55.0% selected “Cut back on everything”. 25.0% selected “Use an overdraft”; 10.0% selected “Pick up extra work”; and 10.0% selected “Ask family for help”.
How all 20 respondents answered
Respondents selected one answer from four options.
Percentages are based on the published response counts. Where whole-number percentages are shown, totals may differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Cutting back is the default response to money worries
Cutting back comes first
55.0% said their go-to solution is to cut back on everything.
A quarter rely on their overdraft
25.0% said they use an overdraft when money gets really tight.
Extra work and family help are less common
Picking up extra work and asking family for help were each chosen by 10.0% (2 of 20).
How students cope with money stress affects more than their bank balance
Cutting back can mean skipping social plans, eating less well or missing out on things that help students settle in, so the default response to money stress has knock-on effects on wellbeing.
With 20 responses, this poll is an early indication rather than a firm finding. It does suggest that practical help with budgeting, overdraft use and finding flexible work could reach students before they reach the point of cutting back on everything.
How to report this poll accurately
Keep the response base and indicative audience label attached to the headline finding. With fewer than 30 responses, treat this result as an early indication only.
How this poll was recorded
- Question
- What is your go-to solution when money gets really tight?
- Responses
- 20 total responses
- Date recorded
- 25 September 2026
- Collection
- Unifresher audience poll
- Evidence label
- Indicative first-party Unifresher audience poll
This is an audience poll rather than a population survey. It is useful as a snapshot of the respondents who took part and should not be described as representative of every UK university student. The response base is small, so individual answers can move the percentages noticeably.
Questions readers ask next
What was the most common answer?
55.0% selected “Cut back on everything”, making it the largest answer in this poll.
How many respondents chose the top answer?
11 of 20 respondents selected “Cut back on everything”.
What was the second most selected answer?
25.0% selected “Use an overdraft”, equal to 5 responses.
Is this representative of all UK students?
No. This is an indicative Unifresher audience poll with 20 responses, not a nationally representative student survey.
How should this result be reported?
Keep the 20-response base, collection date and indicative-audience label attached to the finding.
Explore more student attitudes
Cite this poll
Unifresher poll, “What is your go-to solution when money gets really tight?”, 20 responses, recorded 25 September 2026. Unifresher Data Hub.
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