Can you live ethically on a student’s budget?

Student Emma Dalby asks if it possible to live ethically without going beyond your means

'I can buy Fairtrade bananas at £1.36 or non-Fairtrade bananas at 69p, and on my budget you can guess which ones I’m buying.'

It is a well-known assumption that students are hard-up for cash. With rent, bills and tuition fees eating up their student loans there’s little left to play with. Just enough to cover the pub at lunchtime and drinks in the evening and before you know it you’re dancing in a club until 3am.

Due to this hectic and sociable lifestyle university offers, many students find themselves purchasing 9p super noodles, value beans, and t shirts from high street shops because of the 20% student discount. Our principles - if we ever had any - seem to fly out the window as soon as we see the words ‘student discount’, ‘two for one’ or ‘a pound a pint’.

So, what happens if we stick to our principles and remain determined to live that ethical lifestyle we have always wanted?

Ethical living can be as simple as recycling, switching off lights when we leave a room and buying Fairtrade or organic produce. I am keen to live ethically so when I became a student I began happily carrying out these suggestions. The first two I have mastered brilliantly, however the third is causing me problems. Unfortunately I simply don’t have the money to purchase Fairtrade or organic foods. I can buy Fairtrade bananas at £1.36 or non-Fairtrade bananas at 69p, and on my budget you can guess which ones I’m buying.

However, this is not something to be disheartened by. Although in an ideal world I would choose to buy Fairtrade, it is possible to enjoy an ethical lifestyle without going beyond your means. Clothing, books and CDs can be bought cheaply in charity shops and choosing to walk to university and switching unneeded lights off saves you money and is good for the environment.

When I realised I wanted an ethical lifestyle I didn’t think it could be done on my student’s budget. I was, however, only thinking about buying Fairtrade goods. I have realised that this isn’t necessarily all it’s about, but I was interested to see what other students think. Here’s what a few of them had to say.

“I’d love to be able to buy Fairtrade products, and I’d love for the restaurant I work in to recycle but it just isn’t feasible right now. I have enough money to pay rent and buy food, but not Fairtrade. I cannot afford to live ethically right now.”
Rachel, photography student

“I think as long as you do what you can within your means you are still being ethical - it’s not just about buying the right products. I think that doing what you can and educating others about the issues is just as important.
Mike, design and interactive media student

Ultimately I think that ethical living is about taking responsibility, being aware of the decisions we make on a daily basis and considering the impact our actions will have. It’s not about money, but simply making informed choices about the little things you are in control of and educating others in the hope they will do the same.