Student bills and expenses can be tricky to navigate, especially for those who have never had to do this before.
What costs can you expect?
This partly depends on your accommodation choice. If you are living in halls, you will have to pay rent plus food/drink, mobile phone contracts, travel, and going out, but not things such as water, electric/gas, or broadband (usually covered in the rent).
In shared accommodation, you may need to pay towards gas/electricity, water, broadband, landline, TV licence, and satellite TV in addition to the rent.
Work out a plan for bills
If you are in shared accommodation, one of the first things you should do is work out a plan with your housemates as to how bills are dealt with. If you can, get all names put on the bills so there is joint responsibility from a legal perspective. It is often simplest to split bills equally. You could use a bill management tool, a bill-splitting service, a joint account, or direct debits to make things easier.
Read the meters
As soon as you move into any accommodation, make sure you take readings from the gas and electricity meters. It can also be a good idea to take photos as evidence. You will need to give the energy provider readings on a regular basis, unless there is a smart meter, to ensure you are billed accurately for what you use. Smart meters send these readings automatically
Do you need accommodation for Exeter Uni?
If you are a new or existing student at Exeter University, you will need to find yourself somewhere to live unless you already reside in the area. A range of options is available when it comes to suitable accommodation Exeter Uni students.
Saving money on bills
For bills based on usage, you can keep them down by using less. Examples include turning down the heating, only doing full loads in the dishwasher/washing machine, charging your electrical devices at the university or in libraries, and taking showers rather than baths.
