student money planner

Money Planner

Use our Money Planner to make a budget and take control of your finances.

Level of study:

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Advice on debts is available by emailing the Student Advice Centre or by phoning 0114 222 8660. 0114 222 8660 .

Expenditure

You can download a copy of your Money Planner to keep, print or email to us. If you are applying for Financial Support you will need to provide this as part of your application. Instructions on how to do this are on the first page of the PDF. Once the PDF has been successfully downloaded you can close the browser tab/window to delete your plan if you are on a public computer.

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6 Brilliant budgeting apps for students

Living on a budget can be difficult, but a little digital help can go a long way.

These 6 handy budgeting apps will get your finances on track and help you do more of the things you want to do at uni.

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• How to make the most of winter

Study and Careers

8 useful apps for finding the perfect exam balance, 6 smart productivity apps for students, spending: how to manage your money and avoid stress.

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Student budget.

For more information about these financial calculators please visit: Financial Calculators from KJE Computer Solutions, Inc.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Information and interactive calculators are made available to you only as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

RBC Student Budget Calculator

• School Details 1

Step 1 of 4: School Detail

Use the RBC Student Budget Calculator to help you figure out how much money you'll need to get through the school year. When you don't have an exact amount to work with, estimate on the high side. You can always go back and rework the figures later. The number you enter is used to calculate your expenses in total at the end of one year.

Step 2 of 4: Expenses

We’ve helped get you started by entering a few national averages according to Statistics Canada. You can modify these values and tailor it to your own personal scenario.

Step 3 of 4: Income

Look at all of your sources of income. Determine how much you have saved and what you will receive for the school year.

Budget Results Print

Need to borrow money for school.

Based on the information you provided, you will need additional funds to cover your education expenses in the coming/current school year. We can help provide a solution for you that could include an RBC Student Line of Credit with the following features and benefits:

• Flexible limits starting at $5,000 per year
• A low student interest rate
• Easy access to the money you need, when you need it
• Pay only the interest on the amount borrowed while in school, and for two year after you graduate
• Book an appointment with an RBC advisor to discuss your options for paying for school

Besoin d'emprunter de l'argent pour l'école ?

Compte tenu des renseignements que vous nous avez fournis, vous aurez besoin de fonds additionnels pour couvrir les dépenses liées à vos études au cours de la prochaine année scolaire / année scolaire actuelle. Nous vous proposons la solution suivante : une Marge de Crédit Royale pour étudiant RBC incluant les caractéristiques et avantages suivants :

• Des limites d'emprunt souples commençant à 5 000 $ par année
• Un faible taux d'intérêt pour étudiant
• Un accès facile aux fonds dont vous avez besoin, quand vous en avez besoin
• Ne payez que les intérêts sur le montant que vous devez pendant vos études et un an après l'obtention de votre diplôme
• Prendre rendez-vous avec un conseiller RBC afin de discuter des options pour payer vos études

Based on the information you provided, you may need additional funds to cover your education expenses or readjust your budget. We can help provide a solution to help ensure your funds last throughout the school year.

Compte tenu des renseignements que vous nous avez fournis, vous pourriez avoir besoin de fonds additionnels pour couvrir les dépenses liées à vos études ou devoir réajuster votre budget. Nous pouvons vous offrir une solution pour que vous puissiez profiter de votre argent durant toute l’année scolaire.

• Prendre rendez-vous avec un conseiller RBC afin de discuter de vos options

Looks like you’re set for the school year!

Based on the information you provided, you will have sufficient income to cover your expenses in the coming school year. If you’re looking for a way to maximize your savings, you may want to consider an RBC High Interest eSavings Account .

Vous semblez être dans la bonne voie pour l'année scolaire !

Compte tenu des renseignements que vous nous avez fournis, vous aurez suffisamment de revenus pour couvrir vos dépenses au cours de la prochaine année scolaire. Si vous cherchez à maximiser votre épargne, le compte Épargne @ intérêt élevé RBC pourrait s'avérer un choix judicieux.

• En savoir plus

Book an appointment with an RBC advisor to discuss your options for paying for school.

  Suivant

Prenez un rendez-vous avec un conseiller RBC afin de discuter des options pour payer vos études.

Expenses Back to Calculator

School Fees

School Tuition $3,779

Supplies $1,000

Other Fees $0

Housing / Living   (Monthly)

Housing / Rent $6,875

Food / Groceries $300

Utilities $0

Mobile Phone $0

Transportation   (Monthly)

Bus / Train / Public Transit $0

Insurance $0

Maintenance $0

Loan / Lease Payment $0

Conferences $0

Trips Home $0

Vacations $0

Lifestyle   (Monthly)

TV / Cable / Satellite $0

Internet $0

Shopping / Clothes $0

Entertainment $0

Health / Gym Membership / Personal $0

How many months will you be in school this year? X

The number you enter is used to calculate your expenses in total at the end of one year.

Savings / Investments

Savings / Investments $3,779

In-Trust $1,000

Financial Assistance

Government Loans $6,875

Scholarships / Bursaries / Grants $300

Income   (Monthly)

Part-Time Job $0

Family Contributions $0

Budget Results

• Pay only the interest on the amount borrowed while in school, and for one year after you graduate

Besoin d'emprunter de l'argent pour l'école ?

Compte tenu des renseignements que vous nous avez fournis, vous aurez besoin de fonds additionnels pour couvrir les dépenses liées à vos études au cours de la prochaine année scolaire / année scolaire actuelle. Nous vous proposons la solution suivante : une Marge de Crédit Royale pour étudiant RBC incluant les caractéristiques et avantages suivants :

• Des limites d'emprunt souples commençant à 5 000 $ par année
• Un faible taux d'intérêt pour étudiant
• Un accès facile aux fonds dont vous avez besoin, quand vous en avez besoin
• Ne payez que les intérêts sur le montant que vous devez pendant vos études et un an après l'obtention de votre diplôme
• Prendre rendez-vous avec un conseiller RBC afin de discuter des options pour payer vos études
• Book an appointment with an RBC advisor to discuss your options

Compte tenu des renseignements que vous nous avez fournis, vous pourriez avoir besoin de fonds additionnels pour couvrir les dépenses liées à vos études ou devoir réajuster votre budget. Nous pouvons vous offrir une solution pour que vous puissiez profiter de votre argent durant toute l’année scolaire.

Based on the information you provided, you will have sufficient income to cover your expenses in the coming school year. If you’re looking for a way to maximize your savings, you may want to consider an RBC High Interest eSavings Account.

Vous semblez être dans la bonne voie pour l'année scolaire !

Compte tenu des renseignements que vous nous avez fournis, vous aurez suffisamment de revenus pour couvrir vos dépenses au cours de la prochaine année scolaire. Si vous cherchez à maximiser votre épargne, le compte Épargne @ intérêt élevé RBC pourrait s'avérer un choix judicieux.

Prenez un rendez-vous avec un conseiller RBC afin de discuter des options pour payer vos études.

Reset Entries

Remettre à zéro les données.

Editing the number for will reset the numbers previously entered for the additional  items.

Recommencer

Starting over will reset the numbers previously entered for all categories. Are you sure you want to continue?

Cette action réinitialisera les chiffres de toutes les catégories. Êtes-vous certain de vouloir poursuivre ?

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• Smart Advice
• Tools and Calculators
• Student Budget Calculator

Student budget calculator

Post-secondary education can be an exciting first step into your next chapter, but it can also feel intimidating. If you're unsure about how to pay for school or what the costs might be, a simple student budget can do the trick.

We'll guide you through the easy process of building a full-year budget. Enter your costs and break down where your money is coming from to gain valuable insights about how to start managing your cash, saving and investing.

What will I get from this?

• Clarity Gain financial confidence by seeing the big picture.
• Options Learn about the many ways to fund your education.
• Advice Get tailored tips for building savings, managing your spending and more.

Not what you're looking for?

Return to all budget calculators.

Enter your school expenses

Enter your expenses using whole numbers, then select a frequency. All fields are optional.

If you'd like to identify your budget with a title, enter it here. It can contain up to 30 characters. We won't store this information.

Canadian students enrolled full-time in undergraduate programs paid an average of $6,693 in tuition for the 2021-22 school year, according to Statistics Canada. International students in undergraduate programs paid an average of $33,623 1 . If you don't know your exact tuition, check your school's website for an estimate.

This could include textbooks or online resources. Your school website may provide guidelines. For example, some Canadian universities advise budgeting for at least $1,000 per school year.

This could include costs such as lab fees and student union membership dues. Canadian undergraduate students paid an average of $1,002 in additional fees for the 2021-22 school year, according to Statistics Canada 1 .

This could include the cost of a new computer and other hardware, as well as any tools or equipment necessary for your program.

Estimate your housing costs

Check your school's website to find the cost of on-campus housing.

Some residences have mandatory meal plans, while others are optional or flexible. Find this information on your school's website.

If you rent a place during months you aren't living in residence, include its total cost here.

If you're on a lease of less than 12 months, enter annual amounts for these expenses. The other frequencies will produce an inaccurate total.

While living with family or friends, you may contribute to the household bills or pay rent. If so, enter those costs here.

Estimate your food costs

Estimate your technology costs.

Include the cost of all services you subscribe to – whether for TV, movies, music, video games or anything else.

Estimate your transportation costs

Many transit systems offer student discounts, so check their websites for opportunities to save on transportation.

Consider the costs of oil changes, tire rotations and various repairs.

Estimate your personal spending

Estimate how much you'll spend going to concerts, movies, social outings and other events.

This could include the cost of a gym membership, fitness classes and sports equipment.

Along with sunny holidays, ski trips and other vacations, you may also need to budget for trips home throughout the school year.

Estimate how much you plan to save and invest

Enter your saving and investing goals using whole numbers, then select a frequency. All fields are optional.

If you plan to start building a portfolio while in school, enter how much you'll put toward investments each month.

A financial safety net can help you through times when you need extra money, so it's smart to put something aside for a rainy day.

Whether you’re hoping for a vacation, a car or a nice pair of shoes, a savings plan will help get you on track.

Determine the money you have available

Enter your amounts using whole numbers, then select a frequency. All fields are optional.

Merit-based scholarships can lighten the burden of your post-secondary education by offsetting your costs with some extra cash.

You may qualify for special funding programs based on financial need, extracurricular activities and other criteria.

If you plan on dipping into your own savings to help pay for your education, enter that amount here.

The federal and provincial governments offer loans you can put toward larger expenses such as tuition, residence fees and course materials.

Banks offer student lines of credit, which provide a pool of money whenever you need it. They also feature several different repayment options.

Annual cost breakdown

Your student budget.

Save your budget as a PDF or print a copy so you can share it with your advisor. They’ll use it to help build a strategy that’s right for you.

Compare your costs and available money

Good news – based on what you've entered, you're in good financial shape for the school year. If you're thinking about what to do with the extra cash, we can help.

Grow your savings

It's never too early to set savings goals. These tips will help you get a head start. Opens in a new window.

Learn about investing

You have big goals and big dreams. Learn how investing could help you reach them. Opens in a new window.

Build your credit

A credit history can help you make big purchases down the road. Learn how to get ahead. Opens in a new window.

Congratulations – based on what you’ve entered, you have enough money to pay for the school year. If you want to make the most of your money as a student, we can help.

Saving while studying might seem difficult, but it's not out of reach. These tips will help. Opens in a new window.

Credit cards 101

They're handy tools for making purchases and building credit, so get the low down on credit cards. Opens in a new window.

We have several tips to help you uncover more cash to make your education dreams a reality.

Find ways to save

Smart spending can ease your burden. Check out these five money-management tips for students. Opens in a new window.

Understand your borrowing options

You may be able to borrow more to pay for your education. Get to know your options. Opens in a new window.

Budget breakdown

Get a head start on saving.

It's never too early to speak with a CIBC advisor about building a savings strategy. Keep this budget handy to make the process even easier.

Save your results

Clear all data.

This will delete everything you've entered into the calculator.

Simple student banking

CIBC Smart™ Account for Students Opens in a new window.

University, college and CEGEP students can enjoy unlimited transactions 2 and zero monthly fee 3 .

Student credit cards Opens in a new window.

Build credit, earn rewards and pay for everyday purchases with a no- or low-fee student credit card.

Investments Opens in a new window.

CIBC Investor's Edge can help you start building your portfolio, even on a student budget.

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Please note: Multilanguage sites do not provide full access to all content on CIBC.com. The full CIBC website is available in English and French.