Inflation stirs up sticky situations for students
In the final months of 2021, The cost of living crisis was first observed in the UK by financial professionals. Nearly two and half years on, the crisis has become a brutal fact of life for millions of people across the country.
Myself and fellow journalist, Zaloa Williams wanted to find out how students had been affected by the cost of living crisis. Take a look at what some journalism students had to say about their experiences of the crisis in the video below.
I was keen to find out how students were funding their studies during the cost of living crisis. At the London College of Communication, I asked two second year Journalism students …
“Does your student loan and any other financial help that you may receive cover your rent and essentials such as transport and food?”
Despite the fact that these sources of income are, in theory, supposed to cover rent and essentials for students, the question was answered by the students with a unanimous no.
Jamie, who rents with friends in Zone 2, offered a hard truth – “if I didn’t have a job, I would not be eating.”
Yusra, who rents with friends in Zone 3, shared the same reality – “because I have a part time job, I’m able to afford food and transport.”
I was interested to find out how the students had adapted to survive the crisis. I asked the two students:
“Have you had to increase your hours at work since the cost of living crisis arose?”
Jamie, who had been working as a freelance writer up until last September, shared that “luckily, I got a new job at the start of the academic year that gave me enough hours to keep me going.”
I enquired what job Jamie had taken on – “I’m a student staff receptionist.” He told me. I was keen to know whether or not, by taking on this position that would help him afford student life, he had been forced to neglect his freelance writing. He told me, “I still go for writing jobs but the work has dried up.” I couldn’t help but think that the cost of living crisis may have caused this loss in trade for Jamie and other freelance writers, a sad reality for hopeful creatives.
Yusra, who works at a bar at a theatre, told me “I have had to take on more shifts this year, I usually work for 20 hours per week.” That was a shock, 20 hours per week seemed like a lot of her schedule, I wondered how she found balance between her work and her full-time university course. I enquired –
“Do you find it difficult to balance working and studying?”
She contemplated – “Yes, but I am able to choose my hours so I don’t miss out on class time.”
It seemed that both Jamie and Yusra had made sacrifices in their lives in order to survive under the squeeze of the cost of living crisis. I was intrigued to know how they planned to navigate the final year of their courses under the prospect of a higher cost of living.
“How has the cost of living affected your prospects for the next academic year?”
Jamie told me that “I’m going to be in about the same position as I am this year but I’m also aware that no one knows quite what’s going to happen so I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and if it gets worse, it might be bad.”
Yusra also expressed her concerns for the future – “I’m worried about living in London next year because it might get more expensive. My family live in London so I might have to move back home.”
In such uncertain times, it’s no surprise that Jamie and Yusra are worried about affording housing in London. The sad reality of the cost-of-living crisis has not only eaten into the student’s time for education and socialising, it has also robbed them of a sense of security. The prospect of an increase in bills and rent may see them become unable to afford warm, safe housing.
Coming away from these interviews, there is an overwhelming sense that more help needs to be made available to students across the country to prevent young people who are studying away from home from finding themselves in poverty. Without help, many students may find themselves losing out on the education they’d hoped for, a prospect that threatens the future of our generation.