A new survey has found that one in seven students are skipping meals, and some are turning to sex work or considering selling drugs to stay afloat amid the cost of living crisis. The survey, conducted by student portal Unifresher, quizzed 500 people on their financial difficulties.
Drastic measures to make ends meet
Of those surveyed, 74 said they were cutting back on food, skipping meals, or going without altogether to make rent and utilities payments while studying. Others said they had been forced to sell treasured belongings as they found themselves cash-strapped. A smaller proportion confessed they had turned to sex work or considered selling drugs.
Unifreshers asked students about the most drastic steps they had taken to make money, including the open question: "What’s the most drastic thing you’ve done to be able to afford rent, bills and other parts of student life?" Responses included 74 who said they went hungry as their most extreme step. Another 58 said they had sold belongings, and 37 said they had borrowed, used their overdrafts, or allowed themselves to fall into arrears.
Students' own accounts
The platform, run by student writers and content editors to provide independent university rankings and advice, said some respondents admitted to turning to cereal and reduced super noodles to save money. One student said: "Ate cereal and water for 2 weeks as I couldn't afford to spend any money until rent was paid." Another said: "I didn't use any electrical appliances for 4 days to make just enough to eat, and then ate reduced super noodles for 14p a pack."
A third said: "Didn't eat for a week to save some extra money just in case." Another theme was selling prized items like games consoles to pay rent and electricity bills on time. One respondent said: "I had to sell my favourite electronics, including my gaming console, just to make sure I could pay my rent and electricity bills on time." Another said: "Sold 80 percent of my wardrobe on Vinted."
Wider trends and financial pressures
The difficulties are reflected in other surveys. A Save the Student survey earlier this year found that nearly two-thirds (63 percent) occasionally skipped meals to save money. Another nine percent of the 1,419 respondents said they turned to food banks during the 2025/26 academic year, and more than one in four students said they held at least two jobs.
Students are especially open to cost of living issues as they rely on maintenance loans, which have failed to keep pace with rising inflation. Over the last 10 years, living costs have surged by 47 percent, inflation has increased by 41 percent, but maintenance loans have only grown 37 percent. Students spend on average up to £10,227 per year on living expenses, accommodation, travel, study material, and homeware. The national average maintenance loan is just £7,600.
While maintenance loans will rise with inflation for the 2026/2027 academic year, experts, including Martin Lewis, have warned it is "not enough" to offset the financial difficulties. Unifreshers found that nearly half of students are considering dropping out of university altogether. Some said they had turned to OnlyFans, the adult content site, and one user said they "sold my body for sex". Another told Unifreshers: "I’ve considered doing online ragebait or onlyfans." One student said they "almost got into selling drugs but I didnt".
Aminah Barnes, head of content at Unifresher, said the survey results show students who are "choosing between eating and paying the rent", not "being careless with money". She said: "These are not students being careless with money. These are students choosing between eating and paying the rent, and too many are choosing to go hungry. Behind every percentage point is a young person skipping meals so they can stay housed."
