Voice of London

According to a global study by Mercer, London is officially in top 20 most expensive cities in the world for expats to live in. How does this fit in the busy life of a student?

After a long day spent between trying to meet deadlines and working late hours to pay the rent, one can’t be expected to have the energy to cook a proper meal. Unless you want to have cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the most hassle-free option is eating out.

Student Money Survey has recently published an article which can help us get an essence of what the true cost of getting a degree in the UK is. According to the survey, 78% of students are worried about making ends meet and while most of them are worried about money, some can’t even afford to eat or drink. Therefore, 11% of students turn to gambling, adult work, or drug trials when in financial trouble, it’s safe to say that every penny counts.

According to Survey Money, students spend about £108 a month on food. This is why I have decided to go on a hunt for the perfect burger recipe and try to recreate it at home in an effort to see how much money I could save.

After a trip to Five Guys where I paid approximately £15 for a cheeseburger, regular fries and a drink, I have decided to try a cheaper burger at a local pub. I went to the Barking Dog (strategically located in Barking) and paid £5 for a burger, regular fries and a drink. A 10-pound difference for almost the same product. With £20 less in my account, I went on a shopping spree at the local supermarket and bought the ingredients for my burger.

Pictures by: Vanessa Craus

Watch this video to see my attempt to make the perfect homemade burger:

I spent approximately £9 on ingredients enough for four burgers, meaning each burger cost me £2.25.

By staying in and cooking at home rather than going out and spending money on unhealthy foods, you can enjoy a nutritious, fresh meal while also saving up. Make your own burger or pay the price!

To find out why it’s better to make your own burger rather than buy one, check out this article on mouldy burgers.

Words: Vanessa Craus | Subbing: Lucija Duzel