Support over Christmas

The Money Advice and Childcare Team is available until 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024. Please get in touch if you think you may struggle financially over the festive period. We’ll be back on Thursday 2 January 2025 to help you with money matters. Don’t let money be a worry, get in touch! Log an enquiry through your Faculty Student Centre or on the Student Support Helpdesk at www.bcu.ac.uk/helpdesk.

Accessing money

Banks will have limited opening hours over the holidays so it’s worth checking your bank’s opening times for their branches and call centres in case you need to get in touch. If you find yourself without money, and you don’t already have an overdraft, it’s worth speaking to your bank to see if you are eligible as this may give you a financial safety net to get you through.

Top Budgeting Tips

Most people will appreciate that you are on a tight budget so don’t put pressure on yourself to buy gifts that you cannot afford. Be honest with friends and family if you don’t have the money to buy gifts and maybe agree to just spend time together instead.

• Why not give alternative gifts such as homemade goods or offer to do tasks for people like babysitting or washing up for a week.
• If you do buy gifts for friends or family why not reduce the cost by doing a Secret Santa – so each person in the friendship/family group buys for one person only, make sure to agree a cost limit in advance.
• Avoid using credit or ‘buy now pay later’ schemes to buy gifts as this will cost you much more in the long run.
• Don’t buy goods on the spur of the moment. Events such as Black Friday and January sales encourage us to buy things quickly for fear of ’losing out’. Before you buy ask yourself: Do I really need/want it? Can I afford it? Can I get it cheaper elsewhere?
• If you are travelling to stay with family or friends over Christmas try to buy your ticket in advance as you can often get a good discount if you buy in advance.

If you are struggling or worried about managing money over Christmas, then ask for help. The Money Advice and Childcare Team can offer advice and support to any student who is worried about money. Log an enquiry through your Faculty Student Centre or on the Student Support Helpdesk at www.bcu.ac.uk/helpdesk.