Information for secondary students and school leavers
Four ways to minimise costs
If you decide to study, there are many ways to keep the costs down.
Other ways to minimise costs
Sorted and StudyLink have more suggestions about how you can minimise your costs:
1. Plan a budget and stick to it
It may sound boring, but budgeting works! It will help you figure out how much money you really need.
The key to doing a budget that you can stick to is to be realistic about the course costs and other costs – your living expenses (such as accommodation, food and travel) and personal spending (such as clothing and entertainment).
Sorted website - tips on budgeting for study
Sorted website - student budget calculator
2. Get qualified on the job
Do you need to study full time to get qualified or can you study while you work? Earning money while you learn could mean no, or very little, student debt to pay back later on. Some employers and industry training schemes also subsidise course fees.
Industry training and apprenticeships
- Café work could be a good way to earn some money while you are studying
3. Work part time or in your holidays
If you’ve chosen tertiary study, can you work part time or during your breaks? A part-time or holiday job is a great way to cover some of your expenses, and get some valuable work experience.
Universities and polytechs can often help you find a job through their Student Job Search services. You may be able to find a job that relates to your study (such as work in a lab, gym or café), or helps you build transferable skills (for example, developing your communication skills by working in a shop).
Student Job Search website – get help finding a job while you are studying
4. Live at home
Living expenses are a major study cost. It’s worth considering whether you can live at home or stay with family/whānau for at least part of the time that you are studying. It’s generally a lot cheaper than renting a flat or going into student accommodation.
