Please note: This content was written with undergraduate UK students in mind. If you are an international student please contact DMU Money Advice or International Student Support directly for further advice and guidance.
September
Compile a budget plan: Make sure you have got your budget in place for the start of term. Contact us or book a Money Doctor appointment if you need any advice on how to do this. Budgeting tips on the Money Advice Service website might be helpful too.
If you’re looking for some budgeting tools, the Save the Student budgeting spreadsheet might be useful. There’s also the Which? Student budget calculator; which would be a good place to start.
Now would also be a good time to register for Blackbullion, our online financial skills platform, at this time of year, you may be particularly interested in the following mini-courses: Budgeting 101 and Make Budgeting Work For You.
Share utility bills for your house: If you plan to share a student house, you and your housemates need to be jointly responsible for all the utility bills. Save the Student! have a useful guide on setting up, splitting and managing utility bills. TIP: Make sure to take meter readings when you move in and submit them to your provider, you only want to pay for what you use.
16–25 Railcard: If you think you’re likely to be travelling a lot by train over the next few months, you might want to buy a National Rail 16–25 Railcard, which gives a 1/3 off ticket prices. Don’t worry if you’re over 25, you can still get the railcard if you’re a full-time student. Make sure to check the eligibility details.
Young Person's Coachcard: Prefer to travel by coach? National Express offer the Young Person’s Coachcard for 16–26 year olds. Again, it gives a 1/3 off ticket prices.
Worried about the cost of text books? Why not buy second-hand? Save the Student! have lots of great ideas on how you can save money.
October
First student maintenance loan payment: Your first instalment will be paid on the first day of term, if you have completed your registration on time. Remember, if you are a final year student, you will get slightly less funding compared to previous years, so it’s even more important that you manage your budget. If you would like support with managing your money, book a Money Doctor appointment.
Delay in receiving your student funding: If you experience a delay in your student funding and are struggling with your finances, we may be able to help. Book a 15-minute Quick Query appointment, or a 30-minute Money Doctor appointment, or contact us via email. Despite the delay, you should still be able to register as a student. DMU Money Advice may also be able to offer short-term financial support depending on your circumstances and eligibility.
Council Tax exemption: Full-time students are exempt from paying Council Tax. Download your exemption letter from the 'My Documents' tile on MyDMU.
Get your TOTUM Card: TOTUM is the only student discount recommended by the National Union of Students. Make sure you ask everywhere you go if they offer student discount.
November
Get support with your finances: November might be when you start to notice your bank balance getting low. If this happens to you, try not to panic! Book a Money Doctor appointment where we can help you review your budget and make sure you're receiving all the funds you're eligible for.
Need some extra financial support? If you are in financial hardship, consider applying to the DMU Support Fund which helps with general living and course-related costs. Please check the categories it can help with and the eligibility criteria before applying.
January
Sell any unwanted Christmas presents: If you’re looking to boost your finances in the new year, selling any unwanted gifts might help. Consider websites like eBay, Music Magpie, Shpock and Vinted.
Second student maintenance loan payment: The second instalment is normally paid in January. Check your student funding 'Notification of Entitlement' letter for the exact date.
Book your Easter travel early: If you’re planning to travel home at Easter, booking your train ticks early could save some money. Cheaper train tickets are usually released 12 weeks in advance.
Research postgraduate funding: Thinking about postgraduate study? Now would be a good time to start researching the funding available. Have a look at our Postgraduate funding web pages and the Government website on postgraduate student funding for more information.
February
Need some extra financial support? If you are in financial hardship, consider applying to the DMU Support Fund which helps with general living and course-related costs. Please check the categories it can help with and the eligibility criteria before applying.
March
Apply for jobs: Now might be a good time to start thinking about life after DMU. Make an appointment with the DMU Careers Team for careers advice and guidance. You might also want to start thinking about the tax system and how you will be taxed on future employment. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group have a number of helpful Tax Guides for guidance.
You might also find the Tax mini-course on Blackbullion helpful. Blackbullion is an online financial skills platform which we have partnered with to help develop student finance skills.
Review your final year finances: remember final year students get slightly less Maintenance Loan than previous years. If you’re not sure you have enough to last, book a Money Doctor appointment where we can help you review your budget and make sure you are receiving all the funds you're eligible for.
April
Final student maintenance loan payment: The final instalment of the academic year will be paid shortly after Easter.
Plan for graduation costs: If you are graduating this summer, there are likely to be things you will need to pay for, such as: tickets, your robe, smart clothes and shoes, professional photos, travel to Leicester and perhaps overnight accommodation. Remember to work these costs into your budget.
May
Need some extra financial support? If you are in financial hardship, consider applying to the DMU Support Fund which helps with general living and course-related costs. Please check the categories it can help with and the eligibility criteria before applying.
June
TV Licence refund: You might be able to get a refund on some of your TV Licence when you move out of student accommodation. Visit the TV Licensing web page for more information.
Apply for government benefits: When your course finishes, you may be able to claim some Government benefits. The Benefits Calculator will give you a good idea what you might be eligible for.
Sell your unwanted Uni stuff: Now’s a good time to think about selling your text books. Save the Student! have some great tips on how to do this.
Reclaim any overpaid utilities and rental deposit: When you move out of your rented accommodation, check that you haven't overpaid for utilities and that you have got your rental deposit back.
Repaying your student loan: Not sure about how to repay your student loan? The Student Loans Company repayment website has information about the repayment system.
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