The chart shows student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom.

The bar chart compares the spending patterns of UK students under the age of 26 who were enrolled in higher education, based on data from the Department for Education and Employment’s ‘Student Income and Expenditure Survey’ for the years 1996 and 1999. Student expenses were categorised into seven main areas.

Overall, spending on entertainment, credit repayment, and essential travel increased over the period, while expenditures on accommodation, food, course fees, and non-essential travel declined.

Entertainment consistently accounted for the largest portion of student expenses, rising from 26% in 1996 to 31% in 1999. Accommodation, which made up 23% in 1996, dropped to 20% in 1999. Expenditure on course fees also declined, falling from 10% to 7%, alongside decreases in spending on food, household goods, bills, and non-essential travel.

Notably, credit repayment and spending on other items—including non-essential consumer goods—rose significantly, with the ‘Other’ category increasing from 12% to 16%. Expenses related to children remained minimal at around 1%, likely reflecting a small portion of students who were also parents.