It is important to plan your spending and budget carefully while you are in college. It may seem a bit extra but keep track of your spending as much as possible. Apps can be your best friend for this. We’d recommend Spending Tracker, Revolut, Money Lover and Splitwise is good for any bills you need to split among a house/with roommates. Bonus: they’re all free! Try your best to keep track of your spending; your habits are bound to change when you see your week’s expenditure add up!
Managing your Monies
Budgeting tips:
- Join Unidays where you can get discount codes, use your student card in shops where they have student discounts. There really is a multitude of student deals out there!
- Top tip: For Microsoft packages (Word, Powerpoint, Excel etc), while you're a student you get them free through your Student email online (Outlook).
- Shop around for best value.
- Don’t be a brand snob!
- Cook in bulk, freeze, then microwave. If there are 4 of you in a house it might be an idea that one person picks a specific day to cook.
- Bring your lunch to college.
With the other stuff:
· An Siopa (Limerick campus) will provide you with all of your stationery needs at student-friendly prices. It has recently launched an online store https://shop.misu.ie/ - you can get all your placement and stationery supplies delivered straight to your door! Follow the @shopatmisu Instagram page to keep an eye out for flash sales and discounts throughout the year.
· www.software4students.ie has a range of IT related products at discounted prices.
- Budget for placements: Most courses have placement at some point (or more than once) and expenses can be something students don’t expect. You’ll be told in your induction lectures when you’ll be on placement and our advice is to PLAN. As one B.Ed student recommends ‘put money aside from the get go as the cost of placement really does add up. Bulk buying in groups and sharing with others in your course or from the years above and below can cut the cost’. Wise words!
- Stay out of your overdraft. Seriously, it may be tempting but it’s money you don’t have and you will need to pay it back! Spending money that isn’t yours is a really bad habit to get in to and it’s much easier in the long run to budget than overspend.
Student Finance
Both www.susi.ie and www.studentfinance.ie provide information on what funding is available, who is eligible for a grant and how to apply. The Student Grant section of www.studentfinance.ie is the most comprehensive source of information on the available schemes that you will find anywhere in Ireland. It provides a handy step-by-step guide to eligibility in clear, plain English.
The Student Grant is the main source of financial assistance and anyone who is thinking of embarking on further study should investigate whether they are eligible.
Students who live (your home house, not your student house) within 45km of Mary I receive the adjacent grant. The non- adjacent rate applies to everyone else.
Stuff to Remember
You should budget your money around the times your grant comes through although you can expect delays at the best of times. If you are concerned about your grant or have any major issues please contact the MIC Grants Office by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MISU have a Food, Toiletries and Stationery Hub that is a support available for all students. If you are short of groceries or college supplies, drop in to the office and have a chat with a member of staff. You can get assistance instantly!
If you are under severe financial hardship while in college, we encourage you to make contact with the Sabbats in the SU or Maura Moore (Access & Disability Officer) on the Limerick Campus or Paula Hourigan (Senior Academic Administrator) on the Thurles Campus. We cannot perform miracles but it doesn’t mean we won’t try.
You can contact Maura on 061-204927 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you can contact Paula on 0504 20535 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.