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With students across the UK gearing up to start the new study term at
university, a survey has revealed that the average student will take along with
them possessions worth £4,000.
Of this, the typical student will carry £1,300 worth of gadgets such as laptops
and mobile phones around campus and the local town. This would include a bike,
a wristwatch, an MP3 player, clothes and books. This figure does not include
further valuables, such as cash, credit cards or jewellery.
The study revealed that a laptop the most commonplace item taken along to
university. Of those polled, 94 percent will take a laptop or desktop computer.
Mobile phones, including Blackberries and iPhones will be taken by 93%, and
other popular items include 73% taking iPods, 62% with cameras, 49% taking hair
straighteners, 27% take games consoles such as the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360
and 24% will have musical instruments.
Musical instruments are identified as the priciest individual possessions, with
the average value being £778.
The survey reveals what we all expected – students today are savvier about
technology than ever. When compared to a several years ago, the number of
laptops, Smartphones and games consoles in circulation has risen dramatically.
With technology becoming more portable, the worth of the possessions we carry
around accumulates.
The drawback to things such as digital cameras and MP3 players getting smaller
is that such items become more open to theft. This is compounded when students
share a house, which can be a target for burglars. Home contents insurance is
vital, and specialist home insurance
should be available for students.
President of the National Union of Student, Aaron Porter, commented:
"Modern higher education makes it necessary for students to have access to
range of expensive technology and moving away from home for the first time can
mean taking a lot of valuable items with you. Taking precautions against theft
and damage can provide you with valuable peace of mind and ensure that you are
not left out of pocket at a time when money can be particularly tight."
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