When I was a student there were still grants - so I feel sorry for today's students who end up with huge debts. A friend of mine who’s currently training to be a vet told me one of her tips was never going shopping when she was hungry and deliberately going to the supermarket just before it closes so she could get all the reductions on that day's bread/cakes etc…

We always used to cook massive pots of chilli con carne and then make that last about four days to keep food bills down. Probably riddled with botulism but we survived!

Be interested to hear any other tried-and-tested ways of economising for students...

Not to be a cynic but why feel sorry? My wife and I racked up around £50k of student debt but were happy to do so as a calculated investment in our futures. Its a bit like putting up a new shed - if it wont pay then dont do it.

For ag students there is always good money to be made working over the summer.

For serious economy I would suggest:

1) Not buying a plasma TV and games machine.

2) Not drinking alcohol.

3) For Askham Brian students - not going out in York (or anywhere) of an evening.

4) Learn how to cook when you are young. Basic things like omlette take no time and cost almost nothing. Surely ag students must be able to get decent prices eggs etc?

5) Think about things you need like clothes and get them for Christmas or birthday.

6) Chances are you dont need a car.

7) Make a budget and stick to it. Make it realistic or you wont be able to stick to it in the first place. Make your budget around your needs and then figure out how to get the money, rather than work out how much you have got and then how much you can spend on an area.

8) Mobile phone? Why?

9) Help each other to save - have nights in, cook in a group, share the bills, have a car pool.

10) If you cant afford to go, save up and then go.

Don't worry about the debt, if you are self employed you will never have to pay it back. (get a good accountant and stick under the income limit, if you have surplus cash start a pension the loan is written off when you are 40 ) Its free living for 3 years enjoy it. The stupid system will collapse soon as almost half of the student loans are not being paid back. Maternity leave is also a good way of avoiding paying, remember the system is crazy use it while it lasts

TeslaCoils:

2) Not drinking alcohol.

All good advice, TeslaCoils - except point 2

You're right in that it should be viewed as an investment - I just know I'd have been worried by the prospect of running up all that debt (possibly so much that it might have put me off going to Uni).

Best tip I can give is just work every hour god sends during the holidays and don't kid yourself.....being an Ag student you WILL go out every night, you WILL end up bidding silly amounts of money for the girls hockey team at SlaveAuction night in the bar and you WILL still end up driving everywhere in the Landrover. My friends told me this information.....

Seriously, your there to learn but also have a good time and college days ARE the best days of your life and I dont believe in skimping and saving through college just to stay out of debt.

I made the most of my holidays whilst I was a student. Christmas time I'd pluck turkeys and doing early lambing. Easter I'd sit on a de-stoner, June/July I'd go silage making and rest of summer drive a combine. My first year I started with £500, that didnt even last till end of Freshers Week. 2nd yr I saved £2500 up, that didnt last till Christmas!! 3rd year I got an overdraft!!

I know this reply is fairly light hearted, but thats just my attutide towards money and college. You cant expect not to get into debt when your only working 4 months of the year and drinking a life times worth of beer in 3 yrs!! Anyone tell I miss being an Ag student?!

TelsaCoils, I think your advice is a bit extreme. You can find a balance between fun and what you're suggesting.

Being broke is one thing but being sad and broke is another.

Weekend jobs help.

Invest in a student union card. They only cost £10 and loads of shops offer great discounts (usually between 10 - 20 %) and Mcdonalds sometimes give you free food!

farmer facey:

TelsaCoils, I think your advice is a bit extreme. You can find a balance between fun and what you're suggesting.

Not really my point. More a case of "dont winge about being poor while spending all your money on stuff you dont need".

Its all a case of pespectives. You should spend on the basics, and use the surplus for fun. Not the other way around.

That's one big difference between agricultural college students and people on other courses - the ag students can go and work 100-hour weeks and earn loads of overtime during the summer holiday which helps trim the overdraft!