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59% of students still concerned by cost of living, UNiDays reveals

Katie Ross
29 January 2025

Student discount platform UNiDays has released its most recent Student Insights Report, which sheds light on student sentiment towards their money, spending habits and shopping priorities.

According to the report, 59% of students are concerned about the cost of living, which although high, is down compared to 68% who expressed concern about the cost-of-living in the year prior.

For the average student in the UK, their monthly disposable income is £182. According to data from the report, 41% are spending disposable income on fashion and 38% are spending it on travel.

Looking back at 2024, demand for skincare surged in April when loans hit student bank accounts, allowing them to stock up on products.

Moving towards summer, young people began to pivot from thick moisturisers to SPF and more lightweight products. Bodycare also spiked throughout April and May, plus makeup and hair tools are on the rise.

AI-powered tools, which can aid students with coursework, are also a spending priority for a quarter of Gen Z as they enter the final term of the academic year.

Alex Gallagher, Chief Strategy Officer at UNiDAYS, said: "Our data confirms that students today are not only resilient but ambitious too. Despite their concerns around the cost of living starting to subside, it still remains a big worry for them. Students are increasingly juggling their education with a side hustle to top up their disposable income and are taking practical steps to achieve financial stability.

"As well as being entrepreneurial, this cohort of students are tech savvy. The data shows that alongside spending their disposable income on fashion, travel and fitness, they’re also investing in AI tools to help with their studies.

"For some students, the turn of the year marks the beginning of the end of their University careers. As champions of the student community, we want to ensure they make the most of this period of their life. By allowing students to save on some of their favourite brands, and giving them access to new tools to boost their learning, we can ensure they get as much as possible out of their education."


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