About the author: Hi, I’m Emily Bath! I’m in my final year at Leeds Beckett University studying Media, Communication, and Cultures. I’m definitely a homebody at heart and love getting lost in a good book, but I also enjoy heading out for a hike, catching up with friends, or discovering new playlists to keep me motivated while working.
Moving into a student house is one of the best parts of uni life; more freedom, living with your friends, and finally feeling like a proper adult. But one thing that catches almost everyone off guard? Bills.
After spending a summer working at Split The Bills and helping fellow students try to sort their utility bills, I noticed the same mistakes coming up. The good news? They’re all avoidable once you know what to look out for. In this guide, I’ll talk you through the most common mistakes students make about bills so you can dodge them.
This is probably the most common mistake, and the one that causes the most stress.
It’s easy to think that once you’ve signed your contract, everything’s sorted, especially if you’ve signed months in advance. But bills often get left as an afterthought… until move-in day arrives.
Suddenly, you’re in the house thinking: why is there no Wi-Fi? Why is the shower freezing? Who was actually meant to sort this?
Getting your bills sorted before you move in saves a lot of hassle and means you’re not trying to figure everything out while also adjusting to a new house, new routine, and the chaos of starting (or going back to) uni.
This one applies to more than you’d think.
Meter readings might seem boring, but they’re important for making sure everything in your house is running properly and being reported back to suppliers. The problem is, in a shared house, everyone assumes someone else has done it.
A simple fix is agreeing on who’s responsible each month. It keeps things fair, avoids confusion, and actually gets it done, which is important to make sure your house is running smoothly.
Keeping track of multiple suppliers and different payment dates can get confusing quickly. That’s where mistakes happen.
With Split The Bills, everything is combined into one payment, taken at the same time each month (usually the 1st), which makes budgeting much easier.
It also means no surprises. You’re not suddenly hit with higher costs in winter or debating who left the heating on. It’s a much more organised and transparent way to handle bills, especially in a shared house.
If a payment is missed, it doesn’t immediately affect your housemates. Split The Bills will make up to four re-attempts over 3–5 working days. But still, set a reminder on your phone. It’s a tiny habit that saves a lot of stress.
Bills aside, student budgeting has its own set of classic mistakes.
Subscriptions are a big one; those “it’s only £3.99 a month” moments add up quickly when you’ve got a few quietly draining your account. Before you know it, half your loan is going to apps you forgot you even had.
Another one? Treating your overdraft like free money. It’s helpful, but it’s not a bonus fund.
Not having any kind of emergency fund is also risky. Even putting aside a small amount can help when something unexpected comes up (which it always does).
It’s also worth actually using your student status – discounts and deals are everywhere if you look for them.
And finally, the classic: spending your student loan too quickly. It feels like a lot… until it’s not. Spreading it out and knowing what you’ve got to cover makes a huge difference.
Most of these mistakes come down to leaving things too late or not having a clear system in place. Once you’ve got everything organised, knowing what you’re paying, when you’re paying it, and what’s included, you avoid unnecessary stress.
Because at the end of the day, uni life should be about enjoying yourself.
Save time and hassle on your bills today with Split The Bills. Your energy, water, WiFi, and optional TV Licence are all bundled up into one neat package, and the payment is divided evenly between each housemate. No joint liability, no more chasing people up for cash. No hassle! Get a quote today.
The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the Split The Bills Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Split The Bills. Split The Bills accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.
Split The Bills is not a financial advisor. This should not be considered as professional financial advice. Do your own research & consult a professional financial advisor before making any financial decisions!
Moving into a student house is one of the best parts of uni life; more freedom, living with your friends, and finally feeling like a proper adult. But one thing that catches almost everyone off guard? Bills. In this guide I’ll talk you through the most common mistakes students make about bills so you can dodge them.
Moving to the UK as an international student comes with a lot of adjustments, including trying to figure out the transport system, cooking, getting used to the weather, and (one of the biggest adjustments of all) figuring out how to pay utility bills in a new country. In this blog, I’ll take you through the biggest surprises I came across when tackling bills in the UK as an international student.
Wondering why your broadband is so slow? In this blog, discover how you can improve your WiFi signal in your student home so you can get back online in no time.