Tips on saving money in University... that will actually make a difference

Budget in the first week of term

After you have received your student loan, or if you have saved up over summer for the term, work out how much you can spend each week of term. Budget for food, travel, going out and then leave some over for additional things. Be generous, but try to avoid the things that don't seem like a lot, but will add up if you're repeatedly doing it. i. e. taxis, buying lunch on campus...

Avoid fancy dress costumes

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Fancy dress retailers charge a hell of a price for something that you're only going to wear once. Sometimes Amazon offer cheaper options but still then, you have to be super organised and order in way in advance and if its coming from abroad, there is also the costly post and packaging bill too. Best thing to do is ask around, ask friends to ask friends, especially if there is a specific theme. Also, get your creative flair on and start making them yourself! Get some cardboard and borrow some paint, so much more fun this way too.

Plan meals

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The smaller express shops really up their prices on all stock. It might be easier just to pop in there on the way home but try and plan your meals so you're never wasting money on grabbing something last minute. Same for lunch time, always take lunch with you, campus food is tempting but prices are way up there! Also, go food shopping later on in the evening. This is when supermarkets reduce all of their prices and you can snag the last minute deals. Especially in the bakery section... my favourite!

University offers

Shops and restaurants on campus both offer discounts at numerous points throughout the year. You will probably receive an email each time there is from your Student Union. Make sure to check it out, especially if you like branded items, they're always on offer at some point.

Try group cooking

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This is a great way to save money. If you live in a house of five, you each take a week-day to cook for each other. It doesn't matter if you're not all in the house at the same time, get some tupperware to separate it and its ready whenever they want it.

Printing paper

Check with your landlord/estate agents to see if they can offer free printing. Maybe even negotiate it at the start of term if it is a private let. There are always queues and it costs quite a bit at university libraries. Your departments might offer it for a cheaper price, or the town library too.

Budget your nights out

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Only take a certain amount of cash with you on a night out. Try to avoid taking your credit card as we all know how easy it is just to get another twenty out. Nights out are probably when you'll be spending the most money so if you can limit it, it really helps. Avoid the kebab shop on the way home too, buy some frozen chips and pop them on as soon as you get home. There will hardly be a difference, especially not in a drunken state!

Travel

Use bus companies to get to other cities rather than trains. Unless you are booking your ticket way in advance, even with a rail card, prices are high. Especially if you book a specific train and miss the connection and end up having to pay for a full price ticket. Virgin do offer discounts in advance, for a certain amount if time, the earlier you book the better. As for buses, companies such as Megabus operate straight through buses. They can be quite long but if you get lucky, some of them don't have many stops which really cuts it down.

Restaurant discount

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Visit this website to get restaurant deals. You might think it isn't worth it but every little helps. There is actually all sorts of tips on this website. Ways to save money that you won't have even considered before. Another tip, soft drinks are so overpriced! Try and order a tap water or even soda water and cordial... sometimes only 50p!

Personal taxi

Got a car and what to earn some pennies? Don't drink on nights out and charge your friends to take them home. You could do a few runs for some other friends too. It only has to be a couple of quid each but they will be saving on a taxi and you will be making some extra pocket money. Win win situation.

Get a bike

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If campus is just too far to walk, and the bus service is pricey, look to get a bike. If you search Gumtree or Craigslist, you're bound to find something. Or take a look around the second hand shops in your university town.

Pre-drinks hack

Share pre-drinks with a friend. Stop wasting the leftover of your drink at someones flat after pre-drinks. Get a bottle of wine or a spirit and split the price with a friend. Simple!

Sell your stuff

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Do a clear out and sell some old stuff. Us girls especially have tonnes of clothes that we don't wear just sitting around at the back of our wardrobe. It can take a while but if you actually sell a few things, it accumulates and you can end up making quite a bit of money. Use Depop or Ebay.

Second hand books

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Look on university forums to see if older students are selling their course books from previous years. You could even try to haggle the price, as they are probably just looking to get rid of them ASAP.

DVDs

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Rather than subscribing to Netflix, university libraries often have loads of films that you can hire. Often quite new ones too. Educational most of the time so you might even learn and enjoy it at the same time...

Parent trap

Stock up on groceries and toiletries when your parents visit. They might even treat you to a little shopping trip.

I hope these tips have given you some ideas of how you can budget at university. You can even use some of these tips if you're not a student and you just want to save some money, I know I will always go by them!

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