Public Transport
For most students in 2019, having a car during their time at university is a luxury. Normally students will find themselves dependent on public transport. At first, this may seem like an expensive alternative to driving yourself, however, with a little bit of work this can defiantly work in your favour. Investing in rail and bus cards for the year can help to save you money over the course of a year.
Loyalty Cards
Loyalty cards are quite common these days and a lot of stores have them. They're usually very easy to get hold of and can be found in-store. They are a great way to earn free rewards as you go about your general day. Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Co-Op and many other large supermarkets offer money off vouchers when you earn a number of points, which can save you hundreds of pounds while you’re at University.
Newsletters and Emails
I’m sure you're all sick to death of receiving marketing through your emails and texts, but this is often one great way of getting hold of exclusive deals and discounts that you can’t find anywhere else. Taking 5 minutes a day to scroll through your emails could be saving you a considerable amount of money which could be spent elsewhere.
Competitions
They're everywhere, somebody is always offering you the chance to win prizes. Most of the time they're not worth the time of day, however getting involved in competitions that are more local and not entered by many could be a very easy way to win yourself a little extra something.
Student Discount
This is literally free money. As a student you'll have a student ID card. A simple search of the internet will tell you many of the places where simply showing this student card could get you a discount on any products in store. There are also other companies such as NUS which offer a further discount on stores. Next time you’re going out to shop make sure you take your student card with you and see how much you could save.
Cooking
Not only is this a healthy alternative but it will save you a fortune in food bills each month. We all enjoy a takeaway or a meal when you’re with friends, but it’s simply not affordable on a student budget. Cooking your own food, which you’ve bought from a store, will be much cheaper and healthier than getting food out and about. It also offers you the opportunity to cook for friends and make a social event from it.
Shopping Late at Night
This is a good one. Not many people are aware that many large supermarkets offer fantastic deals in the evening on products that are soon to be out of date. These deals are generally offered on the evening of the sell-by date on each item. This means you can pick up food cheap. Be careful when checking the date of food however. You can still use food past its sell-by-date, just ensure you store it correctly.
Don’t Buy Expensive Brands
We all enjoy branded things in life, whether that’s clothes, cars, watches and even toilet paper, but its not always affordable. Sometimes buying store brands can help to save you a lot of money. Things such as dishwasher tablets and fabric softener can all be bought at a much cheaper price if you’re willing to purchase a cheaper brand. These products provided an almost identical result with a much lower price tag.
Drink Water
There's a large variety of drinks available to shoppers, ranging from carton drinks like orange juice, to canned or bottled soft drinks. Instead of spending money on drinks that can be unhealthy and expensive, just drink water. It’s a great alternative which hydrates you and saves you money at the same time. This is one very easy way to keep hold of your money, and stay healthy at the same time.
Budgeting
Keeping a budget is one of the best ways to save yourself a heap of cash during your time at university. If you’re not sure what this is or how to do it, take a look on websites such as Money Saving Expert. Effectively you limit what you're spending on different aspects of your life to help you control your spending. It's easy to go overboard on your spending when you're not keeping tabs, keeping to a budget helps you to not spend too much, and save some money.
Student Nights
As many students will by now be fully aware, most student cities have their own student night, this is generally the day when bars and clubs offer some form of discount on drinks, this allows students to come out and spend slightly less on their night out. This isn’t always the same for every club, which could work in your favour. Visiting certain pubs and clubs on specific nights of the week can help you to save money all the time.
Pre-Drinks
Another fantastic way to save yourself some money on a night out is to ‘pre-drink’. This is the idea of drinking before you head out into the town. You can usually pick up drinks cheap in supermarkets and local stores. You can get 4 times as much if you buy from a store than a bar, so make sure you get in what you can while you’re still at home. Alternative to this, stay in for longer and head out later in the night to avoid having to spend at the pubs.
Part-Time Job
A part-time job can be hard to justify, especially when you should be spending time on your university work. However, if you feel able to fit a part-time job into your schedule, it can help to inject some cash into your account. This allows you to enjoy some of the finer things in life and from time-to-time treat yourself to something like a new top or a nice meal out.
An Alternative to the Gym
Going to the gym is great for staying healthy, however, it can also be a money sink. The surrounding area of Selly Oak has some great places where you can go with friends to get some exercise that’s completely free. Consider running as an alternative to the gym, or invest in some exercise gear for home. A set of weights for home is a great way to get exercise in when you want to, without spending a large amount of money.
Getting Your Student Accommodation Early
Getting hold of your student studio or housing early ensures you get the best selection of properties. During the start of the letting season, letting agents and landlords are looking to get as many tenants as possible, so make sure you find the best deals. This is your opportunity to save some money on your student accommodation.
Unihousing
Looking for student accommodation local to the University of Birmingham? Unihousing is an established letting agent/landlord who offer accommodation every year to suit all students and there needs. See our available student property today and register your interest to find out more about our properties.
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