![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/cost-of-living-suffolk-and-essex-students-share-their-struggles/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127489164_microsoftteams-image-122.png&description=Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, University students are facing greater financial pressures than ever beforeAs the cost of living rises, university staff and students share the struggles being faced by young people and what help there is for them. Image source, John Fairhall/BBCImage caption, Eloise Churchman, who is studying at the University of Essex, says she has seen a "drastic" increase in the price of food and billsIt is not long into term time, but Eloise Churchman has already planned her Christmas holidays - to work most days to try to make ends meet."My maintenance doesn't even cover my accommodation, so I have to put around £300 towards it myself, so then food just comes out of my own money," says the University of Essex student."So I'm working most days during the Christmas holidays to try and get together the money I can for my food shopping and just enjoyment money as well to socialise, because that's obviously a very important part of keeping up good mental health."The second-year multimedia journalism student, who lives on campus and comes from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, says she has seen a "drastic" increase in the price of food and bills from last year."The worry is that it's going to continue," she says. "You have to think carefully about if you can afford to go out for that cup of coffee or if you can afford to buy that textbook."She says she also has to be careful when planning meals so she can "eat properly while on a budget"."I freeze anything that I possibly can, I buy a lot of dry ingredients and if I buy fresh fruit and veg, I make sure that I definitely have a meal planned for it so it's not going to waste," she says.Image source, John Fairhall/BBCImage caption, Nashwa Alsakka, president of the Students' Union at the University of Essex, urges students not to "suffer in silence""We know students that are currently holding two or three jobs where they simply cannot maintain living and the surviving, let alone having an expe){kind=link}
As the cost of living rises, university staff and students share the struggles being faced by young people and what help there is for them.
It is not long into term time, but Eloise Churchman has already planned her Christmas holidays – to work most days to try to make ends meet.
“My maintenance doesn’t even cover my accommodation, so I have to put around £300 towards it myself, so then food just comes out of my own money,” says the University of Essex student.
“So I’m working most days during the Christmas holidays to try and get together the money I can for my food shopping and just enjoyment money as well to socialise, because that’s obviously a very important part of keeping up good mental health.”
The second-year multimedia journalism student, who lives on campus and comes from Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire, says she has seen a “drastic” increase in the price of food and bills from last year.