One huge aspect of the student lifestyle is looking for ways to save money. Saving a few pounds here and there can make a vast difference in the long run, so it’s important to know the best ways to save those pennies.
Shop at cheaper shops
Although the price differences are usually small, they add up over a long period of time. Typically, the cheaper shops are Aldi and Lidl, and Bournemouth has both! Regardless of where you do your food shop, always keep an eye out for offers such as 2for1 or price cuts.
Key tip: never food shop when you’re hungry!
Utilise student discount
Keeping an eye out for places where you can use student discount will help save money in the long run. If you haven’t already, make sure you sign up to the UniDays app. This will make sure you don’t miss out on the latest offers!
Open a student bank account
Many banks offer incentives for those opening their first student bank account, so do your research before opening one. Student bank accounts are a great way of separating your money so you know what you have to spend, and they often have an interest-free overdraft which is helpful for if your student loan doesn’t quite cover the necessities.
Create a weekly budget
Creating a weekly budget is helpful because you will know how much you have to spend each day and in different areas. As soon as loan comes in!
Meal plan
Creating a meal plan each week will ensure you don’t overspend on your weekly food shop, because you will know exactly what you need. Additionally, when cooking dinner, you could make enough for lunch the next day. This will help save money on lunch as well. Alternatively, you could freeze any leftovers and have it for dinner another day. Just make sure you defrost it beforehand!
Attend pre-drinks before a night out
Not only is this a great way of socialising and making new friends, but it’s also a way of having a cheaper night out! If you’re the one hosting pre-drinks, a way of making it fun is by playing drinking games, such as ring of fire.
Of course, don’t forget to drink responsibly.
Shop secondhand
Shopping second-hand for things like books and clothes is not only great for the environment, but great for your bank account too. There are plenty of charity shops in Bournemouth, and online shops such as Ebay are useful for finding bargains.