Zac
University College London · London
Computer Science · Year 1
left after rent every month
-£373“I haven't been out since freshers week.”
↓
Where does Zac's money go?
“My loan hits on the 25th. By the 26th rent takes £1,218. I work every weekend in a coffee shop just to cover food. I haven't been out socially since freshers week.”
💷Loan arrives+£1,129
🏠Rent£1,218
🛒Food£200
🚌Transport+£0
💰What's left£373
To cover that gap, Zac works 29 hrs/week. At minimum wage that's £1,533/month.
What Zac's loan actually buys
Zac's life on £1,129/month
🐕
A dog
£60+/mo
✗ Can't afford
🎸
Guitar lessons
£30/mo
✗ Can't afford
💇
Haircut
£35 London
~ Stretching it
🍜
Wagamamas
£22
~ Stretching it
🧻
Toilet paper
£3 Savers
✓ Affordable
👟
New trainers
£80
✗ Can't afford
📱
Phone upgrade
£40+/mo
✗ Can't afford
🎬
Cinema
£17
✗ Can't afford
A week in Zac's life
Monday
6am: Up for coffee shop shift
8am: First lecture. Fell asleep in row 3.
1pm: Packed lunch. Same as yesterday.
6pm: Library until 9pm. Heating.
10pm: Bed.
Saturday
7am: Coffee shop opens.
3pm: Finish shift. £87 earned.
4pm: Transfer £80 to rent pot.
5pm: Too tired to do anything with £7.
Same course. Same loan. Different city.
London
-£373
per month
Sheffield
+£300
per month
Sheffield would leave Zac £673/month better off
See Sheffield vs London →If Zac had chosen Sheffield, he'd have £673/month more.
He could stop working weekends. He could afford guitar lessons.
He chose UCL for the network. Only he knows if it's worth it.
What happens when Zac graduates?
Student now£-373/mo
Graduate year 1
Software engineer in London, after rent
Improvement+£1,566/mo
Know someone choosing between London and Sheffield?
Send this to anyone making the same decision. Or send it to your parents — there's a version written for them.