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DARREN ALDERTON

Age: 19
Height: 5'10
Star sign: Sagittarius
On the stereo: Oasis, "Don't Believe The Truth"
On the back: Ben Sherman shirt
On the lash: an ice cold Stella
On the plate: good old steak and kidney pie
On the road: battered Ford Escort (if he had wheels)
On holiday: sunny Magaluf
On the doormat: FHM
Hobbies: football, going to festivals
Smokes: Yes and proud of it
Part-time job: organised burgers at the basketball and didn't do too badly
His take on the year: yeah, it was a laugh. I made some great mates and even managed to crack on with some work!
What's your favourite part of uni life? There are loads of seriously fit women on campus, which is never a bad thing.
And the worst? Tutors getting on my case when I've got a hangover. Alright, alright!
What have you missed most? The lads back home. Sometimes I worry they'll forget me, but when I went back for the weekend it was just the same.
What has been the greatest surprise? I'm really enjoying the work. I thought I'd come to uni to muck about, but I've learnt a lot.
How have you coped with money? I owe more than I'd like to, but I'm not bankrupt yet. I reckon I'm 'about' £2000 in the red for this year.
What would your top financial tip be for other students? Steal other people's food. Nah, just joking! Take a limited amount of cash on the town with you, that way you can't spend more than you meant to. And don't spend your bus fare on a pint!

Darren's Finances:

Darren uses as much as can get on free overdraft and student loan. Darren's folks help out by giving him £2000 a year.

He's spent £8780. That smoking, at £100 a month, is burning a hole in his pocket as well as his lungs. He's short by £99 each month. In the mean time, it looks like Darren will need to work harder over the holidays than he has done at Uni.

If Darren got a job after graduating earning £18,000 per year, he'd repay his student loan at a rate of £5.20 per week (so his degree would cost about the same per week as a packet of his beloved fags!)

To work out a detailed budget use UNIAID's Student Calculator

For illustration only
Household income £32,000
Year
Income
Maintenance Grant £0
Annual Student Loan £3,608
Grant + Loan £3,608
University Bursary £0
Contribution from Folks £2,000
Interest Free Overdraft £1,500
Part-time work (in term time) £2,000
Access to learning fund £0
TOTAL £9,108
 
Expenditure Month Year
Rent (in halls including utility bills) £217 £2,600
Utility Bills (electric, gas, water) - included in hall fees £0 £0
Mobile/ phone bill £50 £600
Travel/ transport £38 £450
Food £100 £1,200
Clothes/ shoes £30 £360
Leisure/ sports £10 £120
Books/ stationery £21 £250
Smoking £100 £1,200
Socialising £167 £2,000
TOTAL £733 £8,780
Balance £27.33 £328

Remember course fees for 'home' students don't have to be paid back until a student is earning over £15,000!