University Students and Savings
Across the UK and Ireland thousands of students have received their A-Level results, confirmation of their place at university, and are now on the hunt for rooms to rent during their first year of study.
For those studying in Ireland though, students are far more likely to see their university careers through without incurring nearly as much debt as those in the UK are likely to amass.
So where can Irish students make the best savings? Research published by house rental specialists, Daft, is great news for prospective students currently looking around for accommodation.
Specifically, those looking for rentals in Dublin city centre are set to save, on average, 1,000 euros over this year in comparison to last year.
The centre of Cork has also seen a big fall, with prices down around 20 percent.
And elsewhere in the country rents have fallen by between 15 and 20 percent.
However, students are also set to see benefits other than financial ones.
The reason for declining costs has come from a great increase in housing that has surpassed demand - essentially meaning that there is far less competition between students finding what they want, and amongst landlords trying to push up their prices.
With so much choice out there, the process of finding a decent place to live should be far easier than it has been over the past few years when the number of properties were not exceeding 15,000.
So where else can savings be made? If you haven't done so already, it is wise to start researching student bank accounts.
There is a lot of choice out there, and while some banks will offer perks such as cash when you sign up, gift vouchers, rail cards and broadband deals, it is best also to consider what you might need in terms of overdraft limits and interest.
Also, research any fees and fines that might incur should you go over your limit - and be sure that your desired bank has a branch near to where you will be living.
Once your accommodation and bank account are sorted, the next step should be to plan some kind of budget.
Consider how much you will be receiving from your student loan each month, what your outgoings are (on top of your rent), such as insurance, food, bills etc.
A budget can be a simple way to keep on top of things over the year.
Setting up a direct debit to pay your rent is a logical way to make sure it goes out on time - and to lessen the risk of financial confusion when it comes to planning other important expenses.
For those studying in Ireland though, students are far more likely to see their university careers through without incurring nearly as much debt as those in the UK are likely to amass.
So where can Irish students make the best savings? Research published by house rental specialists, Daft, is great news for prospective students currently looking around for accommodation.
Specifically, those looking for rentals in Dublin city centre are set to save, on average, 1,000 euros over this year in comparison to last year.
The centre of Cork has also seen a big fall, with prices down around 20 percent.
And elsewhere in the country rents have fallen by between 15 and 20 percent.
However, students are also set to see benefits other than financial ones.
The reason for declining costs has come from a great increase in housing that has surpassed demand - essentially meaning that there is far less competition between students finding what they want, and amongst landlords trying to push up their prices.
With so much choice out there, the process of finding a decent place to live should be far easier than it has been over the past few years when the number of properties were not exceeding 15,000.
So where else can savings be made? If you haven't done so already, it is wise to start researching student bank accounts.
There is a lot of choice out there, and while some banks will offer perks such as cash when you sign up, gift vouchers, rail cards and broadband deals, it is best also to consider what you might need in terms of overdraft limits and interest.
Also, research any fees and fines that might incur should you go over your limit - and be sure that your desired bank has a branch near to where you will be living.
Once your accommodation and bank account are sorted, the next step should be to plan some kind of budget.
Consider how much you will be receiving from your student loan each month, what your outgoings are (on top of your rent), such as insurance, food, bills etc.
A budget can be a simple way to keep on top of things over the year.
Setting up a direct debit to pay your rent is a logical way to make sure it goes out on time - and to lessen the risk of financial confusion when it comes to planning other important expenses.
