We’re Going to Ibiza! Mina the Student’s Lesson
Objective To save £1500 for Mina to go on holiday to Ibiza with her friends – but without neglecting her degree. Starter What temptations are there at university for spending money? Why do people really go to university? How much does going to university cost? How do most students pay for university?
Mina needs to work on a plan to save £1500 over 12 weeks so she can go on holiday after exams with her friends. However, if she doesn’t pass her degree she will have spent a lot of money for nothing. She needs to balance her finances and her success, by coming up with good ways of saving and making money.
Here are some different ways Mina could save, and make, money, and the impact they have on her success at university. Work in the student union 3 nights a week Money: +£25/shift Success: -3 Getting a job in the union makes Mina a lot of cash, but means she has to work late so she often misses morning lectures. Go to the library after lectures Money: +£10/visit Success: +3 Mina usually goes to the union after lectures and ends up buying dinner and a few drinks. If she went to the library instead she could do work and save some money. Visit home for 1 weekend a month Money: +£40/month Success: +2 Going home means Mina gets fed for a weekend, doesn’t go out partying, and has a quiet environment to do her work in. Do a weekly food shop with flatmates Money: +£30/week Success: -1 Buying in bulk and cooking more food at home with her flatmates saves Mina a lot of money on takeaways and ready-meals. Now come up with 3 other ways Mina could save or make money as a student. How much money would she gain, how would they effect her success, and why? Option 6: ? Money: ? Success: ? Option 7: ? Money: ? Success: ? Option 5: ? Money: ? Success: ?
Can you help Mina save £1500 over 12 weeks without jeopardising her success on her degree? Weekly food shop Library after lectures Visit home 1 weekend Work in student union £ S£ S £ S £ S £ S £ S Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
Have you managed to save Mina £1500? It is ok to disagree with those around you – it comes down to personal choices. Weekly food shop Library after lectures Visit home 1 weekend Work in student union £ S£ S £ S £ S £ S £ S Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12
Group Work Please present your financial plan and the answers to the following questions to a partner / your group. Mina’s happiness isn’t mentioned – what would the impact of each of the money saving/making decisions be on that? Does it matter? Can everyone afford to go to university? Why is it important that people from any background can go to university? Do you think it’s worth going to university?