The cost of convenience: Can Warwick students still afford to live on campus?

I recently uncovered an old receipt from Rootes Grocery Store, now rebranded as a Co-op, from the depths of a bag I used when I lived on campus. Apparently, my first-year self often spent £1.15 on an iced latte. That same latte was £1 when I started university, and is now £1.25 at the Co-op.  

It is no secret that students living on campus are subject to tight budgets and constant tests of money management. Small but consistent price increases like this add up for students, as ever-rising food prices intercept their aspirations for a more affordable lifestyle. The “campus village” has many convenient shopping spots – including the Co-op, eateries and coffee shops such as Caffè Nero, the on-campus pharmacy, and more. Students pop over to the closest option when they need something – but often the closest is not the cheapest. 

Recently, I bought a sandwich from Co-op and did a bit of a double take at the “£3.50” that flashed across the checkout screen

The word “living” conjures thoughts of essentials, like food needed to get through the day, so I’ll consider that first. Recently, I bought a sandwich from Co-op and did a bit of a double-take at the “£3.50” that flashed across the checkout screen. That singular sandwich nearly cost an entire Tesco Clubcard meal deal. To be fair to Co-op, it did bring something to the student shopping scene that Rootes never did: membership. Because I live off-campus, I personally have not bought a membership (which is not a cost-effective decision – I advise against my own example), but it certainly benefits local students. Co-op membership costs students just £1, and drops the price of the meal deal from £4.35 to £4. That said, an eyebrow or two can certainly be raised at the fact that, back in May, The Boar had anticipated a drop from £4 to £3.50 instead. Soon enough, will the price even be considered a “deal” at all? 

Therefore, it seems likely that the price of campus’ premier stop for items has likely not improved in the new academic year

At the same time, Co-op also provides fresh offers on essentials. Menstrual sanitary products are a good example – although Tampax tampons are more expensive individually at Co-op than they were at Rootes, they can be mix-and-matched (at least at the time of writing this article) to buy 2 for £6. Despite these apparent benefits, The Boar published data in the recent November print edition showing that only a minority of students (21% of the 332 surveyed) thought Co-op prices were cheaper than Rootes’. Most (48%) thought that prices were about the same. Therefore, it seems likely that the price of campus’ premier stop for items has likely not improved in the new academic year – and so it appears that replacing Rootes was an underwhelming investment of time, money, and hope.  

Although food prices are currently rising more slowly, as the UK inflation rate has fallen from its post-covid peak, the sharp increases of the past five years have had a considerable impact on students’ purchasing power. Indeed, for most, “living” constitutes more than essentials – it also includes pleasures (and debatably necessities) such as coffee.  

Despite some of the questionable prices at Caffè Nero (does anybody regularly buy the £6 paninis?), the Faculty of Arts Building is frequently crawling with students clutching coffee cups. Often, this coffee is in the smallest size, not least because it can cost over £4 per order.  

So, why do students indulge in this little luxury? Well, it’s conveniently located right in the middle of campus, at one of the busiest buildings. 

“Overpriced” coffee has become somewhat of a staple of university life. Students either lament that they spend too much money on it, or reason that it romanticises the rocky terrain of degree-level study. Even Warwick’s own research suggests that coffee makes students happier. But when students begin spending beyond their means at campus coffee outlets, is this snippet of “happiness” worth the cost?  

Moving away from food altogether, on-campus accommodation constitutes its own discussion on living costs. To put it briefly, the shortage of on-campus accommodation this academic year is already financially compromising some freshers, who have to commute across a likely unfamiliar area to attend classes. With the closure of Whitefields (the most affordable option for many) and the unavailability of many Claycroft and Westwood rooms, students who have secured on-campus accommodation are forced to pay for less affordable options. These issues put obvious strains on students’ well-being, especially for those with difficult financial circumstances, such as a lack of support from home or the need to balance multiple jobs just to stay afloat. Many students’ paths to graduation are also forcibly disrupted, with some deferring years to fund their return to independent living.  

…every effort should be made to make on-campus facilities more affordable for students

I believe that I am in the majority when I say that, from accommodation to the cost of an apple, every effort should be made to make on-campus facilities more affordable for students. Of course, you are responsible for spending wisely in their day-to-day lives – someone is to blame if you blow your entire weekly budget on matcha lattes at Curiositea, and it is certainly not the café.  

Nonetheless, considering the wider picture and the inflation in food prices, the prospect of truly student-friendly outlets seems like an uphill battle in an economic climate that never waits long for anybody.