The Ultimate Student Money Saving Guide - 2019re
This guide gives you everything you’ll need to know how to save money at Uni in 2019.
Our money saving team have scoured the web to bring you useful tips to help you find the best deals on everything from internet deals to food shopping.
It’s all here, you won’t need to look anywhere else.
Let’s get started.
Money Saving Contents
Chapter 1
Save money on studying
Completing your uni work can cost money. Expenditure on text books, printing out coursework and buying stationary can all add up - here are some areas for potential savings:
1. Rent text books
Yes, you can rent the books you need. It’s cheaper than buying new, and is often cheaper than second hand. Check out Alibris for text book rentals.
2. If you can’t rent books, buy second hand
Second hand books are the way forward if buying is a must. Check out Abe Books, for example, which has a dedicated ‘Text books’ section.
Or get in contact with a student who has finished the module and don’t need the course books. They should be willing to sell you the course books you need, at a cheap price.
3. Digital books can be free (or at least cheaper)
If you have Amazon Prime, you have free access to tonnes of free books with ‘Prime Reading’. You probably won’t find your text books on there, but you’ll find lots of reading that is related to your degree topic.
Of course, you can also buy digital and audio books for a lot less than the physical version. Think Kindle, E-Books and Kobo etc.
4. Split the cost
If you have a friend, course buddy or housemate in need of the same books, split the cost.
Combine this tip with one of the others above and you will be counting the savings in no time!
5. And don’t forget the library
If you spend a lot of your time in the library then make the most of it. Check out your course books there, for free.
There is a catch!
University libraries only have a limited number of copies for each book
Libraries will charge overdue fees (make sure you set a reminder on your phone to return them before the due date)
You will have a set window of how long you can loan the book out for, and it certainly won’t be a year.
6. Get Microsoft for free
If you use Word, Excel or Powerpoint, don’t pay for it!
Students get these tools for free with Microsoft. All you have to do is sign up with your university email address.
An alternative would be to use Google Docs, which is also free. Google Docs offers similar tools but with less functionality.
Chapter 2
Save money on Living costs
You should try and be as economical as possible when it comes to living costs as this can eat up a big part of your student loan. Make sure you know all the tricks and tips to be an economical zen master.
1. Know your rental rights
Before you do anything, make sure you know your rental rights.
There is a lot you won’t know about as a first time renter. Between dodgy landlords and stolen goods, it’s important to know your rights as a renter.
Top tip: If you do need advice on your renting situation, ask your Students Union, they will have a dedicated department for helping student renters.
Or Visit the Citizens Advice website for really helpful information.
2. Avoid inflated signing on fees
Some letting agents will ask for inflated ‘administration’ fees to sign on with them.
Don’t pay more than you have to.
Firstly, ask for a full breakdown of fees and ask the agent to justify them all. Some stuff you’ll have to pay. Credit reference check, for example.
But these only cost £10 - £20, so don’t pay £80!
If you think anything looks dodgy, report it to your university accommodation office.
Also, head to the letting agents competitors and tell them what happened, they’ll be much more open and honest if they can take you on as a customer!
You can report excessive charges to Trading Standards. Letting agents are not allowed to charge out-of-proportion to the actual cost they take on.
If they do, Trading Standards could take action against them.
3. Haggle your rent
If you don’t ask you don’t get. But there’s an art to it. Here is fantastic guide on how to haggle down the price of a room.
4. Maximise your rental space
If you rent a property suitable for four people, make sure there are four people living in it.
This will reduce the rent each of you pay for the space. You’re paying a premium if you do not fill each room with a student.
Alternatively, don’t rent a space for more people than you have.
5. Keep your rental deposit in a protection scheme
Keeping your deposit safe is a must.
In most cases, you’ll have to give a deposit for your accommodation.
The Deposit Protection Service is a government organisation that ensure tenants don’t have their deposit kept unfairly by their landlord, if a dispute arises between landlord and tenant.
6. Or don’t even pay a deposit!
Flatfair is a new service that enables people to secure a flat without paying out a large deposit in the traditional way. It’s definitely worth a look.
7. Record any damage / issues before you move in
The last thing you want it to lose money from your deposit that wasn’t you.
When you move into a new property make sure you perform an extensive inspection of the place.
Record any damage or concerns and agree it with the landlord or letting agent. Also, create a list of everything already in the property, such as furniture or appliances.
8. Insurance: Parents policy vs your own
Whilst insuring your belongings isn’t as high on the agenda as ‘Freshers Week’, it’s something you should consider.
Around 1 in 5 students have property stolen in shared accommodation.
You could be covered on your parents Home Insurance Policy, but that’s not a definite. If you are, it may only cover you when in your residence.
What if you lose your laptop while you’re out?
You might be better off buying your own policy. There’s a lot to consider here - check out the link for a great guide.
9. Don’t pay Council Tax
If you’re a full time student, or living in a house full of students, you don’t need to pay council tax.
To count as a full time student, your course must last at least one year and involve a minimum of 21 hours study per week.
Visit your local council to ensure they know your property has student tenants.
10. Get organised with the rent
If you only have yourself to worry about, just be sure to have your rent covered ASAP.
If it is all coming out of your student loan, set it aside or pay it as soon as you can.
If you’re splitting the rent with others, make sure to get everyone organised.
Get them to pay it all up front if they can.
Alternatively, ask everyone to pay one month in advance so you don’t miss rent payments. Keep it in an account until it is due.
11. Use comparison sites for utilities
This might not be relevant if you’re in halls (energy usage is normally included in the cost), but if you do need utilities, such as gas, electricity and water, be sure to use comparison sites for the best deals.
Most energy suppliers offer an incentive if you refer friends.
Once you know which supplier offers the best rates, check out their referral program.
Get in touch with as many people as you can and start referring each other so you all get to take advantage of the freebie.
13. Check prices when a renewal is due
If you need to renew your insurance, or some other service, always check prices.
More often than not, new customer prices are much cheaper than in your second year with a company.
For example, contents insurance might be £5 - £6 a month when you first get it, but it could double or triple in the second year.
Companies are banking on the fact that you won’t check and let it automatically renew.
Get renewal dates in your phone calendar to save money!
14. Think about credit scores
Your credit score can make a massive difference to your chances of getting credit, and that doesn’t just mean a credit card.
If you want to pay something monthly, like insurance, that’s a form of credit. Keep your score up-to-date by taking advantage of a service like Clearscore.
Get your housemates on it to. If one of you has a bad credit rating, don’t have their name on the agreements for energy, insurance etc as this will drag down the price!
15. Get smart meters if you can
Smart meters are great for helping you keep an eye on how much energy you are using and keeping your bills low.
It also means you don’t have to provide meter readings to your supplier.
The great news is that all energy companies have to supply a free meter to their customers by the end of 2020. Most are supplying them already.
Chapter 3
Spend less on fashion & beauty
Looking good is just as important when you’re at Uni - if not more so! When it comes to your favourite clothes and must have beauty products, don’t spend over the odds.
1. Get a TOTUM Card
“At Totum card? Never heard of it”
Totum cards used to be called NUS cards and have taken over from NUS.
It’s pretty well known that being a student can give you access to a lot of great offers. So, don’t miss out. If you haven’t already got yours, sign up now.
There’s a free version, and various one-off paid options that come with additional benefits. It’s £12, £22 or £32 for 12, 24 or 36 months.
2. Hit the sales - every day of the year
Gone are the days of seasonal sale periods.
At Love the Sales we know that between 30% and 50% of all retail products are discounted every day!
That means you can always find the brands and products you want, without paying full price.
You can also check out Vinted, EBay, ASOS Marketplace and others. If you have old designer clothes you no longer wear, get online and sell it.
Check out this great guide for selling your old fashion online.
4. Rent for big occasions, rather than buying
When there’s a big event in the calendar, it’s tempting to go out and spend money on a big purchase to look the part. It could be an end of year sports ball or an event your university society is running.
However, it’ll likely be more cost effective to rent.
Renttherunway.com is a very successful business for renting designer clothes. A quick search on Google will give you lots to choose from.
5. £5 off at H&M for recycling your old clothes
H&M have been incentivising consumers to recycle clothes since 2013, with this great offer. Simply hand a bag of old clothes in for a £5 voucher.
6. Keep an eye out for sample sales
A sample sale is a great place to get a steal, but caution is required.
Because a sample sale is a way for designers to shed excess stock, that has often been used as ‘samples’, some of it may not be in great shape.
Be sure to have a good look at anything before you buy it. Also, don’t expect a returns policy - another reason to be sure of the quality.
7. Check offers on student websites
Although your Totem card (new name for the NUS card!) will get you most student offers, you may find new or exclusive ones on sites like Student Beans or Unidays.
8. Take advantage of incentives that most retailers will offer
Most retailers have the same kind of offers that are designed to tempt you into becoming a new customer.
It could be 10% off your first purchase, or 20% off the basket you haven’t yet checked out of. It might be 10% off if you sign up to emails.
Whatever it is, you can be sure it’s going to come your way.
Shop smartly. If you want to buy something, don’t just go to the same site as always. Find a new site with the product you want and wait for the offer to appear.
9. Consider cashback sites, cautiously
Cashback on your purchases? What’s not to like?
However, it is a common assumption that cashback sites like Topcashback and Quidco are the way to go.
The trick is to consider cashback an added benefit, not the be all and end all. You may well find an item cheaper somewhere else, even with the cash you receive deducted from the original cost.
10. Avoid store cards like the plague
Store cards sound like an awesome idea. Credit to shop in one of your favourite places.
However, they commonly have huge interest rates - higher even than credit cards. It can be as much as 30%.
Don’t be tempted by the ‘special offer’ when you sign up. It’s only there because the store knows they’ll make money in the long run.
11. Take 0% credit with care
Like store cards, lots of retailers will offer 0% interest, for a limited time, on purchases with flexible payment plans.
However, these plans often have a very high interest rate after the 0% time limit expires.
If you’re good with your budget, 0% is obviously a good way to break down the cost of big ticket, essential items. Just make sure you pay it off before the 0% credit ends.
12. Cheaper beauty products with magazine freebies
Magazines commonly increase sales by giving away a free product with every purchase.
Sometimes they’re great, and sometimes not.
A great tip is to keep an eye on magazines for your favourite beauty brands - when you see one you like, check the price of the magazine and the volume of product you get free (in millilitres, grams - however it is measured).
Now check the price of a normal size version of the product and do some quick maths.
You’ll often find that buying four or five copies of the magazine (with the free sample, of course) is cheaper than buying the equivalent amount of product off the shelf!
13. Never miss a freebie
Samples and testers are the basis of discovering new beauty products.
Most stores will give out samples of new products, so make sure you ask when you’re out shopping.
Even better, you can get free stuff sent to you! There are a number of websites that send you freebies, hoping that in return you’ll leave a review of the product.
Chapter 4
Save money on tech & media
Mega fast broadband. The latest Mac. Cool Beats around the neck. All things most students want. But damned expensive.
Here are our tips and tricks for making the most out of tech and media.
1. TV Licence. Do you have to pay it?
Turns out you might be able to.
A TV licence costs £154.50 for the year and paying for one can feel like a chore, and is something that’s easy to forget.
It’s possible to not pay it, but it depends entirely on whether you consume live TV, and where you consume it. And how you consume it. And a few other things. Read this guide to find out if you’re eligible not to pay a TV licence…
2. Use campus wifi (and electricity)
There’s a pretty good chance you can do most of your ‘work’ using campus wifi.
Check out the library, and other core areas of campus and see what the connection is like. You could save £100+ a year without your own broadband.
You can also save on electricity by charging your laptop and mobile in the library (just make sure you keep an eye on your valuables while they are charging).
3. Do you really need broadband?
With 4G being pretty much national, and 5G on the way, you may be able to get a great mobile contract that covers all the data you need.
Is it worth an extra £10 a month on your mobile bill, for more data, to save you from a £25 a month Broadband bill.
4. Shop around for Broadband
If you decide you need Broadband, shop around.
Use sites like Compare the Market to find the best deals.
Weigh up the important factors such as speed and download limits, rather than aiming straight for the unlimited, it may not necessarily work out a better deal. Especially if you use mobile data more frequently.
5. Spread the cost of a laptop by leasing or renting
Having the latest Mac is something most students want. But, they come with a hefty price tag.
Rather than forking out a large amount of cash up front you could consider renting or leasing you laptop. Sites like HardSoft offer both options.
Renting will cost less per month, but you won’t own the laptop.
Leasing is a little more expensive, but you own it at the end of the agreement. There are pro’s and con’s to both, so have a good think.
One thing to remember, both these options are more expensive than buying, but they have the benefit of spreading the cost.
Be sure to understand the terms of your agreement so you don’t get stung by paying ridiculously high premiums.
6. Amazon TV for less
You’re gonna want a bit of TV downtime while at uni.
One thing we recommend is Amazon TV. Not because of its content, but because student’s get a half price membership. Plus, there’s loads of other benefits with the membership as you’ll see through this article (and it works out a lot less than a TV licence).
7. 6 months free Amazon Prime
Amazon isn’t always the cheapest place to buy things. However, 6 months free Prime for students means you should definitely check it out.
You get everything a full paying Prime member gets, including Music and TV. Plus, it’s only £3.99 a month after the trial expires.
These details were correct at the time of going to press, but the Amazon student offer may change.
Chapter 5
Banking & finance
How you handle your money is key to getting through uni with as little debt as possible. But not only that, you can make money with canny tips and tricks. Check out our thoughts on what you should consider.
1. It all starts with good budgeting
Sure, it’s kind of boring, but your budget is your best friend.
Manage it well and you’ll have more control of what you can afford.
2. Look for a 0% overdraft as an emergency buffer
Setting up a student bank account is one of the first things to consider.
When you do, you want to find one that offers you the biggest and longest lasting 0% overdraft. This means you’ll have a buffer ready and waiting if you have any problems.
Be smart though, an overdraft is just for emergencies, not every day spending. Only use in emergencies, and pay it off ASAP if you do go into it.
3. Avoid credit cards
Credit cards seem like a great idea. It gives you access to money in emergencies.
However, the cost of that emergency money can be massive. You get a grace period where you don’t pay interest, which can be up to 2 months. But once you get past that period, there’s a lot of interest.
If you used £3,000 on a credit card, and only paid the stipulated minimum each month, it would take almost 30 years to pay it off.
Perhaps that will put you off?
4. Avoid store cards
We already outlined this in the fashion section of our guide, but, it’s worth reiterating.
Store cards sound great, and have enticing offers to start you off. However, the interest is massive - more so that credit cards. Avoid at all costs.
5. Never take a payday loan
Pay day loans are an absolute no-no. Whatever the situation. The APR (annual percentage rate) can be as much as 1,500%!
6. Consider switching accounts
If you already have a bank account, you could make money by switching.
Banks offer £100+ for moving to their account, so a great way to make some quick cash.
However, these switches often come with stipulations, such as a minimum credit each month, or keeping the account active for a certain amount of time.
Make sure you check the rules.
7. Use modern banks
Student finance success is all about budgeting.
New banks, such as Monzo and N26 are all about modernising banking - that lends itself to better financial awareness and budgeting.
We strongly recommend these accounts for students - you can easily know what’s going on with your money.
Chapter 6
Save money on food & shopping
Eating. Staying clean. Feeding the fish. Whatever it is, food and shopping adds up. Pick up some tips and tricks on how to get more for less.
1. Downgrade supermarkets
Mum and Dad might like to shop at Waitrose, but once you’re paying, it’s a different story.
One super quick way to save money is switch supermarkets. Look for budget friendly stores like Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons. They provide much cheaper options for all your essentials.
2. Down just hit the usual supermarket aisles
Depending on what you want to buy, this can be a great hack for saving money.
Lots of stores have aisles dedicated to ‘world foods’ or a specific ethnicity.
Foods that are a staple in other parts of the world are often much cheaper in these aisles, than the mainstream ones in the same store.
Think things like rice, nuts, spices etc. You’ll often get twice as much for half the price.
3. Look for new customer supermarket offers
The war for customers is rife with supermarkets.
As a result, most have great offers to attract new customers. Check supermarket websites for these offers and take advantage by using each one throughout the year.
For example, Ocado offer 30% off your first shop of £60 or more - save’s you £18.
4. Buy in bulk
Scales of economy work in every purchasers favour. The more you buy, the cheaper it is.
Buying a 5kg bag of rice, for example, will be much cheaper per kilo than buying 500g at a time (especially if you hit the world foods aisle!).
If you share accommodation with a few people, this is a great tactic. If you don’t, group up with others to split the cost.
5. Eat waste…
OK, not quite. But, you can get food for next to nothing that local takeaways and bakeries would be throwing away at the end of the day.
Too good to go is a great app that saves you money and helps you fight food waste. It enables you to check your local area for food that will get binned at the end of the day. You intercept it, pay next to nothing, get a tasty treat and fight food waste! Bonus.
6. Take advantage of free trials
Snackbox and delivered recipe companies (Hello Fresh etc.) regularly offer free trials in the hope that people become hooked.
Sign up and check them out, eating all the lovely freebies in the process. Don’t forget to cancel though!
7. Hit the supermarkets at the right time of day
Pretty much every supermarket will have perishable food left each day that goes out of date. And to avoid throwing it in the bin, they reduce it in price.
This generally happens around 19:00 - 20:00. Get there at the right time to see what’s available.
8. Eat for free as a mystery diner
Companies want to ensure their staff are great at their jobs.
One way they do this is to pay for mystery shoppers to test them under cover. That means you can get paid for eating a free meal.
Check out Mystery Dining as a starting point, or Google for more mystery diner opportunities.
9. Download food apps for freebies
Most food chains have apps. And they all want users.
They entice people by offering freebies. That’s where you swoop in.
Download the apps and keep an eye out for freebies. You’ll want to think about places like Subway, KFC, Greggs, Macca’s and many more.
Chapter 7
Save money on partying & nights out
We know that partying is an essential right of passage when at uni. But don’t blow your whole student loan in ‘Fresher’s Week’ - check out our tips for the best way to party, for less.
1. Not just free alcohol, but get paid to drink it
Yes, you can get paid paid to drink alcohol.
OK, so this is more of a way to earn money, but it counts as partying to an extent.
Companies like Serve Legal are set up to for companies to ensure their landlords and alcohol serving staff are applying ID checks and laws correctly. You can apply to work for them as a ‘mystery shopper’ - you’ll visit premises and ensure they ID you.
Not only do they pay for the alcohol you order, but you get paid for the job you’re doing. Where do you sign, you say?
2. Free cinema tickets
Film distributors want to boost ticket sales. One way they achieve this is word of mouth. And they achieve word of mouth by letting a few people see their films for free.
Awesome, free cinema trip!
Check out Free Movies UK. It’s a not-for-profit website, run by volunteers, to help movie lovers get a freebie here and there. What great guys.
3. Eat at training restaurants
Every chef starts somewhere. And you can benefit from their practising by eating at training restaurants. You could find yourself paying as little as a fiver for a three course meal.
There’s too many to list, so have a quick look on Google for ones near you.
4. Festivals for free
It’s amazing how far kindheartedness can get you. If you volunteer for a bit of work during a festival, you get access to the whole thing for free. Bonus.
Check out these guys to find out what you need to do:
Chapter 8
Travel
Getting around is a big part of uni life. Especially when you need to get back home to get two months worth of washing done. Here’s a few sneaky ways of saving a bit of cash.
1. Just walk it
Sounds like effort, but if your journey is local, just walk it.
2. Invest in a bike
If you don’t want to walk, riding a bike is a bit easier. And you don’t have to spend a fortune.
Thanks to the UK’s love affair with bike riding since London 2012, there’s loads of good deal on second hand bikes. Of course, bikes are easy to steal, so buy a good lock to go with it.
3. Pay as you ride bikes
If buying a bike feels like too much of a commitment, rent one instead.
Depending where you attend uni, you might be able to take advantage of pay-as-you-ride bikes. They’re super cheap, so better than bus or tube. Plus, you don’t need to like them up or pump tyres as you do with your own bike. Check out Yobike, Mobike and JUMP to get you started.
4. On demand cars
Having a car at uni is a big expense. And chances are, you won’t actually use it that much.
But if you do need a set of wheels now and then, think about on demand vehicle networks like Zipcar, Turo and Drivy. They offer short term hiring at good rates.
Alternatively, if you know someone with a car you can borrow, get fully comprehensive car insurance on demand from Cuvva. Even if just for an hour.
5. 16 - 25 Railcard
The 16 - 25 Railcard is specifically for students.
It saves you a third on virtually all rail fares and only costs £30 to get it. If you plan on lots of rail journeys, you should invest.
6. Book early for cheaper train fares
Another great tip for train travel is to book early for big journeys.
If you know a date well in advance, checkout Trainline. It’s usually cheaper to book early.
Of course, you could be in a pickle if plans change, so be cautious.
7. Bus passes save cash
If you’re likely to do a lot of travel by bus, a ‘Bus Pass’ can make you substantial savings.
You’ll need to search online for your local area to check prices, but definitely do you research.
8. Coaches are super cheap
If you’ve got a long journey back home, you may find it considerably cheaper to go by coach. It’ll take a bit longer, but the difference in price can be huge.
For example, London to Bristol by train is £109 and takes 1 hour 45 minutes. By coach, it’s £11 and only takes one hour longer.
If you can’t stand the idea of being stuck on a coach though, travel by train late at night. Megabus and National Express offer very cheap deals, aimed at students traveling to and from Uni.
The cost can be less than a third if you hop on during less sociable hours.
9. Travel off-peak
As with the point above about late night train tickets, it’s always cheaper to travel outside peak hours. What constitutes as peak will change depending on mode of transport and region, so be sure to check out the details before buying any tickets.
10. Split the cost of travel with friends
Whenever possible, share the cost of your transport with friends.
You might be able to use the same ticket if you’re travelling to the same areas at different times of day, for example.
11. Rideshare
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but ride sharing has taken off in a big way. As long as you partake through a reliable service like BlaBlaCar, it’s kind of like super safe thumbing a lift.
Basically, someone is already heading where you are, so they take you a long and you pay toward the cost. You can pick who you travel with too, so really cool.
Chapter 9
Other money saving resources
There’s lots to think about when it comes to saving money and budgeting as a student. Here’s a few resources that will help.
1. Use student budget guides and calculators to get you started
Before you dive into a budget, it’s a good idea to understand the general costs associated with the area you’ll be living in.
Which? has a great Student Budget Calculator that breaks down your costs based on the Uni you’ll attend.
2. Advice on money and debt
Financial matters can be a huge source of stress. Especially when things get really tight. Fortunately, there are services that can help manage that stress and guide you onto the right path.
3. Keep an eye on the tax you pay
Each year a minimum threshold is set for tax - unless you earn over it, you do not have to pay income tax. For 2019/20, the threshold is £12,500.
If you work a summer job, you’ll often be taxed by the employer as though you earn that amount of money every month of the year, and so pay tax.
Come year end though, you may not have earned more than the threshold.
Always check and claim back tax you shouldn’t have paid.
You can also check what tax you should pay online with this great salary calculator.
Written by money saving expert and co-founder of Love the Sales, Stuart McClure.
Edited by Liam Solomon & Sophie Cantor
Love the Sales is a retail aggregator, bringing all the discounts from across the web, into one place, to help shoppers save money.
