Worried about living costs in London? In this post, St Mary's graduate Kenza gives us her tips on how to budget as a university student in the capital.
I graduated from St Mary’s in July 2026 with a degree in Acting. I’ve just started my first professional acting contract and am heading into the big, wide world of work (a scary thought!).
Throughout my time at university, I was fortunate enough to be trained in content creation and had the best time creating many videos for the various social media pages of St Mary’s and beyond. From filming ‘A Day in My Life' to covering an art exhibition in the birthplace of Gothic literature, it's been a varied mix.
But my favourite type of content to create is money-saving tips. We all know being a student in London is expensive, but these student budgeting tips I've gathered over the years will help you enjoy uni life without breaking the bank.
Part-time student jobs
My main source of income while at uni has been various part-time jobs.
It goes without saying that the job market is challenging, to say the least - jobs nowadays don’t come as easily as before. But there are jobs out there, especially in university towns and cities, where employers know a high volume of young people are looking for employment. I’ve had my fair share of jobs while at uni - some I enjoyed more than others! The is a great place to start, but there are also opportunities posted by companies on Instagram. And you should definitely attend the fairs organised by the St Mary's
In my experience, the hospitality industry is one I keep coming back to when performing gets quiet. Just in general, if you are a trained barista and/or bartender, employers will want to snap you up time after time, so they are good skills to have.
The best and most flexible job I’ve had has been nannying. I found most of my nannying jobs through a company called Athlete Mannies and Nannies, who primarily operate in the Twickenham area, but in central London too. It’s been so rewarding, well paid, and looks great on my CV. Check out their .
Another big tip for students is to try getting a part-time job related to your degree. You'll start making connections with people in your field and build transferable skills. I started working at a theatre local to St Mary’s in first year and still work there now. As an , it was a no-brainer. Being constantly surrounded by other actors/directors and making connections while also earning money. Zero-hour contracts are great as you can work alongside your studies, but it’s worth noting that hours aren’t guaranteed.
And last but not least, the at St Mary’s has been honestly brilliant. It's a job specifically for students, well paid, and made to fit around your studies with opportunities to gain transferable skills such as public speaking, workshop running, content planning, and tour guiding experience.
Student budgeting
‘Budgeting’ is a word that I feel is often overused and under-explained. While some create elaborate colour-coded four-page spreadsheets, others have never been taught how to budget and spend their whole Maintenance Loan at Blank Street
While I am partial to a good old matcha, I'm somewhere in between. Despite having never opened Excel, budgeting is something I've become good at. To me it’s all about two things: doing some basic maths and being sensible.
When you start university, most students in England will get two loans, and it’s important to know the difference. Your Tuition Fee Loan pays for your tuition; it goes directly to the university and you never see it. Your Maintenance Loan comes into your bank account and is to be used to cover rent and other outgoings; mainly calculated on your household income each year. Don’t factor in your Tuition Fee Loan when you budget!
How to budget as a student
This is how I work out my budget each month. Feel free to adapt it!
Non-negotiables first: rent and bills. It's very common for your Maintenance Loan not to cover rent for more than three months, so it’s not just you!
Then food shops, which usually cost the same for me each week (it helps if one of your part-time jobs serve food!)
Whatever’s left goes into savings, and I move money across to my current account as I need it, so I’m always aware of what I’m spending. It’s surprising how unaware you can be when you’re tapping away with Apple Pay.
There have been times when I haven’t allowed myself any treats whatsoever when I've been overly worried about money. This taught me that there just needs to be balance between buying things that make you happy and buying things for the sake of it.
At the end of each month, I check how much I've spent. If it's a particularly high number for whatever reason, then I make some cutbacks the next month and/or pick up more hours at work.
Overall, just make sure you keep on top of your incomings and outgoings and be realistic with your spending. Don’t forget, the St Mary’s Student Funding Service team are there to help!
It’s worth looking into student bank accounts, annoyingly something I missed the bandwagon on! Many banks offer perks like free railcards or cashback, so do your research and read the terms and conditions before committing.
Student discounts on shopping
Arguably the best part about being a student is of course… student discounts! I’ve used and . Just validate your account with your St Mary's email address and you’re good to go! The majority of shops and restaurants offer student discount, so make sure to always ask.
For example, if you sign up for a free Boots Advantage Card, you can add a student discount for 10% off your shop. Both apps show deals from relevant shops you can access if you’re a student.
Hands DOWN the best things I've bought is a . It gets you a third off rail travel, and you can link it to your Oyster card for a third off off-peak Tube fares. Life saver!
I remember the idea of food shopping was something that stressed me out in second year when I moved into private accommodation. I was worried it would be too expensive, and I'd never know what to buy. Budget supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi are my go-to. Cheap and cheerful and Lidl bakery is arguably the best thing since sliced bread. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to get picky bits from M&S every week but alas not.
With a busy 9-5 class schedule, meal prepping SAVED me in second and third year. Did I spend half my Sundays cooking? Yes. Did I then not have to cook again until the following Sunday? Yes. Because you only go to the shops once a week, you cut back on the ‘I just need one more thing’ which quickly adds up. In terms of what to cook, I googled recipes then quickly had my faves on rotation.
A takeaway and a film is a great way to spend an evening but it’s something that makes a big dent on the old bank account. As well as high food prices, it’s the delivery fee that brings it up. It sounds cliche but you can often make a better version at home that lasts longer. A ‘fakeaway’ if you will.
We all know that inflation has affected lots of aspects of our daily life in past years. One thing that has surprised me most is just how expensive clothes have become. If you know where to look, you can find some absolute gems in charity shops. The posher the area, the better the finds. Vinted and Ebay can also be great places to look.
Over the last three years, I've discovered lots of ways to have a great day in the city without spending £50 with nothing to show for it. Head to the St Mary's Instagram page and take a look at my to find somewhere for your next day out!
Being a student in London has pushed me to find free places to spend a day. Whether you’re spotting wildlife in one of the eight Royal Parks, walking around central London being a tourist in your own city, or making a coffee at home and going on a hot girl walk along the river. There’s plenty of ways to have fun while not spending a penny.
If you really enjoy going somewhere, why not have a look into membership? It'll likely pay for itself of within two or three trips and most places offer a special low student price. My personal faves are Kew Gardens and London Zoo.
The Instagram page regularly posts pop ups/free events that are coming up in London. If you subscribe to ‘Save the Student’ on WhatsApp then they’ll send you daily offers (as well as lots of available freebies) that you can claim just for being a student.
I hope this has been of help - happy saving!
Get help with your student finances
The Student Funding Service team can , , and find out whether , such as bursaries and hardship funds.