Y - Y Work
Introduction
It seems like a great idea: you're a student spending a few hours a night at the local grocery store making a few extra bucks. In many ways, it is a win-win situation. They can use the money to help you pay for rent, or to pay for books. On top of receiving the knowledge of responsibility, gain valuable work experience and understand what it means to earn a pound. Still, there are pros and cons of being a student spending time in a part-time job.
Pros
There are several pros from taking a part-time job. The first and the most obvious is the slight amount of stress taken off money borrowed from parent, siblings or friends. Your financial independence means that you can pay for anything from clothes to i-Tunes downloads. In addition to the extra income, you learn to truly appreciate a hard-earned pound and might think twice before buying something which is really of no use to you! You can begin to learn the importance of saving, balancing a cheque book, and setting financial goals. You will get a sense of accomplishment with each pay check!
Cons
Even though the benefits of work are numerous, there are equally as many cons. The greatest disadvantage of work may be that you will have an increased level of stress of balancing your work with studies and leisure. Let's say that you leave for lectures at 8am and then you may not get home until 5pm. Then don't forget the football or swimming practice, with your coach making sure you get at least 3/4 hours of practice before the next tournament coming up! And then it's a big social night out at the student union bar, and tomorrow's 3pm essay on 'Social Impact of the Bioscience Military Scientific Breakthroughs That Have Had A Beneficial Bearing On Humanity'. Working for money on top of that may be too much and needs good time management skills to get you through the week.
London has one of the oldest and greates integrated public transportation system in the world, but the money you spend on the travel from place to place is unbelievable - a single cash fare on a bus can cost you a whole £2, one week STUDENT oyster travel card, zones 1-4 costs about £26!!! So think about getting to and from work - and then to university and back home could add up to a big number!
The second thing you want to consider is whether you are just living from pay check to pay check to fund your books and rent or let's be honest and include the occasional treat such as booze and clubs. Should you prioritise your budget to only the basic essentials or should you live alittle and splash out on a few luxuaries to fulfill your lifestyle?
There are great number of places where you can start looking for that perfect job!
