If you are moving back home for the summer from university and no longer need a TV licence over the holidays, and there are three full calendar months before your licence expires, you are entitled to a refund for the unused, quarter of your licence. You will need to ensure you buy a licence early on, by the end of September/early October, in order to allow enough time at the end of the academic year to qualify for a refund.

Broadband Guide Broadband Internet access is widely considered to be an essential utility these days, and it’s hard to imagine trying to complete a university course without internet access. With a good broadband package you’ll have the freedom to work from home whenever suits you, and you won’t be left at the mercy of library opening hours. If you’re staying in halls there’s a good chance that there will already be some provision for broadband access, but once you leave and move into a student house you’ll probably need to find yourself a fast and reliable broadband package at the best possible price. As with any other purchase you should shop around to get the best possible deal, and there are a few things you need to consider before you buy.

Contracts & payments The length of broadband contracts can vary from package to package. The ma jority of them last either 12 or 18 months which won’t be suitable unless you’ll definitely be staying in the same house for at least two academic years. Some providers have specific student broadband deals with short contracts that last the nine months of the academic year, so give serious thought to one of those if you can.

However, if you’re definitely not moving out at the end of the year a 12 month package may actually work out cheaper and it’ll save you being stuck without broadband access over the summer. Pay special attention to the ‘Minimum Term’, which is usually equal to the length of the contract. If you try to cancel your broadband contract before the end of the minimum term your provider may charge you a cancellation fee, so read the small print before you buy. The ma jority of broadband providers will insist that just one of you is named on the broadband contract. That person will have sole responsibility for paying the bill when it comes, so make sure they’ve got enough money in their account to avoid any surcharges or service interruptions. If possible try to have all of your names on your broadband bill as this can cut down on a lot of problems.

Get the right speed If you’ll be sharing the connection with several other people you’ll need a fast package. Everything you do online will require a certain amount of ‘bandwidth’, and some activities use a lot of bandwidth, such as streaming or downloading movies and music. So, make sure you get a service that will be fast enough to support simultaneous use by however many of you there are in the house. And if you are going to be regularly downloading very large files, be nice and do so overnight when everyone else is asleep - not when they’re trying to upload their coursework.

Compare your options Taking the above into account you should compare broadband deals to find one that meets all of your needs at the best price possible. The quickest and easiest way to do this is on a broadband comparison site as you’ll be able to compare lots of different providers and packages in one place. Look for a site that bears the “Ofcom Approved” badge as this means that it’s been audited by the UK’s broadband regulator to make sure that the prices are up-to-date.

When you’re comparing the prices of the various broadband packages make sure to take line rental into account. The ma jority of broadband packages, with the exception of some fibre optic broadband packages, require you to pay line rental to BT or directly to the broadband provider. Line rental can significantly increase the overall cost of a broadband package so make sure you know exactly what each package costs including line rental before you buy.

Winter Money Saving It’s sometimes hard making ends meet as a student, juggling payments of loans and grants and, if you are eligible, bursaries or scholarships. Often the payment periods are longer than the regular monthly payments you receive from employment, and it’s not always easy to make your money last for the full term even with the most careful budgeting. That applies more so than ever as you approach the end of the first term of the year. Even if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, or Christmas there will be demands on your funding that don’t apply at other times of the year – increased heating and lighting costs the year – due to the cold dark winter months, end of term parties, meals out, thought given to tenancy deposits for next term (if you’re moving in to private rented accommodation). Here are a few tips that might just help you through to your next loan/grant instalment without getting yourself in to trouble with your finances:

or any other income expected. Then calculate any expenditure you are committed to (rent/mortgage, food, bills, travel etc). You then need to calculate how much of what you have left you realistically wish to spend on gifts, socialising, or any other activity.

Think about energy saving If you live in a shared house chances are you’ll be responsible for the gas and electricity bills. If you’re all going to be away during the winter vacation don’t forget to turn off electrical appliances and turn the heating down. When you leave the property make sure you’ve closed doors and turned off the lights. Save money whilst save energy.

Secret santa If there’s a group of you why not agree to do a ‘secret santa’ instead of all buying for everyone. Agree an acceptable amount, maybe £5 or £10, and stick to it. It’ll save everyone money, and mean a reduction to the number of gifts purchased at the last minute with little thought to anything other than the falling snow and risk of missing the last bus!

Set a budget Work out how much money you have available to spend between now and when you receive your next payment from work, student loan/grant instalment,

Make a list

Protect yourself

Winter is the perfect time of year for lists, think about what you need to buy over the coming weeks. If you spot things on sale then purchase them and keep them together with other items. It’ll help you to spread the costs, and by planning and taking advantage of discounts it will help you save money at the same time.

For most students the idea of sending a gift costing more than £100 seems unrealistic, but if you do decide that an expensive gift is within your budget it might be the one time to use that credit card burning a hole in your winter wallet. Just make sure you clear the balance when the statement comes through. Purchases between £100 and £30,000 made on a credit card benefit from additional protection as the card company is jointly liable. Don’t forget to include any credit card spend when you’re monitoring expenditure, and be ready to pay it back.

Allow some flexibility (but not too much!) It’s impossible to plan for everything, but at least by keeping a record you can be prepared and react quickly by making adjustments now rather than in January when your statement arrives and you realise you will struggle to make repayments on any overspend. If you’re visiting friends or family over the Christmas/New Year vacation you never know who you might bump into from your past, and you might not be able to resist going for a drink or coffee with them to catch up. By planning and adjusting you can ensure your finances don’t dictate your social calendar (too much!).

Stick to your budget! Once you’ve set your budget, keep track of what you are spending and ensure you stay within the limits you have calculated. If you’re not great at keeping track of your spending it might be worth making a note of what you spend, but remember to include online purchases, cash withdrawals and any payments you make on a debit card in shops/bars. It’s often easiest to do this by keeping hold of your receipts and then making notes at the end of the day.

Review your list

Sending cards & parcels

Do you need to buy presents for everyone you know? Don’t feel that you have to give just because the shops are full of fairy lights, tinsel and colourful gift displays. It might be better to spend some time with a friend rather than buying them a gift. You’ll save money, and if nothing else it could be one less teapot that they need to remember to get out from the back of a cupboard when you visit them. You’re fully aware that they’d never use a teapot, they don’t even like tea, so why waste your money!

Note the last posting date for parcels and letters and ensure you take advantage of cheaper rates. The same applies whether you are posting within the UK or internationally. You’ll find the Royal Mail last postal dates on their website. If you can hand cards over in person, or send them electronically, that’s often an additional cost saving. If you’ve got hundreds of friends and you want to send them all a card it’s going to get very expensive. Don’t forget to include this cost in your budget.

Internet shopping

When it’s all over

Travelling home from uni for the winter vacation on public transport is even less fun when you’re weighed down by gifts for others! There are many bargains to be found on the internet, and often by using the postal option from the site you can get things delivered directly to the person you’re buying for, saving you time wrapping gifts and the cost of posting or transporting gifts yourself. Many of the main online shopping sites offer a gift wrapping service, but check that the cost is reasonable before checking the ‘gift wrap’ box.

Once the New Year rolls in and your bank contacts you with your latest statement, check that your finances are looking healthy (of course, ideally you’ve been checking your statements online regularly anyway!). If you’ve planned and managed to stay within the limits you set then hopefully your student loan/grant will then be available to you for the second term, not for covering debt incurred over winter.

Enjoy! If you’ve made your budget, know that you’ve stayed within the amounts you set for yourself, and planned ahead, once term ends you can then concentrate on relaxing, spending some time with friends and family, travelling, or working on those essays – whatever you have in mind for the few weeks you are free from lectures!

If you have over-spent Seek help! If you find that you are struggling with your finances then seek help and support. They may be able to identify additional funding available to you, or help you to get back on track if you have over-spent.

A guide to choosing your smart phone and tablet More and more of us are entering the world of smartphones and tablets. With the increasing amount of features, you can now rely on your device to do anything from access social networks, to streaming live television or paying for items in shops. However, as you enter this new world of technology it is important that you understand as much as possible

about your new toy so that you can get the best possible price, a device that suits your needs and to make sure you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end up with it lost or stolen, including all of your valued information. With this in mind here are a few tips to consider before investing what could be a considerable amount of money.

Needs Before purchasing a device consider what you want it for. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all well and good purchasing the new Apple iPhone, but if you are only looking for something to play Angry Birds on when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bored and chat on Facebook, is it really worth it? The best thing to do is consider the features that are important and then seek expert advice on the one that offers your needs for a competitive price.

Security This can come in various different formats with the most obvious being a code you type in for your phone or tablet. This just means that if your phone is lost or stolen, whoever gains possession of it can’t just gain immediate access to your private information such as pictures, bank details or anything else you store on your device. You should also look into phone finding software. This technology is available for the iOS & Android operating systems and can help you track down and recover your gadget a lot quicker.

Watch the sites you visit Whilst this may seem common sense to most of us this is still a far too common mistake. Clicking on sites that can give

you malware or steal your information can cause many problems. The rule is simple, if you don’t trust the site or an attachment someone may have sent you, never open the page. This is a very good way of keeping your tablet/phone virus free and your important information out of the wrong hands.

Theft Both smartphones and tablets are getting easier to steal. A word of advice, try, whenever possible, not to charge it on trains, in cafés or any public places as this is just perfect opportunity for it to get stolen.

Case Study 2 Jeremy’s Story

Jeremy approached the Advice Centre at the end of September; he had been having problems with Student Finance (SFE) due to a change of circumstances (COC) that the University notified them of via their task systems. This was sent by the University early in September and SFE confirmed receipt of the COC task. This sat in a processing queue for 30 days. When it was due to have been processed the adviser contacted them with Jeremy, only to be informed that the COC had been passed for processing but was now in a further 30 day queue. By this time Jeremy’s landlord was making demands for rent which was overdue. The adviser helped Jeremy to submit an application for the Student Hardship Fund and sent them an email (with Jeremy’s consent) confirming the information we had received from SFE. The Student Hardship Fund gave Jeremy an award of a month’s rent.

A month later the COC had been processed but it had been done so incorrectly. SFE had made a part payment but the student was still in arrears with his rent and under pressure again from the Agency/Landlord. The SFE situation was not likely to be resolved before the January payment date so with Jeremy’s consent the adviser got back in touch with the Student Hardship Fund team and explained Jeremy’s situation in detail. They re-assessed his application and made a further award of a month’s rent and a month’s composite living costs.

This made a total Student Hardship Fund award of over one thousand pounds

Online Safety Could you get by without the internet? From online shopping to checking your finances – the internet has become a ma jor part of our lives. For most of us, it’s hard to imagine life without it. Using the internet’s usually trouble-free – whether you’re bagging a bargain online or checking your bank account. But what can you do if something goes wrong? The Financial Ombudsman Service has put together a few tips to help you avoid getting caught out online. Top tips on what to watch for on the web:

1. If in doubt, don’t give it out. Never

give out your banking, credit card or security information - or personal details like your address or date of birth - unless you’re certain the request is genuine. There are lots of phishing scams doing the rounds, where emails claiming to be from banks and other organisations asking for your personal data.Memorise or disguise. Try to memorise your PIN or passwords where possible. If you need to write them down, make sure they’re appropriately disguised. And never keep this information with your bank cards or by your computer.

2. Pry before you buy. If you’re buying

something online, make sure the retailer is legitimate before you pay. And read the small print before you click to confirm. It pays to know your rights, just in case something goes wrong.

3. Protect your paper trail. If you print out bank statements and receipts or other documents containing your personal

details, don’t leave them lying around. When you’ve finished with your paperwork, make sure you shred it – don’t put it straight in the bin.

4. Too much information? If you’re a

regular user of social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook, or take part in other online activities like blogging –be sure to keep your personal details hidden. Leave just the minimum of information visible on-site. Fraudsters trying to access your accounts can use details such as your birthday or first school to help them beat online security questions.

Something gone wrong? Don’t panic! If you find there’s a problem with an online transaction, get in touch with your bank or credit provider and ask them to help you sort things out. For example:

Bank accounts If you spot a payment from your account that you don’t recognise, report it to your bank as soon as possible – they’ll look into things for you. Check your statements regularly to keep on top of things.

Credit cards If you’ve paid for something with your credit card but the goods don’t arrive – or aren’t up to standard – you may be protected legally, depending on the circumstances and the sum involved. Speak to your card provider if you hit a problem.

What is the Advice Centre The Advice Centre is here to give you help and support whilst you are studying at the University Of Huddersfield. If you have a question regarding your academic studies, accommodation, finance or just need general advice about student life, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to help. We offer free, confidential and impartial advice and no question is too big, too small or too silly. Opening Times: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Huddersfield Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Queensgate Huddersfield HD1 3DH Tel: 01484 473446 Email: advice-centre@hud.ac.uk Web: www.huddersfield.su/advice Twitter: @hudsuadvice

University of Huddersfield Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Queensgate Huddersfield HD1 3DH