Cost of living and budgeting
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  4. Cost of living and budgeting

Managing your expenses and learning to save

Budgeting helps you feel in control of your money. We've provided some handy tips on how to manage your money and budget whilst studying.

Cost of living

Your cost of living and studying will depend on your lifestyle preferences. You should consider costs associated with:

  • housing
  • telephone
  • internet
  • health cover
  • food and groceries
  • car
  • public transport
  • entertainment
  • course-related expenses
  • other expenses (postal charges, haircuts etc)

For more information about the above categories, visit our living costs page.

Budgeting tips

As a student, it is very important to keep an eye on your expenses and manage your budget appropriately so you can afford your basic academic and personal needs both now and in the future.

You can start budgeting by:

  • Setting money goals to help you decide where you want your money to go.
  • Getting a clear picture of your regular expenses, including when they're due, and your spending habits.
  • Seeing where you can save, and start saving — no amount is too small.
  • Trying to set aside money for emergencies.

MoneySmart

For more information on how to budget, visit MoneySmart.

The 'Student life and money' section offers great advice on how to:

  • manage on a student income
  • find ways to save money
  • move out of home and find a rental property
  • understand and deal with the costs of having a car
  • comprehend your pay, tax and super
  • use 'buy now, pay later' when shopping online
  • manage and pay off your HELP loan (domestic students)

Macquarie resources

Macquarie University offers you support with managing your money through the following resources:

View the Money Cheat Sheet [PDF 45.5KB] for quick reference on where to find help.

Other resources