Money Saving Tips:
- Join MoneySavingExpert.com. The guy who set up the site, Martin Lewis, appears regularly on TV offering tips to save money. The forum has a dedicated student money saving page which I found invaluable. You can also subscribe for weekly emails which will tell you about upcoming deals.
- Get a NUS card. You can save so much with it. 30% off at Zizzi to 10% at Warehouse. Lots of stores will also accept your regular student ID. You can also sign up to Myunidays.com where they will register you and give you discount codes to use online or in store. I used this app when buying my computer and saved around 10%.
- Check if you are eligible for extra funding. If you are on a low income, some universities have discretionary funds to help you. SF also has extra money available for those who have children or who are disabled.
- Reduce costs. Go through your bank account and see if you can cancel memberships you do not use.
- Buy books from eBay or Amazon. Don’t buy books unless essential- go to the library instead. Bookbutler.com can help you search for the cheapest books.
- Full time students do not have to pay council tax. If you are living at home with other people who are not students, the council tax will be reduced to account for the fact you are not eligible.
- Shop at budget stores like ALDI or LIDL. They have smaller ranges, but they tend to be cheaper.
- Use comparison sites to check bills. Sites like USWITCH can have you drastically reduce your bills. Comparethemarket offers the extra incentive of 2for1 cinema tickets if you take out certain polices.
- If you know you will have money spare at the end of the month, then set up a direct debit to transfer this to a savings account so you don’t spend it.
- If you have to call a premium number such as a 0870 number, use the website/app Saynoto08700 to make the call cheaper.
- Get a student rail/bus/oyster card.
- Tv license- you can pay monthly. Alternately, if you pay for it annually, you can get some money back when you leave.
- Check if you are owed tax from jobs you did before university.
- Need household items? Try local Facebook groups or your local Freecycle.
- Discount coffee? Some cafes will give you a small discount if you bring your own mug.
- Haircut and beauty treatments can be obtained cheaply if you go to local colleges. I had a decent hair cut at a local college salon for £5. It did take longer but there was a tutor around to help with any issues.