Students’ money saving tips from National Student Money Week

 

Thank you to all the lovely students who shared some top tips with us at the Money Week stalls a couple of weeks ago. 99% are sound suggestions which we want to share with you all.

We’ve divided them into themes, making them easier to digest:

Wellbeing

Make a budget and stick to it. Ensure you have a little money for yourself as its important to indulge yourself once in a while

If you are eating basic food all week try and give yourself a treat once in a while, a film, take away so you have something to look forward to

Various

Save your change

Listen to sound advice

Have an end goal and budget for it save a little each month

Don’t go out

Eat moderately

Don’t eat out

Rent and bills are expensive start saving early

Make a budget and stick to it

Work out a weekly budget and make a note of your savings each week if any

Every £5 you come into contact with you must save

Try to have a no spend day once a week

Keep track of your money withdraw your allowance once a week and then divide it up into categories like groceries, uni materials, travel etc

Cooking

Cook instead of buying take aways

Batch cook and freeze

Batch cook with lots of veg

Sauce makes everything better, make your own using bits of left over veg and herbs

Cook more pasta than you need and freeze leftovers. Bigger bags of pasta are slightly cheaper and it saves time

When you buy meat buy larger quantities as this is cheaper and freeze any excess

Cook a chicken for meals for the week then use the bones to make a stock for soup

Prepare meals don’t buy take aways

Make a budget plan list incomings and outgoings to keep track of spending

Old spinach, blend up with garlic, lemon, herbs and olive oil this makes a pesto which keeps for a week

Make our own flap jack snacks to stop you spending loads in the Uni shop prepare snacks and save cash

Use bits of left over veg to make a healthy soup, freeze it and then you have ready meals

Sustainability

Place an empty jam jar in the cistern of your loo it uses less water and reduces your bill

Make sure your housemates recycle

Cycle to Uni

Do a utilities health check you can save hundreds of pounds a year use the moneysaving expert website

Turn off lights

Don’t leave tap running whilst brushing your teeth

Re-use your water bottles

Shop for real Vintage at charity shops

Grow your own, chillis, salad leaves and herbs are all easy to grow and you don’t need a garden

Bring your thermos into Uni and save £££’s on drinks in canteen

Do laundry with your housemates

Join the Uni food co op and save money

Maked a packed lunch and don’t buy coffee

Buying and selling look for things in charity shops to sell on Ebay and make a small profit

Grow your own salad and small fruit trees wherever you have any space these things are really expensive in the shops

Make a packed lunch for the week

 

Shopping

Plan a weeks food shopping in advance and shop online or click and collect

Plan and list your food shop and don’t buy off list

Don’t go shopping when you are hungry

Shop at Aldi/Lidl

Set a cash limit for spending pay with cash not cards

Start up a food bank in your SU

Start a free shop where graduates can leave household items, utensils etc they no longer require for new students

Buy in bulk online club together with friends

Put a budgeting app on your mobile and don’t go over your spend limit

Plan a weeks menu ahead so you know how to budget your money when doing the weekly shop

Prepare your food at the beginning of the week