It’s safe to say that every student has money worries. There are certainly few enough that don’t to be the exceptions that prove the rule. There’s even a certain bravado among some students in boasting about how utterly broke they are.

This means that it’s often difficult to judge when your worries have become a serious problem that threatens your health, your welfare, or your ability to continue your course.

This is one of the reasons your bank should become your friend. You can bet they’ll let you know if your financial situation is becoming a crisis, and you should listen to what they’re saying. However, the bank won’t always know the full picture.

Naturally enough, the Student Loans Company is keen to get its money back sometime and is therefore also willing to tell you the score.

Usually the university or SU welfare service will have debt counsellors who can tell you what to do, who you can ask for more money and how to make ends meet on whatever you’ve got.

They may even be able to offer emergency loans or, if you’re really stuck, wads of money may be available from the access or hardship funds. Bear in mind, however, that everyone would like a slice of that cake and therefore few students get very much. The hand-out policies vary and you can get a vague idea of their approach by knowing the number of successful applications in any given year and the total sum they’ve got to give away.

Oh, and if you want to watch telly, buy a TV licence.

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