h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Money Saving for Students - A22008962
Author: benjaminpmoore - U3508889

Having spent sometime with this entry in the egww I am now looking to see what you guys make of it here in peer review.

EGWW thread: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F7142012?thread=4097262 I liked it then, and I like it more now. :)

Sorry for the Alabaster link.

What a beautiful alabaster link.

F7142012?thread=4097262

...for sensible people

It came up to me in... I can't remember what my goo is, but it isn't bleedin' alabaster. Came up okay, anyway. Thanks.




How did the entry get better sitting in pr?

I meant from the latest improvements you made in EGWW.

Oh. That makes more sense, thanks.

Hi Benjamin,

Good to see you in PR

Here are some tweaks of the neanderthalian camp:

(maybe that needs a seperate entry) - that bit can come out, I think..

in short >> put 'also' in here instead, I think.

>>There are many variables in terms of financial solvency, from those who can have their way paid entirely by their parents, to those who must work simply to cover their tuition fees and from countries where you need a loan to those where you get student grants, but the fact remains that if you are learning to balance the books for the first time (although balancing empty cans is probably both a better metaphor and more fun) it's going to be a steep learning curve. <<

That is one powerfully long sentence! Can you take a pair of scissors to it, perhaps?

researches for the guide >> researchers

>>Are you, to quote Friends a laundry virgin? << Are you, to quote Friends, a 'laundry virgin'?

issue.In the mean time >> issue.In the meantime,

general principals >> principles

On other hand: >> on the other hand:

uncessary outlay >> unnecessary

Your diet needs to be balance >> balanced

recipies >> recipes

even just nice for the same sort of price. >> or better value

thier parents >> their

hazzards >> hazards

charges mobile phone with you >> charged mobile phone with you (and keep it out of sight).

bera in mind >> bear

or even turn down the volume >> turning

and it vital >> it is vital

It may also be worth mentioning freebies in magazines, especially entertainment magazines targeted at young people (eg Time Out magazine in London this week had a feature on places to eat free).


W

Thanks Wilma- made most of those changes. Can you elaborate on the magazine thing at all?

I really like this entry - well done!

There's a mental approach which helps you save money. You have to see the money as the constraint, rather than the things you would buy with it. Don't think "How am I going to get money to buy X, Y and Z?" Think "What can I buy with my £M this week?".

I survived university by withdrawing £5 from the cash machine once a week. That was all I could afford to spend. (This was the early 80's)

Icy

Icy's got it right.
In terms of budgeting, I've stopped with the itemised lists and categories and blah de blah - you just end up spending you spend and then justifying it that way. Instead, I just calculate how much I can spend based on projected earnings for the month, withdraw that amount at the beginning of the month, and will not withdraw any more until the next month, if I have to starve and wear rags.

You should perhaps link to this as well ... A848603

Sure... Time Out is a magazine. They have freebie features. Here's the Lonodn one:

http://www.timeout.com/london/features/2892.html


W

I really, really enjoyed this! It reminds me so much of my Daughter's time at Lancaster, that she could have written it.

Just a couple of spelling issues:

In the section on Transport - *parking is scarse* shouldn't that be parking is scarce?

Where you speak of internet providers you have written *companys* I believe this should be companies (plural) and not as belonging to a company.

Other than that it is brilliant.

Well Done

YOu;ve missed an a out oa sausages along the way.

Probably worth mentioning that most places have Student Discounts at various times, including hairdressers, restaurants (both fast food and the good variety), movie theatres, tourist attractions and clubs/bars.

10 - 20 % off is the usual.

Wave a valid NUS or other student card about and you can get all kinds of deals on clothes at some outlets too - but new clothes are best found in decent charity shops for the real hard up. In my days at college, 'grunge' was the in-thing, so I used to wear a varied assortment of old shirts and ripped jeans, and jumpers with holes in. But saying that you can often get high quality brand clothing at charity stores too, if you shop around.

Nice one ben, really good read, and the way you've done it harks back to the EG Entries of old

i really like it! im gonna be going to uni in about a year and i picked up some really good tips, thanks.

im not sure if it was mentioned but ive been told by a uni friend that in freshers week there's something called the student fair where all the uni peeps try and get you to join their clubs and what have you, but as a bit of an incentive, they give out freebies of just about anything, food, cleaning products anything... she said go there with the biggest bag you can find and grab everything you can, even if you don't want it, because the chances are, somebody else will, for a small fee of course!

anyway... i look forward to seeing it in the edited guide my friend!

Just as an aside on the fresher's week. Make sure you print off numerous passport size photos 'cos the chances are, you will need one for each society/group you join; and they can be damned expensive from those booths.

Looking back on my old student days, I can recommend several tips:
* Become vegetarian. Meat is expensive and you don't miss it after a while. You'll also look and feel better.
* Cook and eat together. Plan your meals in advance. You'll save time and money.
* You can get haircuts cheap by offering to act as a model for the trainee hairdressers.
* Your local market will sell food a lot cheaper than the supermarket. Also, and the end of the trading day many traders can't be bothered with carting back the cheaper veg and will offer it for next to nothing.
* If you find you MUST shop at the supermarket, draw up a shopping list and *stick to it*. Do not get distracted.
* Do not eat at the refectory if you live off campus. Take sandwiches for lunch.