$   Student finance   $

 Student money saving tips

Travel smarter

Travelling home for a weekend or visiting friends at other universities can be a costly affair, but that doesn’t have to put you off.

                                                                                     

Sell, sell, sell

Your textbooks are surprisingly valuable, so when you’re sure that a book’s future is to sit and gather dust, head to Amazon to trade it in for a gift card. The same applies to your clothes. Rid yourself of fashion faux-pas at eBay, or head to the ASOS marketplace if you think they’re worth a buck or two.

                                                                                               

Head online for money saving tips

Once you've arrived at university, chances are you’ll spend more time online than can really be healthy – generally at 1am. As you're already connected, make the most of your browsing time by heading to studentbeans.com or studentmoneysaver.co.uk for offers, discounts and budgeting tips.

Avoid the kebab shop

You’re on your way home from another night of dancing and trying to converse over a deafening beat. It’s time for something greasy, and you can already smell the kebab shop on the crisp morning air …

Stop! Adding fast food to each and every night out is going to take its toll, not only on your waistline, but also on your finances. Indulge in some cheesy chips from time to time, but if you’re serious about saving money, try returning home to a bowl of cereal or some toasted pitta.

Buy non-branded

We understand that there’s something less than glamorous about supermarket value ranges. Don’t let that stop you – the quality is often indistinguishable from that of branded produce. Avoiding the household names can mean a hefty saving on filling the fridge, so you’d be wise to look beyond the labels.

Next time an all-nighter leaves you with a headache, remember that the same principle also applies to medicines. Branded pain killers can be significantly more expensive than supermarket versions, which often sell for less than £1.

Get paid to do stuff

Shouldn’t that say ‘get a job’? Well, sort of – but we’re aware that not every university gives you time to put your all into studying while working in a bar along the way. If you think you can balance it, by all means apply for a job. If you can’t, try taking part in paid online surveys or market research focus groups. After all, everyone secretly loves a good survey!

Enjoy student discounts

Congratulations – you are now eligible for a ridiculous number of discounts. This doesn’t mean you should be increasing your spending just to enjoy them, but it does mean savings when you do go shopping.