Ninety per cent of students report that they can get by fine. One-third even manages to put money aside. Eleven per cent of students can barely scratch a living. This is the outcome of a survey conducted among 300 participants of the Dutch National Union of Students (LSVB) student panel.

Three-quarters of students have a monthly budget between €400 and €1000; 15% have less than €400 to spend each month. The remaining 11% have an income above €1000 per month. Students who are short of money are creative in finding solutions.

They mention options like living soberly, borrowing money or looking for extra work. Of the students questioned, 80% reported having a job on the side. For about one-quarter of this group a maximum of four hours' work per week is enough, the rest work more. Quite a large group spends sixteen to twenty hours per week on paid jobs.

Students are careful with their money when it comes to drinking, food and clothing. Twenty per cent spend less than €100 per month on these; 40% spend less than €200 per month. Students spend most of their money on rent, tuition fees and study materials. [RA/transl.YV]

Univers.Tilburg University