Financial toolkit
We believe that financial health is an essential part of student well-being. Use the toolkit to plan your finances and stay on track so you can make the most of your UBC student experience.
Budgeting basics
Want to reduce your stress during the school year? Plan ahead.
Use our Student Spending Plan Template (14KB XLS) to create your personalized financial plan for the year. Not sure what your program costs? Check the cost calculator.
Need help? Come in for a financial planning appointment and stay on track.
Credit basics
Who needs to know about credit? You!
Managing debt and maintaining good credit are essential skills. Find out how credit card savvy you are and learn about credit basics by attending our financial literacy workshops or view the presentation Understanding Credit (1.3MB PPT).
Why do you need to know your credit rating?
Your credit score can affect your ability to obtain future credit (such as a line of credit, mortgage, or car loan) and may be checked by potential landlords or even some employers.
You can order a free credit report from either of the following Canadian agencies:
Live cheap and still have fun
Here are some of our favourite tips from UBC students and staffers on cutting costs, saving money, and having fun:
- Buy used items and save money on everything from textbooks to clothing to furniture. Look for used copies of textbooks at the UBC Bookstore or Discount Textbooks (located in the University Village). Check out local garage/yard sales and advertisements for free or cheap items on websites such as Craigslist or Kijiji.
- Find local free or cheap events to attend. Look for postings on bulletin boards in the SUB and find events throughout Vancouver in free local papers such as the Georgia Straight.
- Have a clothing swap with friends. Gather clothes that no longer fit or that you haven’t worn in a while and get your friends together for a swap. (You can do the same for household items and books.)
- Watch movies at the The Norm Theatre in the SUB – tickets are less than half the price of local theatres!
- Cut grocery costs by comparing labels (certain brands may cost as much as double the store brand for an almost identical item) and inquire about student discounts and/or customer appreciation days.
- Get your fruit and veggie fix by buying fresh produce at local farmer’s markets. You can also check out the UBC Farm Market during the summer.
- Track your spending. Not sure where your money is going? You might be surprised! Keep a spending diary for a couple of weeks and write down everything you buy (including coffee, magazines, and other odds and ends). Add up how much you’ve spent and consider how you could better manage your cash flow. It’s amazing how the little things add up!
Online resources
Check out these links for more information on financial planning:
- Gail Vax-Oxlade provides easy to read articles, tips, quizzes and worksheets related to financial literacy.
- National Student Loan Service Centre amalgamates information about student loans and repayment.
- Smart Cookies offers smart money-saving tips, tools, and ideas for starting a money club with friends.
