When you will become a student, money will constantly be on your mind. Whether it is to pay your bills or fund those all important nights out, your student life will constantly revolve around the pennies in your purse. Being cash savvy as a student isn’t as hard as many think and there are many ways that you can claw back those extra few pounds to make your money go further. This top 10 money saving tips for Leicester students will help you to make the most of the student lifestyle, without worrying what your next £1 is being spent on.
1) NUS Extra Card
We couldn’t kick off our top 10 money saving tips for Leicester students without this one… Quite possibly one of the best ways to save money and still have the things that you love, the NUS Extra card costs just £12 a year and allows you discount in many shops and restaurants, including ASOS, Spotify, Topshop, Dominos and Odeon. Totally worth the one off investment as most discounts are around the 10% mark, with some places often holding flash sales that increase discount to 20% as long as you have a card.
2) Be organised
Believe it or not, being organised with your spending and deciding your meals in advance will ensure that you don’t overspend when it comes to doing a shop; if you have the ingredients at home, ready to be prepared, you will avoid those last minute takeaway dashes that all add up. Give yourself an allocated budget on what you can spend each month and stick to it. Whilst this may seem completely boring, it’ll be completely worth it when you’re not penniless and living on noodles.
3) Be savvy with travel
If you have to travel home by train, get yourself a 16-25 railcard and save up to a third on your overall ticket cost. Look out when signing up for you student bank account as many offer this as a free incentive, otherwise it is £70 for three years. Another great money saving tip for students in Leicester who have to commute is to purchase a student pass that will make travelling on public transport that little bit sweeter.
4) Drink at home before you go out
It would be silly to pretend that drinking isn’t a big part of the student lifestyle; it is and it can become relatively expensive once you are bar hopping all over Leicester. Opting to drink at home before you leave and hosting pre-parties is a great way to save money, just always remember to drink responsibly and know your limit.
5) Buying books
Books can become a massive expense, so before you hot foot it down to an expensive bookshop in search of those all important texts, have a look in your campus library to see what they have on offer; many will already have the books stocked. However, if you prefer to have your own copy so that you don’t have to wait for other people to return what you need, use sites like Amazon and buy already used books for a fraction of the price.
6) Source your local offers
There are many resources for money saving vouchers in Leicester and you may be surprised at what you can get at discounted prices. If you are a student in Leicester looking for some top money saving vouchers, log on to the following sites and bag a bargain:
- Amazon Local Leicester
- Wowcher Leicester
- Godine Leicester
- Leicester Mercury Vouchers
- Student Card Leicester
- Student Beans Offer Leicester
7) Sell old clothes
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and you will be surprised at just what people will buy off you. Many people will buy clothes and wear them a couple of times, before retiring them to the back of the wardrobe. Go through your clothes and sell everything that you don’t wear – there is a real market for this seasons clothes at cut down prices, meaning you can sell the things you have had enough of and use the money to buy more! It’s like a recycle process for clothes that helps to sustain your fashion sense. eBay is the classic site to use, but take a look at Deepop, which is an app that allows you to do all of the selling from your phone and has a really easy to use interface. If you want to go really old school, source Leicester car boot sales and take down your stuff to sell. A perk of this is that you will have the cash in your hand that day.
8) Go vintage
Vintage and retro clothes are all the rage and visiting charity shops is a great way of hunting down a bargain. Avoid shops that market themselves as vintage shops, as they very often support their title with a high price tag. Instead, go to the likes of The British Heart Foundation, Barnardos and any other charity shop that doesn’t sell clothes at silly prices just because they are old. Charity shops in affluent areas often have brilliant bargains, so seek them out and get ready for a good root.
9) Healthcare
Most students in Leicester are entitled to free healthcare and prescriptions, meaning that you don’t have to pay for anything from your dental work to the antibiotics that will save you from freshers flu. Your local pharmacy should have the right forms for you to fill out and submit. Visit www.nhs.uk for more information.
10) Buy own brand
There is no room for snobbery when you are a student and a great tip for money saving is to buy own brand food instead of branded. Although the packaging doesn’t look very pretty, most can’t tell the difference and it really will make your purse that little bit heavier.
At Westmanor Student Living, we are keen to help you budget and can offer you Leicester accommodation that will suit you, without breaking the bank.
Friendly Advice
If you are worried about budgeting, our team can offer you some friendly advice when it comes to looking after your money. Contact us on: 0116 225 3505.