LOVE LIVING WITH HOST? Rebook for September 2025
We’ve survived January and heading towards the end of February. And for many people it’s time to try and assess their financial situation – and for full time students it can be difficult knowing where to cut back without completely shutting down the idea of doing anything social and fun. Making smarter spending choices means you don’t really have to miss out on anything. We’ve put together some of the ways you can avoid falling into the pitfall of a near-empty bank balance.
Opening your preferred take-away app is quick and easy, but not very cost effective. Before long you’ll be staring at your banking app in disbelief – but the pizza boxes piling up in your bin telling the true story. Taking the time to plan out your own meals will leave you with healthier and most cost-efficient meal choices. Doing your food shopping online means that you are more likely to pay attention to any deals and offers available. – All our student homes have spacious kitchens for you to cook up a storm all of your own.
If you’re studying in a city, there will always be free events that you can take advantage of. Most museums and art centres are free to enter or request a donation as a minimum. You may even discover something relevant to your degree.
Sometimes, we find something that we just want to have as our own, sometimes ignoring how practical or expensive it would be to make the purchase. Don’t give in and spend your money on a whim – if there’s something you want, take some time to think before buying. Do I need this? How will this benefit me?
It might not work for things you really need, but it can help you avoid the guilt a few days later when you realise your money could have been better spent.
And stick to it. There are apps like mint which can help you set bill payment reminders and plan your days/weeks so that you don’t have to worry about misplaced spreadsheets – it’s all easily stored in your phone.
Having your own credit card can be useful if you use it sensibly. Making small purchases or using it to pay your phone bill can help you to build up your credit score. Remember if you do own a credit card, that you should always pay off the balance each month in full.
There are many temptations offered to students by credit card lenders, offering certain incentives if you sign up. Credit card money is not money that is yours. Credit card debt can follow students around for years after they finish their studies and can affect your future.
If you want some extra money and you don’t have much free time to work whilst studying, you can use online marketplaces like Vinted or eBay to give your unwanted items a new home. It’s easy to list your items online and payments can be made to you instantly. It’s a nice way to earn some spending money for the weekend.
To become more ‘environmentally friendly’, Host is launching the #HostEnvironmentalPledge campaign to encourage responsible behaviour and drive sustainability across our sites throughout the UK and Ireland.
It’s a simple campaign! For every percent we reduce our overall utilities (electric, water and gas) consumption by we donate to one of our nominated charities.
Show me all newsWhen it comes to choosing student accommodation in the UK, most people focus on price, amenities, or whether it's en-suite or shared. While these are important factors, one element that can make or break your student life is location and commute time. It's more than just a pin on a map - it's about how your daily life will feel.
It might feel like you’ve got plenty of time before uni starts, but trust us - when it comes to student accommodation, early birds aren’t just getting the worm. They’re getting the best rooms, the best deals, and peace of mind long before the chaos of results day kicks in.Each year, thousands of students scramble to find the perfect place to live - and by the time they get around to it, the most popular rooms are already long gone. So if you’re heading to university this year, here’s why getting your accommodation sorted early might just be the smartest move you’ll make.
