Free condoms
Thereโs no need to waste another penny on condoms for your โfunโ filled nights. You can get condoms completely free from your local GP or GUM clinic. These facilities offer family planning advice and other forms of contraceptive. Find your local clinic and donโt forget to get checked while youโre there.
Free TV- Legally
In the UK the BBC require you to pay a ยฃ145 TV license if you intend on watching TV as it is being broadcasted. Luckily there are two techniques you can use to watch TV for nothing.
You donโt have to pay a single penny if you only watch programs AFTER they have been broadcast, on services such as ITV player and 4oD. You can buy a cable to easily connect your Laptop to the TV and stream as many programs as you want.
If your parents hold a valid TV license, you are legally allowed to watch live TV on a mobile device -as long as it isnโt connected to the main power supply.
Railcards and booking early
Purchasing a student railcard is a great investment. For only ยฃ30 (as of may 19th) you receive 1/3 off all rail travels within the UK, for an entire year. If you arenโt an avid train goโer, Iโd still recommend a purchase, as you will easily save enough to cover the cost, from one or two trips. To top it off, owning a student railcard gives you access to some great offers and deals.
To save even more money when it comes to transports make sure you book all possible journeys well in advance. Ridiculously cheap fares can be found 9-10 weeks before on The Train Line.
If you regularly travel on buses consider looking into local travel cards. The daily commute to university can be made cheaper by signing up.
Bulk buy food and cook it up
If you regularly consume non-perishable foods consider buying them in bulk. Save a few pounds each month and bulk buy staple foods such as pasta and rice.
Living in a flat with housemates is a great opportunity to save an extra bob or two. Cut the cost of food by sharing items, if you all contribute equally, you usually end up with better value for money. When you go shopping, create a shopping list and only buy the things you need.
Being in control of your diet at university is an exciting responsibility. Cooking from scratch, not only keeps you entertained, keeps your wallet out of harms way. Forget buying expensive ready meals and do it yourself.
Finding bargains
One of the luxuries of 21st century life is having everything you need on your doorstep and if its not, you can find it online. But sadly this isnโt always the cheapest option.
Save yourself a lot of money by searching around for the items you need. Charity shops, Car boots and online auctions have some greats gems to be found at rock bottom prices.
Contents insurance
As we recommended in โkeeping your things safe at universityโ, having your belongings insured is necessary. However you can potentially save ยฃ100โฒs by checking your parents โcontents away from homeโ section on their policy.
If you are one of the lucky ones to be covered make sure you check that the policy covers the full value of all your items.
Pre Drink
Partying hard every night can leave a huge hole in your bank balance but learning to drink on a budget will save you lots of money. Playing drinking games before you hit the town is a surefire way to save the cash, although it may leave you in some unflattering states.
Compare the price of a single mixer in your local club to a bottle of the spirit sold at the supermarkets.
Freecycle
Joining local freecycle communities can see you owning laptops, mobiles and much more, completely free of charge. The entire concept revolves around giving unwanted items to people who need them, instead of seeing them in a landfill.
Itโs a funky concept that will see you saving money and doing your bit for the environment.
Book buying
During your time at university you will amass a collection of books to fill a library. Academic books are notorious for being outrageously overpriced. To combat this- whilst saving you lots of money- we suggest that you search Amazon books, Ebay and ask previous students, before you buy the latest version of โSchrodingerโs catโ book.
Always ask for student discount
Iโve left this point last because If you want anything away from this article, I want it to be this. Always ask for student discount.
Most high street retailers provide student discount online and in store but they mostly require you to provide your university ID or a valid NUS card (ยฃ11). Retailers who donโt officially promote student discounts are likely to consider you, if you ask politely when purchasing something.