How Sydney manages her money as a pre-degree student at UAL

When you’re living in London for the first time, there’s a lot of new things to experience, from cooking your own food to managing a budget. Sydney Carty is a student at London College of Fashion who moved to London from Canada to do her pre-degree course. We asked her how she spends and manages money during her foundation year at UAL.

How much do you spend on necessities?

I probably spend £50-100 a week on necessities such as food, transit, art supplies or any other equipment I might need. I spend £40 per month on electricity and gas, £24 for my phone bill and £100 per month for the tube.

What costs do you have for pre-degree supplies and materials and how do you manage it on a budget?

It’s quite easy to borrow materials such as yarn, thread, scissors, needles, embroidery hoops and weaves from the studio spaces on campus. For nicer quality materials, I buy them in the art shop. I could spend between £10-30 on getting some yarn, knitting needles, paper or clay. I sometimes splurge on buying new yarn for my projects, which can be between £3-8 per yarn depending on the type.

I buy most of my materials at the beginning of the project for development/research and towards the end of the project for the final product.

Once in two months I’ll invest in more art materials. In between, I'll buy little things like pencils or some thread.

Tip: Try to save on art supplies by looking at options from a variety of places rather than one shop. Choose higher quality materials for more important projects and use cheaper materials if it’s just for fun or practice.

Do you work during your degree? If so, what do you do and how do you balance work and study?

I work at a vintage shop in Notting Hill. When it comes to deadlines, I prioritise my schoolwork, so I let my job know beforehand that I’ll be unavailable. Luckily, my job is very flexible. This year, I had less hours in class and a lot of free time, so it was easier to balance work and homework.

As I start BA Fashion Textiles: Knitwear at London College of Fashion this year, I’ll see how it goes. I might find a new job with higher pay so I can make more money and work less. I also try to fit in time to chill and catch up on rest because that’s extremely important.

Tip: Many students work alongside their studies, but it can be helpful to work somewhere that’s understanding of your deadlines and course load. Look on ArtsTemps for part-time opportunities around your college for flexible work hours. Remember to check your work rights if you are studying on a student visa.

Are there any student discounts or money-saving hacks you’d recommend?

Use the app TooGoodToGo to get discounted meals from cafes and restaurants for food that will expire soon. Restaurants list the food for a really cheap amount and you can go pick it up and get a huge portion of food for £5-10.

The app Dusk is a free drinking app where it will show you bars in areas that give out free drinks. It actually works and is great for saving money. Otherwise, try to eat home cooked meals as much as possible and go to car boot sales to buy anything from clothes to silverware for not a lot of money.

Tip: Look for deal-finding apps to make the most of your money.

How do you have fun in London on a budget?

I enjoy raves. Depending how far in advance you book them, they usually cost around £5 but can get quite expensive if you book last minute. Otherwise, hanging out in parks is always a good way to have fun. I also love going to galleries, which are almost all free.

I’ll sometimes splurge on clothing, records, food, coffee and art materials. For clothing and records I buy second hand, which is a lot cheaper (sometimes). I go to a lot of car boot sales where you can get cheap stuff. When it comes to coffee and food, I try to make it at home.

Tip: Choose your spots! Pick some areas that are important to you that you might splurge a bit more on and try to save in other areas to make up for it.

Sydney is just one example of how a UAL student manages money. Everyone's situation is different and the specific tips that work for Sydney may not work for you.

For information about the financial support UAL offers and for more money advice, visit our Money Management Hub.