10 ways to save money as a student

We’re not going to suggest you cut coupons or remove all joy from your life. These are 10 ways to save money, maybe earn a little money online, and generally protect your financial future at uni.

1: Ask your uni

On top of bursaries, maintenance loans and other funding you can apply for before the start of the year, make sure you know all the free or discounted stuff your university could offer you.

Things like software subscriptions. Usually, this means a Microsoft Office package containing Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Onenote.

You might also get access to software like Endnote and a bunch of other specialist software for certain courses.

Ask around your different student societies, advice centres and forums to see what’s available as well. From second-hand textbooks to other deals or discounts on local shops.

2: Beware of greedflation

There’s a lot of money-saving advice out there but if you’re busy, tired, emotional or a combination of all three, it’s easy to miss out on cheaper deals when all you want is convenience or comfort.

But if there’s one thing to spark better spending decisions, it’s the knowledge you’re being ripped off.

Greedflation is the term that’s been used to describe the over-the-top price hikes we’ve seen during times of crisis. This includes the pandemic, the period of inflation that followed, climate change pressures and the Ukraine war.

There are a number of indicators of greedflation but a big one is soaring profits amid a time of economic hardship.

A study from Unite found that 17,000 companies had seen their profits increase on average 30% from pre-pandemic levels.

To avoid being stung by rising prices, compare prices, look for alternatives, and track how prices increase over time. Also keep a look out for seasonal mark-ups on items!

3: Avoid small - that are now big - expenses

It’s good to keep an eye on individual expenses, particularly the small household essentials.

We all know the notorious cost increase of a bottle of olive oil. 113.8% between 2019 and 2024. Baked beans rose 70.5%, too.

Keep an eye on the Food Foundation’s food prices tracker for things you usually reach for at the supermarket and find an alternative.

4: Batch cook your best recipes

Unpopular opinion: the only thing worth batch cooking is something extra tasty.

Home-cooking is an obvious cost-saver but nothing is going to prise your fingers from the Deliveroo app on a cold rainy November night unless it’s a homecooked Bolognese or your favourite curry waiting for you at home.

Also, remember that the UK wastes 9.5 million tonnes of food a year, with leftovers and expired food contributing to it.

If you’re going to batch cook, choose recipes you know you’re happy to eat for 5 days’ straight and where the flavour only improves with time like stews, chillis, and ragus, or make sure you’ve got some freezer space.

5: Grow your own herbs

Consider chipping in for potted herbs with your housemates and choose those which make a huge difference to simpler, cheaper meals like basil, chives and mint.

These herbs grow quickly and don’t need much maintenance. You’ll also only snip off what you need for a meal instead of letting a half-used packet of herbs rot away in the veg drawer of your fridge.

It’s easyyy—pop your herb pots on a sunny windowsill in a shallow dish to catch the drips and don’t overwater them.

6: Sell your unloved items

If you want to upgrade your wardrobe, personal tech or homeware, try selling off some stuff you don’t want first and put your balance towards your next purchase.

Depop, Vinted and charity shops that offer cash for certain items (or items by weight) are all great options to sell off your unwanted stuff.

It’s helpful to know some tricks of the trade:good times to post new items, reposting during peak usage hours, and checking out the most “liked” items from other sellers and how they’re marketing them.

7: Know where to find giveaways

There are soo many apps now that make locating giveaways or heavily discounted items simple, that it’s worth the extra legwork to go pick up your bargain.

• Olio is a household name now and allows you to connect with locals who are giving away food they don’t want
• Too Good To Go offers large discounts on surplus food from restaurants and shops. Opt for their surprise bags for an extra thrill
• With NextDoor, you can also borrow items you might need from people in your area, and some even give their stuff away

8: Check out student banking deals

Banks want your business and there are some pretty hefty perks you can get from setting up your account with the right one.

Most of the major high street banks offer interest-free overdrafts for up to 3 years after you graduate, so you might want to look at this as your minimum requirement.

Then, check out extras like rail cards, a cash boost for switching accounts (sometimes £100 or £150) and other vouchers and rewards like discounted gym memberships, restaurant deals, and cashback at certain retailers.

9: Give spending psychology a go

No, we’re not asking you to manifest your millions. Just find a way of looking at spending that makes it more personal to you.

Think about the future “you”

Imagine being one of those people who made a meagre Bitcoin investment only to see it skyrocket years later.

Ok, we’re not suggesting you invest in Bitcoin now (who could?) but just remember that small decisions you make now could make a huge impact on your financial security in future.

That can be as simple as thinking ahead to how you might or might not be able to pay back those credit cards, store cards or overdrafts. And whether there’s room to put aside any money, either to combat future bills or invest in something that, it’s likely to pay off in future.

Create spending barriers

If you’re an impulse purchaser this is extra important—on’t allow one-click purchasing or autofill options for your bank details!The “24-hour method” instructs you to wait 24 hours before making a purchase to make sure you’ve considered it fully. A day really does make a difference and you never know what other expenses you’ll have to make in the meantime.

Think in terms of hours worked

If you have a side hustle or regular weekend work, think about your next purchase in terms of hours worked. For example, if you make £50 from a morning shift, are two large pizzas enough to show for your effort? Only you can decide.

10: Check out UNiDays discounts

UNiDAYS have tons of discount offers for students to access, such as Asos, National Express and Currys.

Don’t put your hand in your pocket until you’ve checked out what savings are available for the things you love.