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Resources: Blog Posts
Building a Budget
My Journey to Getting Better With Money by Keli
Learn some tips from one of our student staff on how to establish a spending baseline and build your budget.
Getting Better With Money: Methods and Techniques by Keli
Keli reflects on her own experience budgeting and describes what steps you should take to choose the right budgeting technique for you.
Money Sen$e: Managing Money Anxiety in University by Sara (Student Services)
A useful guide on how to build a healthy relationship with money and combat financial anxiety.
Living on a Budget
Living on a Student Budget by Tristan
Tristan shares how to prepare yourself to live on a budget during a new school term and some money-making strategies for students.
Let’s Talk Personal Finance by Maitreyi
A thorough list of all the aspects of personal finance that you should think about as a university student.
How to Adult: Money Basics by Jordan (Student Services)
This blog post goes through some helpful dos and don’ts of money management and banking.
Eating on a Budget
Eating Cheap by Kayla
A list of some cheap, budget friendly places to buy food when you are hungry on UBC campus.
3 Tips for Eating Cheaper without Cooking Every Meal by Minori
If you have been having a tough time budgeting your food allowance, Minori shares a few tips and recipes that will get you the most out of your money.
Fast & Frugal Budgeting Tips for Students during COVID-19 by Shawn (Student Services)
Check out the great money-saving food and grocery tips in this blog post.
Other Resources
UBC Finances
UBC Student Services – Finances
Helpful resources provided by UBC focused around different elements of finances such as: bursaries and scholarships, financial emergencies, and financial wellness workshops.
First-Year Budget Planning Worksheet
A UBC provided fillable pdf where you can visualize all your expenses for the academic year divided by month.
UBC Student Services – Financial Planning
More resources focused specifically on building a financial plan, along with information on what a financial plan is.
Budget Worksheets and Calculators
A student budgeting worksheet created by the Government of Canada that was developed to go along with student loans.
A budgeting calculator from the Government of Canada where you can focus on specific goals such as budgeting with a specific amount of student loans or savings, debt repayment, or working towards a savings goal.
Peer Advice
Advice from the Chapman Learning Commons Staff
Kira | Economics and Math
“I think building a budget can seem really difficult at the start. I would recommend that you look at it as a way to gain more control over your life rather than as a burden. If you’re struggling, just start by noting down how much you spend on the basics, like rent, food, and school. Then you can go into more specifics in the future if needed.”
Aida | Political Science
“I use Excel and try to make [my budgeting sheet] as colourful as possible so that I keep wanting to add stuff instead of giving up the first month.”
Nana | Integrated Sciences
“Use an app to plan because you can easily lose track [of your budget.]”
Ozioma | Economics
“Have a set number in mind that you want to save. Have a set number in mind for spending, especially [for things that] usually cost a lot.”
Rosemary | Nutritional Sciences
“[I] budget on the meals I eat on campus. Usually, I bring food from home but sometimes I want to buy food. I found out about places like Fooood ($3 meals) and Sprouts ($4) in my last year which helped me save some money!”
Share your advice or ask us questions in the comments section down below!
