10 Brilliant Money Saving Hacks for Students

Money in the jar , coins, savings

Being a student can be expensive...but there's many ways to save.

Suddenly you have to pay for student accommodation, food and save some money for your personal spending. We don’t want you facing financial difficulties so check out our tips on how to save money and enjoy care-free student life.

1. Have a no-spend day

If you’re in for a challenge – do a “no-spend” day once a week. Just be strict to yourself and promise not to touch your wallet and any of the credit cards for a day. It may and WILL be difficult to start with, but if you plan the day in advance, do your weekly shop and choose walking instead of getting a bus, you’ll do just fine. Besides, the “no-spend” day will let you reflect and plan your spending more responsibly, so next time you’ll have a good think before buying that after-lunch snack.

2. Find student discounts

It would be a HUGE shame not to apply for a UK student card and get all the discounts and benefits it has to offer. You can get discounts practically everywhere: Apple, Amazon, ASOS, Asda, and many more. If you want something extra – upgrade your NUS card to receive more special discounts, e.g. you’ll get 25% off cinema tickets on Odeon and 20% off your travels with National Express. Always check if a shop has a student discount available, and if not – just ask! What’s a big plus is getting student discounts for your shopping online – make sure to check out our DISCOUNTS page to see the best

3. Use cashback deals

Surely you’ve already heard of those – you can easily claim money back when you shop. You can get back between 5-10% cashback on retail purchases so if you haven’t considered using cashback services – do it!

Simply register on Quidco or TopCashBack. Now here’s how the internet magic happens; once you shop through the link provided by one of the cashback sites, the store will know you were referred and will register your purchase for a cashback. The new wave of online banks also offers some great cashback and discount deals. Online bank Revolut offers a free and easy set up but when you sign up to a Premium Plan you access a whole load of discounts and cashback offerss. 

4. Ditch expensive gym memberships

Do you need to spend £60+ for a monthly gym membership? Of course not!

As a student, you have better ways to spend your money. Check what your uni has to offer – they often have affordable prices and don’t require you to sign a contract. Also, be smart and take opportunities to try gyms for free before making a final decision. Take the advantage of being a student and ask for the best possible discounts – you’ll be surprised how many gyms have discounts for students, it’s just the matter of choosing the best one.

5. Shop in the evenings

According to Natwest Student Living Index 2017, students spend most of their money on food and household items – approximately £78 per month. Just to make sure you are not overspending money on overpriced products, consider shopping in the evening. There’s no secret formula on where and how to find the best bargains at supermarkets but towards the end of the day many products get reduced for a quick sale. This often applies to meat, bread, fruit, salads (everything that can be easily frozen).

6. Cheaper or FREE cinema

Yes we did just say FREE! You can sign up for free movie previews at Show Film First, Total Film Screening Club or check Free Movies UK Forum to catch the latest free film screenings. Don’t forget – you’re a student so claim the benefits your NUS card gives you as most cinemas have discounted prices.

Compare The Market also offer Meerkat Movies which gives you 2 for 1 cinema on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. You need to buy a product from them to get the reward so there’s no better time to insure you gadgets at uni.

7. Get a travel card

Planning your weekend getaway or just want to visit your family on the weekend? Don’t fall into overpriced rail and bus prices and do your research before splurging on expensive tickets. Here’s our expert tip – invest into a 16-25 railcard, it costs only £30 a year. Also, catch a £1 ride on Megabus, they often have incredibly cheap deals if you book in advance.

8. Make meals with your flatmates

Why not team up with your flatmates and arrange a cooking session on the weekend? Divide the cost between the ingredients and prepare a hearty meal together. Again, make every penny count and look for discounted products and deals in the shops. Don’t shy away from supermarket’s own brands – you can save a lot by buying “value” range instead of sending a fortune on overpriced well-known brands. All in all, cooking together pays off, not only it’s an economical way of saving money but also a fun bonding experience. When was the last time you had a good chat with your flatmates?

9. Don’t splurge on books

It may seem ridiculous to spend money on books when you can download it on your Kindle or find the online version, right? Here’s the deal – there’s no need to buy all your student books for the course, follow these smart tips. Look for second-hand bookshops, buy the books online (Amazon, for example) or buy slightly less expensive eBooks. It’s also a good idea to swap books with your colleagues or buy study material from previous students. Another tip (a very obvious one) is to reserve a book that is in high demand from your library – use the free resources that your university has to offer. 

10. Student accommodation

Think twice before you buy – this applies to student accommodation, too. As UK accommodation prices are rising every year, you have to look out for the best price out there and be careful not to get yourself into a contract that you are not happy with. Using a reliable service for student accommodation is as important as looking for a university to study. To save your money AND time, try Best Student Halls, a hassle-free student accommodation comparison tool. The service is completely free and you are sure to get the best option for your budget. 

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