Students have been let loose on Freshers’ Week but they need some help from, er, reality TV stars who are on hand to offer life advice to those embracing their independence
As thousands of students head off to university for Freshers’ Week, new research reveals nearly half are struggling to budget for food – despite spending on average £150 a month on takeaways.
To help students learn from their foodie faux pas, TV presenter Olivia Attwood and Gogglebox alumnus Joe Baggs took to a London café, serving fry-ups to students as they began to navigate university life.
Dishing out NationFry-Ups at NationFried – backed by building society Nationwide – the duo also offered a generous helping of life advice to those embracing their independence.
Nationwide’s research found that 42% of students struggle to budget for food, even as they spend an average of £150 a month on takeaways, with nearly one in five splurging over £200. Almost a quarter (24%) blame their delivery dependence on being too lazy to cook, while over half (51%) admit to only having five meals in their homemade repertoire.
Whether it’s a late-night bite after a night out (34%) or a fry-up with friends the following morning (23%), it’s clear that students are more than happy to spend a little extra to enjoy a treat and hang out with friends.
And the researchers also found the top five budgeting mistakes made by students. Topping the list is buying too much food that perishes in the fridge followed by eating out in restaurants that they really can’t afford. Third culinary clanger is relying too much on expensive takeaways and fourth is not knowing where to get the cheapest ingredients… and then having to lean on others instead of cooking for themselves. Fifth and finally it emerges undergrads admit they don’t have the proper recipes to actually cook a meal.
The pop-up café celebrates the launch of Nationwide’s FlexStudent account, an interest-free student current account dishing out tasty perks to help student’s money go further, including £100 free cash, £120 worth of Just Eat vouchers and an interest-free overdraft for up to £1,000 in your first year. Students can also bag an extra £40 in Just Eat vouchers for referring up to two friends.
Olivia Attwood said: ““Starting university is such an exciting time, but let’s be honest, learning to look after yourself and manage a budget can be a real challenge. Like many others, I’ve had my fair share of pasta nights, which is why it was so fun to pass on my advice and serve up some much-needed fry-ups to those getting ready to embark on their university journey!”
Joe Baggs said: “When you’re trying to meet new friends and make the most of your newfound freedom, it’s not always easy to balance a budget. When I flew the nest, I found it hard not to overspend and always gave in to buying myself little treats on my way to the checkout. Having learnt a lot over the years, it was so exciting to be able to help students kick-off their Freshers Week with a full belly and some top tips that I hope they don’t hold me to!”
Fred Powell, Head of Product at Nationwide, added: “Food plays such a huge part in student life. It’s not just about meals, it’s about socialising, comforting dishes, and the first taste of independence. But, with many learning to budget for the first time, and the cost of living higher than ever for students, it can be tricky to find that balance. Our FlexStudent account helps students to stay on top of their finances, manage their money more easily and gives them tasty perks so that they can save money and enjoy treats like a delicious takeaway”.
Because when it comes to student life, a full belly and a balanced budget go a long way.