The Knicker Drawer

I'm Struggling With Money at University

10. Oktober 2026

GeldUniversität

If rent, food, bills or social costs are becoming overwhelming, find practical next steps, university hardship support and free UK money advice.

There's a particular kind of stress that comes from checking your bank balance and realising it has to last longer than you do.

Maybe your maintenance loan has disappeared faster than expected. Maybe rent, food and travel cost more than you planned. Maybe your friends keep suggesting nights out you can't afford, or you're trying to study while worrying about bills.

If any of that sounds familiar, take a breath.

Struggling with money doesn't mean you've failed at being a student. Living costs can be difficult to manage, financial support isn't the same for everyone, and asking for help can feel much harder than it should.

You don't have to solve everything tonight. Let's start with what might help now.

First: work out what needs attention most urgently

When money feels overwhelming, it's easy to look at the whole situation at once and feel frozen. Try separating what needs dealing with today from what can wait.

Ask yourself:

Do I have enough food for the next day or two?
Can I pay for somewhere safe to sleep?
Is there a bill or rent payment due immediately?
Do I need money for essential travel, medication or other necessities?
Am I being contacted about overdue payments or debt?

If you're short of food, worried about losing your accommodation, or unable to afford an essential, tell your university's student support team as soon as you can. They may be able to discuss emergency help, a hardship fund, food support or referrals to local services.

If you're in immediate danger of being without somewhere safe to stay, contact your local council's housing team or a relevant housing advice service as well.

You deserve help with the urgent problem, not just advice to make a spreadsheet.

Tell your university you're struggling

This can feel embarrassing, especially if everyone around you appears to be coping. But universities know students can experience financial hardship, and many have teams whose job is to help.

Look for student services, student money advice, student welfare or financial support on your university website. If you can't find the right team, contact the students' union or general student support desk and ask where to start.

Ask whether your university offers:

a student hardship fund or emergency grant
bursaries or scholarships you may qualify for
help with food or essential supplies
support with accommodation or rent concerns
budgeting or debt advice
help accessing government or charitable funding

Universities set their own eligibility rules and application processes. You may need to provide information about your income, costs and circumstances, but you can ask what evidence is required before applying.

In the UK, students may be able to get extra funding from their university or college, and hardship funding does not usually need to be repaid, although the terms depend on the scheme. Start with the official GOV.UK guide to extra money from your university or college.

You don't have to wait until you're completely out of money to ask.

Check that you're getting the support you're entitled to

The financial support available to you depends on where you live, your course, your circumstances and your immigration or residency status.

Depending on your situation, there may be help available through student finance, grants, bursaries, disability-related support, childcare support or other schemes.

If you're studying in England, the government has information about extra financial help for students. Students whose funding is handled by Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland should use the relevant student finance service for their nation.

If you're an international student, the support you can access may differ depending on your status and course. Your university's international student advice team can help you understand your options. Don't assume you're ineligible for every form of support without checking.

Make a quick, realistic money picture

Budgeting advice can sound a bit insulting when there simply isn't enough money coming in. A budget can't magically make rent affordable.

But getting a clear picture of the numbers can help you decide what to do next and explain your situation when asking for support.

Write down:

Money coming in

student finance and maintenance payments
wages or other regular income
bursaries, grants or scholarships
family support, if you receive it
any other reliable income

Essential costs

rent and accommodation charges
utilities and phone
food and basic household supplies
travel to university or work
medication and health-related costs
course materials and essential study expenses
minimum payments on debts and other unavoidable commitments

Then list upcoming payment dates. Sometimes the problem is that money arrives in one instalment while costs are spread across the term.

If the figures don't balance, that isn't a personal failing. It tells you how much the gap is — and gives you something concrete to discuss with a student money adviser.

MoneyHelper has a practical guide to budgeting at university.

What can you do this week?

If you're trying to make limited money stretch, focus on changes that are realistic rather than punishing yourself for every small purchase.

Plan a few low-cost meals

Choose a handful of simple meals using ingredients that can work in more than one dish. Check what you already have before shopping, and compare unit prices where that helps.

If you have access to a university food pantry, community food project or other local support, it's okay to use it. These services exist to help people get through difficult periods.

Check subscriptions and regular payments

Look through your bank statement for subscriptions you no longer use, forgotten free trials or services you could pause. Don't cancel something essential without thinking through the consequences, but removing a few unnecessary payments may help.

Ask about student discounts

Check whether you can get a student rate for travel, software, phone plans, food or other services you genuinely use. A discount is only a saving if the purchase was useful in the first place.

Make social plans that fit your budget

You don't have to stop seeing friends. Suggest a walk, a film night at home, a picnic or a free campus event instead of an expensive night out.

You could say:

"I'm keeping spending really low this month, but I'd still love to hang out. Fancy doing something cheap?"

You don't owe anyone a full explanation of your finances.

Our guide to free and cheap things to do at university has more ideas.

What if rent or bills are the problem?

If you're worried about paying rent, council tax, utilities or another essential bill, don't ignore letters or messages because you're anxious about opening them.

Contact the landlord, accommodation provider or supplier as soon as you can and explain that you're having difficulty. Ask what options are available and try to get any agreement in writing. Don't promise a payment you know you cannot make.

Your rights and options depend on your circumstances and where in the UK you live. If you're worried about eviction, housing insecurity, a disputed bill or legal action, get independent advice rather than relying only on what the other party tells you.

Citizens Advice provides free information on money, benefits, bills and housing issues. Your university's accommodation team or students' union may also be able to help you find specialist advice.

What if you're getting into debt?

Debt can feel frightening, particularly when you're studying and don't have much spare income. Try not to ignore it or take out expensive borrowing to cover one payment without understanding the consequences.

Start by listing what you owe, who you owe it to, the next payment dates and any letters you've received. If you have several debts, it can be difficult to know what to prioritise, so seek free, independent debt advice before making decisions you aren't sure about.

Be cautious about:

using one loan or credit card to cover another without a plan
borrowing from high-cost lenders to pay everyday bills
assuming a student overdraft is free money
paying a company upfront for debt help when free advice may be available
ignoring messages about arrears or missed payments

MoneyHelper explains where to get help with debt and how to understand your options.

If you have a student overdraft, check the terms carefully. It is still money you owe, and the conditions can change when you graduate or your account changes. Your bank may be able to discuss options if you are struggling to repay.

What if money worries are affecting your mental health?

Financial stress can take over your attention. You might struggle to sleep, avoid messages, feel ashamed, find it hard to concentrate in lectures or start believing that everyone else has life figured out.

Money problems and mental health can feed into each other. You don't have to wait until you feel completely overwhelmed before speaking to someone.

You could contact:

your university wellbeing or counselling service
your personal tutor or student support team
a trusted friend or family member
your GP or another healthcare professional
a free money advice service, to help reduce the uncertainty around the practical problem

You can ask for help with the money and the emotional impact at the same time. You don't have to choose one.

If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, seek urgent help from local emergency or crisis services.

If you're embarrassed to tell someone

You might be worried that people will think you're irresponsible, that your family will be disappointed, or that your friends will treat you differently.

But there are many reasons a student can struggle financially: living costs, a change in family circumstances, delayed funding, unexpected bills, disability, caring responsibilities, a change in work hours or simply not having enough money to cover the basics.

You don't have to prove that you've made every perfect decision before you're allowed to ask for support.

If writing an email feels easier than saying it out loud, you can start with something like this:

Hello, I'm a student and I'm struggling to cover my essential living costs at the moment. Could you tell me whether the university has a hardship fund, emergency support or a student money adviser I could speak to? I'd appreciate some guidance on what help may be available and how to apply.

You don't need to include every personal detail in the first message. The team can tell you what information they need.

A small plan for the next 24 hours

If everything feels like too much, keep the next steps small:

Identify the most urgent need. Food, accommodation, an essential bill or a debt deadline?
Contact student support. Ask about hardship funding and money advice.
Check the next few days of payments. Write down what is due and when.
Ask for independent advice if debt or housing is involved. Don't try to work out complex rights on your own.
Tell one person you trust. You don't have to carry the worry alone.

You don't need to fix your entire financial future in a day. The goal is to get the next bit of support in motion.

Remember

Being skint at university can be exhausting. It can affect your confidence, your friendships and your ability to enjoy a time when everyone tells you that you should be having the best years of your life.

You are not a failure because money is tight. You are not less deserving of friendship because you can't afford every invitation. And you don't have to wait until things get worse before asking for help.

Start with your university's student support team, check what funding or advice is available, and take the next manageable step.

You deserve support, not judgement.

Where to find help

Free and Cheap Things to Do at University
Keeping Up With Your Friends When You Can't Afford It
When University Starts Feeling Like Too Much
Where Can I Get Help at University?

This article provides general information and is not a substitute for individual financial, debt, housing or legal advice. Eligibility for student funding and hardship support varies by nation, institution and personal circumstances. Check the relevant official guidance and seek independent advice about your situation.