Many clichés exist about students squandering their entire loan on beer at the start of term and then having to survive on beans on toast for the rest of the year. Personally, I have always laughed at the fools who can't do such a simple thing as manage their money properly. Well, I suppose it's time for me to eat my words (well, there's nothing left in the fridge), as it is February and already the time has come when I realise that I have no money left. Ah well, my next loan instalment will arrive soon, won't it? Maybe next month? Try the end of April. The reason for this horrendous cash-shortage seems to be due a slight oversight in this terms budget. It was just a small thing to overlook, but it can't be avoided. Utility bills. Phone bills can add up in a student house, especially with those international calls home to Mum and Dad. And since student flats in Paris tend not to have central heating, wall-mounted gas heaters are necessary. Unfortunately, they use ridiculous amounts of power in relation to how much heat they give off. Ok, so that is only two months to survive on nothing. That can't be too difficult can it? All I need to do is, erm, cut back on a few luxuries. Mobile phone? Hardly use it. Alcohol? Haven't been to the pub in weeks. Taxis? Why bother when Paris is served by such an efficient metro? CDs? I listen to the radio. So, what is there to cut back on? It's got to be the old utility bills. But how, I hear you cry. Well, here are my tried-and-tested methods of keeping those bills down (not recommended for people with any common sense/more than a fiver to their name): *Instead of phoning people and getting huge phone bills, call them and then hang up. They usually call you right back. Angry, but on their bill. *Rather than wasting 10p on a text message, send people emails. Free, and none of that fuss trying to get your message down to 169 characters either. *Don't rent videos, just find someone you know who has Sky and get them to tape stuff for you. Amazing how you can gets used to adverts in the middle of films if you have to. *Never, ever, put the heater on. Fill a hot water bottle and put it on your knees whilst watching TV. This also works with a laptop. *If you are still cold, put the oven on and leave the door open. Just remember to turn it off before you go out. This also works with gas hobs, if you are making a slow-cook meal like homemade soup or a stew. *Hunger is a difficult one, because I don't want to condone starving yourself. But if you are really hungry and don't want to buy food, try offering to make dinner for friends, if they bring the food and drink. This works only if you can cook, friends won't stay friends for long if they bring loads of ingredients round and then you manage to burn pasta/an egg. Jennifer Could you be a student diarist?
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