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A blog by your Student Money Assistants

With the end of term rapidly approaching, many of you will be starting to plan how to get home for the holidays. Here are our tips for what to pack, planning your journey and saving money.

Train

If travelling by train, and plan on taking more train journeys in the future, you may want to consider purchasing a Railcard, which gives you a third off rail fares across the country. Railcards cost either £30 or £70 and are valid for one or three years respectively, but the savings can quickly add up if you travel regularly by train.

Train tickets usually become available up to twelve weeks before the date of travel, with prices being cheaper the earlier you book. It is important to note that there are different types of tickets available, with advance single tickets only being valid for a specific train time. If you are unsure of your availability, it might be best to buy an anytime or off-peak ticket, which are more flexible with which trains you are allowed to take.

Bus

Another option for travelling which is often cheaper than trains yet still sustainable is by bus. Megabus runs a number of routes from Coventry and Birmingham to various cities across the UK, although they do tend to be slower than train journeys.

Packing

You may be wondering what to bring back with you over the holidays. While it’s easy to overpack, remember that the holidays are only four weeks, so it might be better to pack lighter, especially if carrying large suitcases on public transport.

Before you leave

A final tip is if you are leaving your accommodation unoccupied, ensure your accommodation is fully locked, and hide any valuables or take them with you. If you have a good relationship with your neighbours, consider leaving your contact details with them and letting your landlord know that you will be away.

Support

For further housing advice, you can get in touch with the SU Advice Centre. If you need any support with your money during the year, you can contact Student Funding Support by email (studentfunding@warwick.ac.uk) or telephone (024 7615 0096) Monday to Thursday 8.30 – 5.00 or Friday 8.30 – 4.00. Alternatively, you can drop in and see us by going to the Wellbeing Reception in Senate House between 10am and 3pm Monday-Friday.