15 vital money lessons you should have been taught in school

For many of us, school involved too much focus on quadratic equations (really handy!) and too little time learning about practical money management.
Confused studentBizarrely, financial education has only become a compulsory part of the national curriculum since 2014 – too little too late for a lot of current uni students already reeling from £9k tuition fees and seriously complicated student loan terms to deal with.

Our National Student Money Survey revealed that as much as 67% of students in the UK don't understand their student loan agreement, and 4 in 5 say they didn't get enough financial education in school.

With UK students now graduating with more debt than ever before (and it's only getting worse…), it's important to swat up on money management so you're in control of your situation.

We asked Save the Student readers what they wished they'd learnt about personal finance as teenagers. Here's what they said…

'If I was in school again, I'd want to learn…'
How to make money last
Shopping spreeIf you’re having trouble making ends meet, it boils down to simply earning more or spending less.

However tempting it is to go on a mass shopping spree as soon as your student loan or wages appear in your bank account, it's crucial that you work out your disposable income first. Paying the rent and setting aside cash for bills doesn't take long, and once you have that sorted you'll have a much clearer idea of what's available to spend.

Prepaid credit cards like this one from Loot (which is specifically built for students) are a great way of keeping tabs of what pennies are available to spend on treats for yourself . No one is saying you can't spend money on the things you love, it's just important that you know your limits.

Saying that, try to avoid any impulse purchases, be aware of the tricks used by supermarkets to make you spend more cash, and take time to consider (and save towards) exciting big-ticket purchases, such as a laptop or a holiday.

When it comes to finding your first graduate job after uni, don’t feel the rush to pay off your student loan early to get it off your back.

The interest may be piling up and getting you down, but you'll only ever have to pay 9% of your salary each month, no matter how much your debt increases, and there’s a strong chance your student loan debt will be wiped before you manage to clear it.

Need more clarity on student loan repayments? Our Big fat guide to Student Finance has everything you need to know.

What's the minimum you need to live on?

Finance advice dogThere’s no clear-cut answer to this, as the cash you need to live off in London will be vastly different to what’s required for a comfortable lifestyle in Leeds (this is why maintenance loans vary depending on your situation).

You can also see how much the average student spends and where their money goes here.

The first step to working out how much you'll need personally is by working out a budget. Work out whether you’re in the black, or in the dreaded red, follow our budgeting steps and download our nifty spreadsheet to give you a clear idea of what your outgoings are.

The aim of the game is avoiding nasty surprises by planning ahead. Got Mum’s milestone birthday coming up? Pop it in your spreadsheet, set a reminder on your phone, and start saving for her present now.

Building up a contingency fund is also a bonus for unexpected costs, such as last-minute group holidays or fixing another broken iPhone screen.

The art of haggling
trotterThere’s no shame in haggling to get the best deal when you’re buying something – in fact, haggling is something we really encourage in students. What better way to convince a seller to lower their price than the fact you're living off a student loan?

But unless you've got years of experience as a market trader, you probably weren't taught how to barter like Del Boy in school. Thankfully, we've got a really useful guide to haggling like a pro. Get practicing!

While you should always ask for a student discount (even if it's not advertised), the opportunities for a bit of bargaining are endless. For example, head to a farmers' market as the day comes to a close and take home some gourmet stock for less than you'd fork out on Tesco Basics.

One of the best opportunities for haggling is when your mobile phone contract is about a month or two away from expiring.

Just ring up, ask for the cancellation department, pretend you want to leave them and turn on the charm. Free texts, extra data, a better phone and cheaper plans are all achievable with determination and patience.

Check out our extensive guide on getting the best deal on your phone contract for more details.
The real dangers of debt
Venus fly trap
Credit: Peter Shanks – Flickr.com

Some debt is unavoidable and even necessary. For example, for most students going to university would be impossible without incurring debt from tuition fees and maintenance loans. Mortgages are also a long-term way to spread the cost of living or investing in a property over time.

That said, the dangers of some costlier types of borrowing are often skipped in school lessons: credit card debt can spiral out of control if you don’t keep on top of repayments, while predatory payday loans come with astronomically high interest rates and should always be avoided.

Managing personal debt is probably the most vital lesson that most Britons should have learned, if these recent stats are anything to go by…

Debt statsThe Citizens Advice Bureau, the National Debtline and StepChange are all great places to go if you're in need of some free and confidential advice on money problems from trained councillors.

What the deal is with credit scores
credit scoreWhen you apply for most financial products (this is the name used to refer to things like credit cards and overdrafts, where you essentially 'purchase' money), lenders will run a credit check on you to calculate their risk.

By looking at your application and borrowing history in reports managed by a small number of credit referencing agencies, they'll decide how likely you'll be able to repay what you borrow, judging by how you've paid things off in that past.

A poor credit score can affect your chances of getting a mortgage later in life, renting a house, or even just getting a mobile phone contract. Every time you get declined for something because of your bad credit, it will remain as a 'black mark' on your report for six years.

Think twice before applying for financial products (do you really need another credit card?), and always make your repayments on time.

It is possible to check your credit reports to see how you're fairing, and to scope out inaccuracies and fraud. One of the top credit rating companies has just started offering them free of charge – woohoo!

The three main agencies are Callcredit, Experian and Equifax. Read our extensive guide to checking your credit rating for more details.

How interest rates work
Coin hoard next to piggy bank
Credit: 401kcalculator.org

Interest rates for the whole of the UK are set by the Bank of England and commercial banks, with the former setting the ‘base rate’ and the latter adding more depending on the service offered and how generous they’re feeling.

Generally speaking, interest rates are currently at an all-time low since the UK voted to leave the EU. Increasing the base rate would be harder on borrowers (not the tiny people kind), but great for savers.

A goody-two-shoes with £20,000 of savings might earn 3% interest on top of their cash every year, while a shopaholic maxed-out on their credit card with a £3,000 limit could be paying 20% interest on the cash they've borrowed.

Some credit cards, overdrafts and mortgages often advertise low interest rates, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get these deals. That’s because the best rates are usually reserved for people with the highest credit scores.

Whether credit cards are ever a good idea
credit card
Credit: pixabay.com

There are plenty of potential pitfalls to owning a credit card, for sure.

Not least is the danger of a debt spiral if you don't keep on top of things: you should never have a credit card if you think there's a chance you might not be able to afford the repayments.

However, when used in the right way, credit cards can be quite beneficial. Being a responsible credit card user is one of the easiest ways to build up a good credit rating, as it's the most straight-forward way of demonstrating you know how to pay up on time.

Every credit card is different, but generally they can be helpful for making larger purchases you know you can't afford to pay up in one go but will be able to pay off in installments at the end of each month.

If you've got the self-discipline to settle in full (not just the minimum payment) when the bill arrives, you typically won't pay any interest on the purchases you've made, either.

There are also a few perks for credit card customers out there, such as: Airmiles to put towards a holiday, cheap foreign exchange, cashback and fraud protection. Although don’t choose a credit card based on benefits or you could quickly find yourself paying over-the-odds just so you can build up your miles for a holiday.

A lot of credit cards off 0% interest for a certain period of time when you first get your card. Some smart people – affectionately termed ‘credit card tarts’ (not as much of an insult as you might first think!) – regularly switch between banks and credit card offers to take advantage of the perks, freebies and 0% interest period on offer.

Our guide to student credit cards goes into more detail to help you make an informed decision and avoid getting into any debt you can't handle.
How to shop around for the best deal
Go compare guyAs boring as this stuff can be, making the right choice when it comes car insurance, energy bills, savings and investments, and even which student bank account to go for, really does matter.

If you don't spend a least a bit of time doing your research on the terms of financial decisions you make, it could end up costing you serious dough.

For example, do you know how long your arranged 0% student overdraft is available for, and how soon after graduation you'll have to start paying it back?

Do you know what the penalties tied to your unarranged overdraft are? Do you know when your savings account will drop to a measly 0.09% interest?

So many students we speak to stay loyal to their bank just to 'keep things simple', but the truth is this could be costing you big time. We'd recommend keeping an eye out online for the best deals going on bank accounts, and switching whenever you see a better offer pop up.

Banks even offer hassle-free switching (where they change over all your standing orders to you don't have to organise that yourself) and cash incentives to encourage you to switch! Read our guide to the best student bank accounts for all the info you need.

Not to trust everything the ads tell me
Bad supermarket dealYou wouldn't be unreasonable in thinking that if an advert is promoting something as 'free' it must be free, right? Well, unfortunately this isn't always the case.

The CMA (Competitions and Markets Authority) is constantly calling businesses out for misrepresenting in their ads, whether it's broadband providers being told off for misleading customers, or supermarkets offering promotions that don't actually save you any cash.

When it comes to supermarket shopping, swat up on the best money-saving tips so you can start living like a real savvy student.

Be particularly wary of multibuy offers – not only will you often end up with loads of one product you probably didn't want lots of in the first place, but this is also one of the 9 dirty supermarket tricks they use to get you to spend more money.

Why checking your statements matters
Man looking shocked behind credit card statement
Credit: Jason Rogers – Flickr.com

As painful as this may be, it's important you get into the habit of checking your bank statements if you want to avoid unexpected charges, wasting money or being fleeced.

This includes current, savings accounts, and (most importantly) credit cards. With most banks and building societies now operating online, keeping an eye on your money is as easy as surfing their site or opening an app.

You've heard this all before, but we'll say it again: it’s totally crucial to keep on top of debts. Going beyond your 0% overdraft limit or delaying a credit card payment can lead to nasty charges (and a knock to your credit rating).

Do not avoid checking up on these things – otherwise, you might be in for a nasty surprise when you do get round to it.

Regular check-ins are vital to keep tabs on any payments you’re expected to make (and penalties for missing them), any interest you earn, and for weeding out direct debits or subscriptions you can ditch (not watched Netflix since Breaking Bad? Ask yourself if it's really worth it). If you spot any charges for things you don’t remember buying yourself, get on to the bank pronto!

Think of it as a health check for your banking products: if they're not helping you manage (and grow) your money, it's time to shop around for a better deal.

Keeping an eye on statements also shows you month-on-month whether you’re balancing your books effectively or heading in a dangerous direction.

If you’re nudging the red more often than you’d like, this is where you can see just how much you’re blowing on Candy Crush boosters and take steps to rein it in.

The magic of Compound Interest
Einstein Quote: Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't ... pays it.Compound interest is a powerful thing – it just depends on which side of the calculator you’re sitting.

This interest-ing (sorry!) concept can grow the money you start with quicker than expected, but make it harder to clear money you owe. Why? Because compound interest – as the name suggests – multiplies over time by adding interest on top of interest.

How simple interest works

You stick a pile of cash in the bank (called your principal) and earn a set amount of interest on the original amount you put in, as a one-off payment which you then take out. Bada boom! Simple.

How compound interest boosts your balance

If you leave any interest earned from your initial stash in the account, then the new larger amount continues to earn interest. And as it happens over and over again (called compounding) your cash pile grows faster and faster, just like a snowball.

Chart showing compound interest growth
Credit: batr.org

As you can see, the earlier you save (even just a small amount) the more you'll benefit from compounding over your lifetime. Leave £1,000 in an investment or savings account earning 10% interest a year (yes, rare, but we're making a point) and you'll have £7,000 after 20 years… from doing nothing.

How compound interest bulks up debt

It works the same when you owe money with interest. Folk who lend you money to buy things, whether credit card companies or car finance people, are literally making money from money too. Dangerously for us this can lead to a debt spiral, as the more you borrow the more you owe exponentially.

So the graph above can apply to debt too: borrowing £1,000 at 10% a year would build up to a terrifying debt of £7,000 after 20 years. Ouch!

While you can’t do much about borrowing rates, you can protect yourself better by being aware of the long-term effects of compound interest. Plan your spends, budget for payback and get help if you’re worried the costs are getting out of hand.

When you receive a lump sum that you don't need immediately (eg. a grant or student loan instalment), siphon off some of it to an easy-access ISA (tax-free savings account). Compound interest will work its magic and leave you with a little more money in the pot!
That time isn't the only route to money
British coins with clock faces
Credit: Olivia Alcock – Flickr.com

Most of us earn cash by trading our time for a pay cheque, and frequently despising the 9-5 grind that comes with the territory. However, thanks to our beloved World Wide Web, your income doesn't always have to be generated from your limited and valuable time on earth.

In fact, if you want to be rich or just have a good work-life balance (who doesn't?), it's a good idea to start thinking about passive income streams that bring home the bacon without you leaving the house.

Your starters for ten include: saving and investing (there's our friend compound interest again), owning/renting out property, setting up a business, or selling multiple copies of something you only had to create once – think apps or books.

It’s not an overnight route to early retirement and may well require a lot of time, balls and brass to bring it about initially. But it’s all very possible once you realise life isn't all about the 9-5 routine we've been schooled into following.

Start small, save what you can, get skilled or just get inspired.

That pensions matter before you go grey
peanuts in shells
Credit: viZZZual.com

We don’t know about you, but we had the tendency to completely shut down during any discussions of pensions as a teenager: Forget retirement, even the weekend seemed lightyears away!

Pensions in a nutshell: a pension is a kind of savings account where you squirrel away money to get your mitts on when you retire from work and no longer have regular income from a job.

The government provides a State Pension once you’re 60-something (although it's likely to be 70-something by the time we reach that stage), but you’ll need to have paid enough National Insurance to get the full amount. Either way, it isn’t always enough to live on, and some people end up working much longer than they should because the state pension leaves them short.

A good option to look into is the government's new Lifetime ISA that's launching in April 2017, where the government have pledged to pay you 25% on top of what you save. By the time you reach 60, that could involve a lotta dough! Read our guide on the new Lifetime ISA for everything you need to know.

There’s also the Workplace Pension, where part of your salary is put towards a pension before you get paid, with some employers matching whatever you put in – extra money for free!

Now’s also the time to start thinking about any passive income you can kick-start, because, unlike wages, it doesn’t depend on you being able/available to work for your money.

Whether to rent or buy a house
Tiles spelling out the word mortgage
Credit: GotCredit.com

Living away from home can give you a taste for freedom: watching TV in your pants, building bookshelves out of things you found in a skip… that kind of thing.

At some point, though, you’ll start to wonder whether things could be sweeter if you actually owned your own place. And by sweeter, we also mean cheaper.

The way to get on the property ladder at a young age is to get yourself a mortgage. Mortgages are simply the money a bank loans you to buy a house, although in practice they can be quite complicated.

They’re a bit like taking on the mother of all student finance loans: you’ll be making monthly payments for about 20-odd years, and you’ll also pay for the privilege (land searches, solicitors, arrangement fees and interest).

The earlier you pay off a mortgage, the more years of free shelter you'll have later. The hardest part is saving for a deposit, as you'll be required to throw down a lump sum at the start of entering into a mortgage deal. If you plan on buying somewhere, start saving for a deposit now.

No lenders nowadays will loan 100% of a home’s value, plus the bigger the deposit you slap down the better the deal you’ll get, and the less you’ll have to borrow (and pay back).

The government have also started offering a 'Help to Buy ISA' to first time buyers (similar to the Lifetime ISA), where they'll contribute 25% of what you save to put towards your mortgage when you buy your first property (but note that it can't be used to supplement your deposit).

Don’t think mortgages are just for married types, either: it’s possible to get a mortgage with friends or other family members. Whether you’d want to is a different matter.

To own or to rent?

Owning is almost always cheaper each month than paying rent, but getting on the property ladder can be tough.

Any money you put into your property, whether towards your mortgage or interior decorating, benefits you instead of your landlord. It could even become an income stream if you buy to let instead of live in your property (utilising 'buy-to-let' mortgages).

The other side of the coin is that renters may be able to put away savings that home-owners might have to spend on fixing on leaky pipes. You can also move house just because you feel like it, and don’t need to worry quite so much about periods of unemployment.

Renting is generally a good idea at the start of your career whilst you're figuring out where you really want to live and shudder at the idea of any big-time responsibility. Selling a house isn't cheap. As always, cost it out and see what makes most sense for you.

How to avoid under- and overpaying tax
Boot playing piece on Monopoly board (income tax tile)
Credit: TaxRebate.org.uk

Did anyone ever tell you at school that the first few grand you earn each financial year is tax-free? It’s called your personal allowance (PA) and it’s updated every April, the start of the tax year.

For 2017/18, you won't pay a penny of tax on the first £11,500 you make.

Income doesn’t just mean wages, although they’re the most obvious source. 'Taxable income' – the kind you’re expected to pay tax on – also includes interest from bank accounts, profit from selling any goods or services, and even some State benefits.

However you earn money, you’ll only pay tax on anything you make over the PA: 20% on the difference up to around £30k, with higher rates on anything you earn above that.

Most students won’t come close to earning more than their PA each year, but the way income tax is collected through wages means you could already be overpaying tax on a part-time job. Check your payslips, make sure your tax code is correct and, if you think you’re being overcharged, get on to HMRC to get a refund!

At the same time, don't ever be tempted to avoid tax that you owe: HMRC do know who you are, and they will find you, and they will… ask for their money.

Get a tighter grip on tax with our 6 facts you need to know.

How to invest properly
chalk board with the word 'investing'
Credit: stockmonkeys.com

Learning to invest is the key to making more of your money, and can result in you having a really solid source of money on your side.

The primary lesson here boils down to: get rich slowly, diversify (reduce risk), minimise leakages (fees) and eradicate all emotion from investment decisions.

Now you've probably heard of 'fund managers': people who happily take your money and pick companies and other assets to invest it in on your behalf… but not before they've had a slice of your pie in the form of fees and commissions.

The choosing, buying and selling of individuals stocks or investments is called 'active investing'. Here, the goal is typically to make big returns quickly, so it can be a lucrative way to trade. However this strategy tends to attract high risk and high costs whilst continuously sapping your time and energy.

Let us introduce you to something called 'passive investing' – an alternative form of investing that you might not have heard of. Rather than trying to beat the market by basically taking the gamble that shares in a certain company will go up, 'index funds' track the market as a whole (its index).

For example, you can invest in the UK's FTSE 100, which means you're banking on the very best companies to grow collectively. They don’t promise quick wins but instead, as the market grows, so do your returns.

With no fund manager to pay for, index funds are cheaper to buy and hold. They also diversify your risk and remove ongoing decision-making and cold sweats at night.

Historically, as the chart below shows, the top UK companies have performed well and are growing overall. There are very few fund managers who have outperformed the markets over the long term, and overall they represent a very poor investment choice.

ftse history chart
FTSE growth since 1980

You can invest in an index fund through an online broker, but make sure you're getting the best deal by checking this table by Monevator.com. There are then lots of index funds to choose from, such as Vanguard which are typically the cheapest. All you need to do is stump up some cash, sit back and leave it.

If all this has got your attention and you'd like to know more, you can read this article and check out Andrew Hallam's fantastic book: The Millionaire Teacher.