Are you getting ready to start University in September? Or are you a returning student? Either way,
like most students, you’ll probably already be worried about your finances and how you’re going to
budget. Sometimes, all it takes is a few tips and tricks to help and you’ll find you’ll have more money
in your bank at the end of the term. Here’s a few ideas to get you started.
Share with your flatmates
Even if you just do it a few times a week sharing dinner with your flatmates can cut down on costs
straight away. You could arrange a Mexican night, make a pasta bake or a stir fry. These are all easy
and will end up costing you a few pounds each. It’s also a great way to bond with your new friends.
You can take it in turns to do the cooking and washing up!
Set a weekly or monthly maximum spend
If you’re not keeping an eye on what you’re spending your money on you could end up flashing the
cash a lot more than you should be. Figure out how much you can spend on a weekly or monthly
basis and stick to it. If you overspend one week try and underspend the week after.
Shop around
Take time to shop around and get the best deals. You might hunt out a real bargain if you do! This
can be from food offers to clothes shops discounts.
Use your student discount
Your student discount will be your new best friend for your time at University! Most high-street shops
and restaurants accept student discounts so make sure you don’t miss out. Some places even do
exclusive offers just for students and shops like Topshop and New Look have special, one-off student
nights where there are even more discounts to take advantage of.
Pay in cash
It helps some people to withdraw cash at the beginning of the week and stick to it. This way you’re
more likely to think twice when you’re spending it. It will help you budget carefully as handing cash
over is harder than putting a pin in or swiping your contactless card.
