For most students, the first taste of independence comes with a few unpleasant discoveries. Washing does not do itself. Milk has a surprisingly short shelf life. And the weekly food shop, which looked so manageable when someone else was paying for it, has a habit of swallowing rather more of the student loan than anticipated.
Learning to feed yourself on a budget is practically a university module in its own right. There is only so much pesto pasta a person can eat, however convincing the argument that switching between green and red constitutes variety. And while the occasional takeaway is hardly a crime, living on meal deals and instant noodles is neither particularly cheap nor a great long-term nutritional strategy.
