Your Students’ Association understands the difficulties that you face as students. We hear about them through your feedback and our Cost of Living Research where 4,308 of you told us just how much it impacts you.

We advocate and strongly believe in you getting the support and opportunities you need to thrive during your time at Arden. However, you don’t stop thinking about finances when we leave Arden which is why we think it is just as important that you develop the skills and knowledge to support yourself in the future.

This is why we are so glad that this years National Student Money Week theme is Future Ready. Highlighting the importance of skills when managing your money.

Finding Advice and Tips

Managing money can feel overwhelming, especially when you're juggling university, work, and everything in between. But you don't have to figure it all out on your own. There are plenty of organisations offering guidance to help you make informed, confident choices about your finances.

With so much information online, it's important to know how to spot trustworthy advice. Here are a few things to keep in mind when searching for support:

Avoid influence over insight

Good advice helps you think for yourself. Be cautious of content designed to persuafe rather than inform, especially from social media influencers.

Be wary of shortcuts

Quick fixes can be tempting, but financial wellbeing takes time. Sustainable habits and informed decisions beat “easy hacks” every time.

Check credibility

Not all sources are created equal. Look for reliability, expertise, and a solid track record before acting on guidance.

To help you get started, here are some trusted sources we recommend:

Skills and techniques

Developing strong money management skills isn’t just about keeping on top of your budget, it’s about feeling confident, independent, and future‑ready. The more you practise these skills now, the more empowered you’ll be to make informed choices throughout your life.

Budgeting Techniques

Getting to grips with budgeting can feel like a challenge, but the good news is that there are lots of simple, proven techniques that can help you take control of your money. Here are some of the most popular approaches to get you started.

50/30/20 Method

This well-known technique breaks down your take‑home income into three clear categories:

• 50% for needs – essentials like rent, bills, and food
• 30% for wants – the things you enjoy
• 20% for savings or debt repayments

​It’s a great way to create balance while still planning for the future.

Zero‑Based Budgeting

With this method, every pound of your income has a purpose. You allocate your money across expenses, savings, and debt repayments until the total equals zero. This approach helps you stay intentional and ensures nothing is left unaccounted for.

The Envelope System

If you prefer a visual method, this one might work for you. You separate your money into physical envelopes—or digital “pots”—labelled by category, such as groceries, transport, or entertainment. Once an envelope is empty, you stop spending in that area for the month. It’s a simple way to stay on track and avoid overspending.

Free online money courses

To help you get started, here are some courses we recommend:

Your Students' Association

Your Students’ Association is taking the cost of living seriously—using insights from over 4,300 students to push for better support, remove barriers to your success, and build a dedicated hub where you can access help and track the progress we’re making together.

We’re developing a dedicated Cost of Living Hub so you can easily find practical help, up‑to‑date information, and see the progress we’re making together. As this work continues, we’ll keep sharing updates and creating opportunities for you to get involved, influence decisions, and drive real change.

Your Student Leaders have been working on actions with the Universty from reviewing bursery and support fund conditions to sourcing healthy student friendly food on campus.