So the general consensus is that uni students are…thrifty. This is a euphemistic way of saying that we will go out of our way to save every penny we can. It’s in our blood, we can’t help it. As you will soon be bona fide uni students, read on for my tips on how to save your hard-earned dosh here at Sydney…
• If you can, pay your fees upfront: you get a 20% discount!
• Try and buy your textbooks from the Union Secondhand Bookshop (in the Wentworth Building). They are generally much cheaper than the Co-op Bookshop. You can also sell your books there!
• Get a Union coffee card – every fifth one is free!
• Return your library books on time. I am one of those people loved by Blockbuster, as I owe more in fines than I have ever spent on renting DVDs. The same goes at Fisher: you will be (and I have been) fined if you don’t return those books on the due date!
• Check out the Daily Bull (a Union publication) for specials on gigs, movie sessions and plays around Sydney.
• Buy your movie tickets from the Union, at the Wentworth Building or Manning House. They are $11 and valid at Greater Union and Hoyts cinemas. Perfect!
• Use your Union member card, your little orange ticket to discounts all over campus.
• There are always lots of free, fun activities on campus. Beachball is our February semester party, and Snowball is at the start of the August semester. You can check out Theatresports, trivia and live bands at Manning during the week. There are also free movies at Manning – check out the website for more details. There are always free public lectures, you just have to look for the posters!
• Grab a free Union diary at the start of semester. Not only will it help you organize your life, there are plenty of coupons at the back to satisfy the cheap lust of your soul (the FINANCIAL cheap lust, that is…)
Comments
How much approximately are textbooks? I'm just trying to work out if I need to start saving for them.
Oh and thanks for the tips they are great!
Posted by: Sarah | December 19, 2005 05:53 PM
A whole lot of people have told me that you can't work while you're at uni cos it means you can't pass your courses. Is this true? How are you meant to live then?
Posted by: Amy | December 21, 2005 04:48 PM
Good question, Sarah! It's probably a good idea to start saving for your textbooks, as they can be quite expensive. Most students spend around $200-$300 on textbooks each semester. This depends on which course you study, though: for example, if you do English it's likely you can pick up some of yours second-hand so they are less expensive. There is also a Second Hand Bookshop on campus that has books categorised according to subjects. Very handy!
Posted by: Lauren | December 21, 2005 05:22 PM
Hey Amy! You can work while you're at uni, but it's not recommended that you work more than 10-15 hours a week. With all your class time, combined with homework and assessments, uni is full-on anyway! The last thing you need is an added pressure like work. Despite this, you do need to make a living somehow. The Union can help you with loans and can direct you to assistance with paying the bills and such.
Posted by: Lauren | December 21, 2005 10:41 PM
Hey Amy,
Nearly everyone works at least one casual or part time job at uni. It definitely depends on what course you do to how much casual work you can fit into a week but most with most courses you should be able to work at least one day a week. For example, in an Arts or Economics degree you may only be at uni 14 hours a week spread over 3 days so you've got heaps of spare time to work, whereas with a science or Engineering degree you may be at uni 9-5 five days a week and so can only work nights at a pub or weekends.
I only have one friend who doesn't and she has a very rich dad. You can definitely work and still pass your courses with really great marks though obviously if you work full time and miss your lectures, you may find yourself if a spot of trouble at exams time.
Also, uni semesters are each only 13 weeks long so you have a good five months of the year off to work and save for the next uni year or to travel!
Posted by: Tarah | December 22, 2005 08:40 AM