Decorhate, off topic a little, but wonder whether this varies by Med school and to some extent reflects the admissions process. The large majority from DDs independent school went on to BMAT med schools, I assume because BMAT is relatively easier if you are taking four or five STEM A levels and have access to good preparation. At the time DDs med school required neither UKCAT nor BMAT and had relatively low grade requirements and a wide reach for its contextual offers. So a huge number of applicants (in her year it was 17 applicants per place) and no relative advantage for those from the independent sector.
The end result is that Londoners are thin on the ground, and she is the only one she knows from a big name private school, and indeed the first for a decade from her school to gain a place.
Her discovery is that others don't seem to understand the London concept of property rich, cash poor.... and probably won't unless they choose to practice in London. So friends, one or two of whom have sneakily looked up the value of our (three bed terrace) house on Zoopla, question why DD does not have more money to splash around. She is equally surprised at how much money some have to spend, often it seems when the parents cannot really afford to give their DC that much. She knew some fabulously rich kids growing up, but the ones she was friendly with tended to underplay it, battered old mobile phones etc, and hang out with the more ordinary kids, work hard at school and then adopt a similar profile at University.
Which does not mean that there were not kids who turned up to school with (two) brand new iPhones having paid someone queue overnight to buy the latest model, and mad stuff like that. Which actually was thought incredibly naff, and did not win friends. Equally DD has been surprised at kids who turned up with brand new and expensive cars as a reward for getting into medical school, despite the parents not, at least in central London terms, being that well off.
Hence my comment about frugality being as important as earning. There are plenty of kids who are spending more than they need to, and probably more than their parents can afford. DD took a gap year and those savings are still paying for bigger items such as laptops and phones. Having a bit more money is useful as it allows you to attend conferences, medic balls etc, but DD has achieved that by being careful with her money. DD is lucky in that coming from London makes it easier for her to opt for a specific intercalation near home and not available at her University, again something others might want to save for. But the money is spent buying takeaways, then time off rather than a part time job is probably preferable.
We expect the final year(s) to be harder financially, so reason to keep the BOMAD solvent till then.
I have been surprised by the different terms lengths. I knew Oxbridge terms were short but had not realised how big a variation there is. OP should note that a proportion of first years will need to resit in the summer. In terms of jobs, in her second year DD lived in the last student house in a nice residential street, with affluent families. I suggested that she put notes through the doors of those with small children advertising evening babysitting. She was too shy, but it would have been a convenient way to have earned money and be able to study at the same time.