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Back to News & ArticlesYour money reset checklist
The university year has a habit of getting busy quickly.
Placements start. Group assignments appear out of nowhere. Your timetable somehow finishes late three days in a row. Suddenly you’re buying coffee between every class just to get through the week.
For nursing and teaching students especially, this part of the year can feel like a constant balance between study, placements, casual work and everyday life all happening at once.
This isn’t about creating the perfect budget or getting every financial decision right. It’s simply a chance to reset a few habits and make the second half of semester feel a little more manageable.
When you're exhausted, convenience usually wins.
Buying lunch on campus, grabbing takeaway after placement or ordering dinner after a long day is completely understandable. Student life is busy.
But having a few easier options prepared ahead of time can sometimes help reduce stress when your energy is already low.
Helpful habit:
Planning a few lower-cost meals, snacks or essentials before a busy week can help reduce last-minute spending when everything starts happening at once.Semester One has a way of turning smaller purchases into spending more than expected by the end of the week.
Coffee runs between classes. Uber when you're tired. Snacks on placement days. Last-minute social plans.
You don't need to track every coffee or feel guilty about every spend, but checking in occasionally can help you feel more aware of where your money is going.
Helpful habit:
Set a weekly reminder to open the Bank First App and quickly scan your recent spending. Small habits are often easier to spot before they start adding up.Saving money while studying can feel difficult, especially during placement periods or busy semesters.
But savings habits don't need to start with huge amounts.
For some students, it might simply mean setting aside a small amount regularly when possible, whether that's for placement costs, future travel plans, unexpected expenses or just creating a bit more breathing room.
Helpful habit:
Create a savings goal in the Bank First App and track your progress over time. Whether you're saving for placements, travel or future plans, smaller goals can often feel easier to maintain than larger ones.If you're looking to build stronger savings habits, Bank First Bonus Saver offers up to 5.00% p.a. interest and is designed to reward regular saving habits over time.
The semester always seems to come with unexpected costs.
Textbooks. Placement requirements. Transport. Social events. Replacing something you didn't budget for.
Looking ahead, where possible, won't remove every surprise expense, but it can help you feel a little more prepared when things pop up during the semester.
Helpful habit:
Some students find keeping a small savings buffer for unexpected costs helps reduce stress when surprises come up during the year.Some weeks feel organised.
Other weeks feel like surviving on iced coffee and hoping your calendar eventually makes sense again.
A reset doesn't need to be perfect to be useful. Often, it's just about finding a few habits or systems that help make busy semesters feel a little easier to manage.
Helpful habit:
Don't aim for perfect spending habits during busy periods. Small changes still count.Streaming services, apps, delivery memberships, and free trials rolling over can quietly build up over a semester.
A quick review can help you work out what you still use regularly and what you could probably live without for now.
Helpful habit:
Open the Bank First App and scroll through your recent transactions to spot recurring payments you may have forgotten about.
Small changes still count
Student life can be unpredictable, especially when balancing study, placements, work and everyday responsibilities.
Small adjustments over time can still help create more confidence, flexibility and breathing room throughout the year.
Whether you're heading into a classroom, a placement or your first professional role, building small financial habits now can help support the goals you're working towards.
Sometimes that's checking in on your spending a little earlier. Sometimes it's setting a savings goal. Sometimes it's simply finding systems that help busy periods feel a little easier to navigate.
Whatever your goals look like, small changes still count.
The information on this website is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs ("your personal circumstances"). The advertised interest rate is variable and subject to change. Products may be amended or withdrawn at Bank First’s discretion. The bonus rate applies only when eligibility criteria are met. Before using this advice to decide whether to purchase a product, you should consider your personal circumstances and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. The Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations are available from Disclosure Documents page.