Call Us +1-555-555-555

Financial tips for University students

16 February 2021

Mulcahy & Co Financial Planner Lynde Adams discusses some ways that Uni students can make the most of limited income.

Know your 'Needs' vs 'Wants'

Lynde Adams

Make a list of all your necessary spending for the year – rent, food, uni expenses, travel, internet/phone, insurances.  Work out your yearly costs and then break it down into weekly/monthly/fortnightly (however often your income is paid) – this is the amount you need to set aside every time you get ‘paid’ and it’s best to have at least 3 months in reserve in case unexpected costs arise.  


After you know your income sources (see below) you can then allocate how much is left over to your ‘wants’ and you can then spend ‘guilt-free’ on going out, clothes, or other wants. There’s a great easy to use budget planner on www.moneysmart.gov.au 

Know your income sources

Make a list of all income sources – Youth Allowance, Scholarship funds, Bank of Mum and Dad, Savings, Casual/part time job. Is it going to cover all your ‘needs’ above? Knowing what income you will receive will help to ensure you can allocate this wisely – have a separate bank account for your ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ and allocate your income to cover the ‘needs’ first.


Travel – Public or private?

If you are considering whether you need your own car while at uni, weigh up all the annual costs v’s public transport – not just the initial outlay for the car itself. Owning car involves paying for fuel, car registration, car insurance, maintenance, parking – this can add up to thousands of dollars each year…that’s a lot of train/bus travel if you live in the city or areas where there is good public transport options. Avoid borrowing money to buy a car! Car’s reduce in value – you will end up paying a lot more for your car when you add interest costs to the above expenses!


Keep track of super

While retirement may seem a lifetime away when you likely haven’t even started your working life, keeping track of your super from the beginning will have enormous impact on your retirement savings over the next 40 years! You have super choice! Make sure if you have multiple jobs or change jobs, you take your super fund with you – all you have to do is provide your employer with a super choice form which will be available on your super fund website. Look for a low cost fund by using comparison website such as www.canstar.com.au or www.moneysmart.gov.au


Plan meals ahead

If you are independent living then shopping for food and meals may be very new to you! A little bit of planning ahead can save $$$$ as you will avoid last minute shopping decisions and also unhealthy choices! If you can cook for yourself, you can pre-plan your weekly menu and buy what you need once a week – cook meals for 4 instead of 1 if you have freezer space so you don’t need to cook as often and you’ll not only save money but time as well.


Lynde Adams

Financial Planner
Mildura office

Latest News

17 January 2025
Navigating Inheritances. Nicholes Family Law Partners Nadine Udorovic and Bec Dahl chat to Danny Archer and Damian McMahon. Together, they delve into the complexities of inheritances, offering valuable insights from both legal and financial perspectives on how to navigate this important topic.
18 December 2024
Watch the video above from Thayne. As 2024 comes to a close I thought I'd take the opportunity and send a thank you note to you all as gratitude for your continued support and loyalty. Throughout 2024 we have experienced; 1. Exceptional investment returns from all asset classes and sectors: ASX 200 up 23% S&P 500 up 30% AUST. Bonds up ~4.5% INTERNATIONAL Bonds up ~6% Aust Retail Property Trust up 39% 2. This hopefully reminds you all that it's best to remain invested even when economic conditions are uncertain. 3. We are actively monitoring and keeping an eye on US economic data particularly to understand which direction inflation may head, how this will impact interest rates and currency valuations, will there be a resurgence of small companies, emerging markets and bond and property prices. 4. With our research team we are well positioned to keep on top of the ever changing landscape, making investment decisions to maximise returns and minimise risk with regular investment committee meetings and analysis of data. 5. For many of our actively managed investment portfolios we ranked in the top 5 if not top 10 of throughout the course of the year which is a testament to the structure of Mulcahy & Co offices, people, systems and processes that we continue to build on to provide a quality service and outcomes to you all. 6. Please remember here at Mulcahy & Co the Financial Planning team is a part of a bigger network incorporating Accounting, Lending and Legal to deliver Financial Security 360 to make sure all of your financial needs are met and complement each other to achieve your goals and objectives. Once again I'd like to thank you for your support and wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and happy new year. The Mulcahy & Co Financial Planning Team
1 November 2024
We meet Accounting Partner Eamon and Mark from Compass Business Accountants who has joined the Mulcahy & Co Group operating from our Toowoomba, Queensland office. Host Gavin Nash talks to the pair who are operating from this thriving inland city and what services they offer their clients.
Show More
Share by: