With A-level results out this week young people across the UK are turning their thoughts to university.
While sky-high tuition fees mean getting a degree is no longer a 'no brainer', it can still be a fun, worthwhile and career-enhancing way to spend three or more years.
However, the inflated cost does mean that working out your money situation upfront isn't just sensible, it's essential.
While your choice of university will determine the amount you pay in tuition fees, there are things you can do to cut your living costs so you still have 'fun money' but don't end up saddled with unnecessary debts.
Whether you're heading off to university soon, or you have children that are swapping home for halls you can use these guides to get essential pointers that will help you plan for the cost:
What else is happening?
The average broadband speed is now 9.0Mbps; more than double what it was five years ago.
Increased speeds have been made possible thanks to wide-scale improvements to the national network coupled with the launch of super-fast broadband, an option that 8% of UK households have switched to already.
Edinburgh Century B.S. is to be swallowed by the Scottish Building Society
The merge sees the joining of the smallest building society in the UK and the oldest. Together they'll have a combined total of 40,000 members.
House prices have gone up 94% over the last decade
Three times more than wages. In 2001 the average house price stood at £121,769 - it now sits at £236,518.
The average wage has risen 29% from £16,557 to £21,330 over the same period; no wonder people are struggling to get on the property ladder!
Royal Mail plan to roll out their 'Delivery to Neighbour' scheme across the UK from September.
Once it goes live it'll mean that your postman will leave parcels with a neighbour if you're not home.
You'll need to opt out if you don't want your post left with someone that lives nearby.
Unemployment has fallen again and 'just' 2.56m people are now looking for work.
201,000 people found a job between April and June, but 1,000 jobseekers entered the realm of long-term unemployment during the same period.
The cost of renting has hit a record high with the average tenant now paying £725 a month for their home.
In London and the South East the situation is even worse with the average rent sitting at £1,057 a month!
This represents a 2.9% increase in costs over the past year, a figure that's only expected to increase given there are fewer new properties being built and more people struggling to get a mortgage.
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