Save money in Leeds - Tips for living in Leeds on a student budget

1. Tips and advice for living in Leeds
2. How to get to Leeds - Getting to Leeds by train, plane or coach
3. Public Transport in Leeds - How to get around Leeds by train or bus
4. First things to do when you arrive in Leeds
5. Student life in Leeds
6. Cost of living in Leeds
7. Save money in Leeds - Tips for living in Leeds on a student budget
8. Accommodation for students in Leeds - top tips and advice
9. Neighbourhoods in Leeds - The most important areas in Leeds
10. The University of Leeds - Everything you need to know about studying at the University of Leeds
11. Top 4 Best Student Events in Leeds
12. Top 15 Leeds Attractions - The best things to do and see in Leeds
13. Activities in Leeds
14. The Best Cultural Attractions in Leeds
15. Sports in Leeds
16. Nightlife in Leeds - Nightclub guide and going out in Leeds
17. Where to eat in Leeds - Leeds specialities and British cuisine
18. Shopping in Leeds
19. Festivals in Leeds - Festivities and celebrations Calendar
20. Music Scene in Leeds
21. Day trips from Leeds - Places to visit and excursions around Leeds
22. Visiting Leeds in 3 days - What to see in Leeds in 3 days?

Student Discount

Being a student city, you will find that you can benefit from student discounts in the majority of places in Leeds, whether it be for food, leisure or shopping. As well as using your student card to get access to offers, here are some more ways to get hold of discounts:

Unidays

Download the app Unidays and register with your university email to be eligible for discounts with brands such as ASOS, Ryman and Superdrug.

Totum Card

The Totum Card is a student discount card which offers discounts to some alternative places that Unidays doesn’t offer. The card was previously known as the NUS Extra card, so if you hear any shops or websites mention that, the Totem Card is what they mean.

The membership is £14.99 which is a good investment considering that it is also a verified PASS card, meaning that you can use it as a form of ID and stop worrying about losing your passport on a night out!

As a rule of thumb, it is always worth asking if a shop or restaurant does not have a discount advertised, as Leeds is a student city and many places cater to this.

Supermarkets in Leeds

Aldi and Lidl

Aldi and Lidl are two discount supermarkets in the UK which have risen to popularity in recent years. These are the best supermarkets to visit to pick up your cupboard essentials at a low price.

They don’t have as much product range as other big brand supermarkets, such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda, so if you have any dietary requirements or are looking for something a bit more niche, you might be better of getting your basics at Aldi or Lidl, then looking for branded products at the latter supermarkets.

Moreover, a sustainable and cheaper way to get your fruit and veg would be to visit Leeds Kirkgate Market.

Tips to save money food shopping

In any supermarket, a great way to save money is by opting for own-brand products, which often contain the same ingredients as big-brand name products but for half the price!

As for fruit and veg, both in terms of food waste and price, it is often better to opt for frozen bags of some things such as vegetables or berries, which are often expensive. Alternatively, instead of picking stuff up all at once, you could buy what you want on the day you want to eat it, as supermarkets often reduce the prices of things which are going to go out of date soon. A good time to go to find the best deals isan hour before closing time.

Online food shop

If you want to save yourself a long walk to the supermarket and back, heaving 5 bags for life because your eyes were too big for your stomach, why not try online shopping? Websites like Tesco and Sainsbury allow you to do your food shop on the internet, and will deliver it to your house for as little as £1. Minimum spend ranges around £25 - £40 but it is the perfect time to stock up on mixers or cans that you don’t want to carry home and ensure that your cupboards are well-stocked for the month.

Co-op on campus

The Co-op, otherwise known as The Cooperative, is a chain supermarket and a new arrival to the Leeds Students Union; a new, convenient on-campus supermarket for students. The Co-op offers fresh, healthy foods, fairtrade produce, an in-store bakery and a vegan and free-from range; so it is perfect to do a weekly shop if you live on campus or just to grab something for lunch.

You can get 10 percent off at the Co-op using your Totum Card, or you can sign up to be a co-op member which allows you 5 percent off of their own-brand products.

In liaison with the Plastic Free by 2023 initiative, the Co-op has announced that all their own-brand packaging will be completely recyclable by summer 2020.

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