Who can name the cheapest student activity to do?

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.

The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.

Has anyone got any others?

Emily

Reply 1

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hi Emily,

I was also going to suggest getting some fresh air, and going out on a walk / run in your local green space. Myself and my friends often go on walks, as it is just nice to get outside, fresh air, exercise and completely free!

A suggestion I would have for the city is visiting your local Museum / Gallery. In Leicester we have a handful of Museums and Galleries where General entry is free to all visitors.

Another suggestion for the university is any free events that are held by your Student Union. Yes, sometimes a small payment is required but often there are still plenty of free entry events. For example in the past I have been to Well-being Wednesdays (often craft events), Pub quizzes and therapy dog petting days.

Will be interesting to hear anymore!
-Maddie, Second Year Health and Well-being in Society student at De Montfort University

Reply 2

CardiffUni Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hi Emily!

Park run is a great suggestion. I'd like to follow that with a picnic in the park! Or walking to a new area of your retrospective city that you've never explored before! During the winter, I love hosting friends where everyone brings something to contribute towards a meal!

All the best,
Jaz - Cardiff student rep

Reply 3

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hi Emily,

I absolutely agree, managing money at university can be really challenging, but there are many cheap and budget-friendly activities students can enjoy.

One of my favourites is organising a movie night or potluck with friends. This is a great way to hang out with your friends and enjoy a meal together without spending much. Everyone can bring something to share and you end up trying a variety of food. It's always a fun way to spend your evening!

Thank you,
Akshita Gupta
(University of Southampton Student Rep)

Reply 4

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Hey Emily😁 ! All these idea's have been really good so far .
I have done a few of the free things such as park runs , going to the museum and taking walks around all the local parks .
But since it's summer and once in a while we have some sunny days , you can grab some things to nibble on for really cheap on TooGoodToGo and go for a picnic in the park. I did this a few times last summer during the heat wave .
Some of the best places to get treats from on TooGoodToGo are Dreams , Starbucks , Grove farm and Doughnotts ( unfortunately its no longer in Leicester ). Most bags go for around £2.50 and all you need is a blanket or sheet to lounge around in the sun and read a book or hangout and play some games with friends.
If you collect bags from a few places you can make it a scavenger hunt of sorts before your picnic , this is more fun with friends to walk around and pick up your treats .
Maybe Jaz can try this variation of a picnic .
Cece ✨
De Montfort University Student

Reply 5

Kingston Reps

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hi @Manchester Met - Student Rep

I think going spending time outdoors seems to be the way to go on a budget. At Kingston I love going getting some food and sitting by the Thames, there are also lots of parks that are great spots to spend time with friends.

However the weather isn't always great so I would say something me and my friends do which is cheap, is go window shopping or charity shopping, not necessarily buying anything just having a look. Kingston has the Bentall shopping centre which has lots of great shops and you can stay indoors!

Another cheap activity is studying together, either in the library or in a cafe. This is a great way to spend time with others while also feeling productive and getting work done.

Loved reading all the ideas!
-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Reply 6

Chester Student

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hi,

These are some great ideas! Finding cheap activities to get involved in while at university is so important for saving money, and there are so many things that you can do on a budget that are a lot of fun!

I personally love spending time in the city. Going to the cathedral, exploring free museums, getting outside, and window shopping are some of my favourites. There are so many beautiful places to explore around Chester, including the city walls, the meadows, the Roman gardens and amphitheater, and the River Dee.

Universities also often host affordable or free activities for students, or have similar things to get involved in at any point during the year. For example, I volunteer in many different places that are part of the university or I have found through them. The Student's Union also host events throughout the year, and the university itself makes it so easy to be aware of different events going on around campus or in the city at any time!

Looking forward to hearing about other affordable ideas!

Isabella
Geography with a Year Abroad Student

Reply 7

UCLan Student

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hey! This is such a good idea!

I would say that in Preston, we have the guild wheel which is a 21 mile cycle route around Preston where you can really take in all of the green space that we have!
There are plenty of places to stop along the way and grab some lunch and you finish cycling down the river in avenham park.

It’s definitely a great way to explore the city with your friends during the summer!

-Rebecca, UCLan

Reply 8

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Manchester Met - Student Rep

Hi guys,
Money is hard to balance at university, so once you have been there for a while you figure out great activity that are enjoyable but cost efficient.
The activity I will start off with is doing the Park Run. With the majorities of cities now running Park Runs on a Saturday this is a fantastic free activity to do solo or with friends.
Has anyone got any others?
Emily

Hi Emily! Love this thread!

Similar to the replies already, but visiting local parks has been one of my favourite freebies recently. I've also recently joined a 'Girls Who Walk' group in Birmingham, where a group of us meet every few weeks for walks and other activities - completely free. Sometimes we'll finish the walk with coffees or lunch - but spending is optional! And I've seen lots of groups like this starting up recently, so hopefully most unis will end up with a similar thing.

Pub quiz is also one of my go-tos. One bar in Birmingham does a quiz on a Sunday, which is free to enter. You can get drinks while you're there, but my friends and I will often just get soft drinks or water if money is tight. And prizes include cocktails, drinks vouchers, etc., so if we do well, our night is paid for!

Looking forward to some more suggestions to add to my own list to try! 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU