If you are a student, then the chances are, you will be gathering quite a lot of debt while at university – so you may find the following 5 tips about saving money particularly useful.
1. Don’t buy because you ‘want’
Try to avoid buying things you ‘want’ when you’re shopping, instead, write down exactly what you ‘need’ each week and stick to that list. If you have money left over at the end of the week, then you can treat yourself!
2. Search for bargains or damaged stock
Don’t be put off by the ‘damaged stock’ shelf in supermarkets. These products may look a bit battered, but there is usually nothing wrong with them at all, and if you can get your tea for less than £1 one night – then get looking! Searching for bargains is an excellent way for you to avoid going into more debt at university.
3. Organise a night in instead of a night out
Get your friends over, ask for £5 off each of them (or less/more depending on the plan) and go to the shop – get crisps, chocolate and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), put a DVD on and sit back – you could even organise a few games. You will find that you would have (in most cases) spent more money on a night out – for example, drinks are about £3 each, entry price could be £2, taxi might be about £5…and so on.
4. Buy second-hand clothes
Ok, so buying second-hand clothes isn’t something we all want to do – but what’s wrong with it?
Charity shops usually stock a large range of second-hand clothes that have been washed and often reconditioned/repaired. If you buy from a charity shop, you won’t just be saving money and avoiding further debt, but you will be helping a good cause too – a win-win situation!
5. ’Go halves’ with your friends
‘Go halves’ on everything you possibly can do. Food, washing powder, bills – whatever you can split the cost of, do it! This will save you a lot of money and means you won’t be in as much debt when you graduate.
Useful money, debt and finance websites:
• Think Money – Advice and help on debt, loans and insurance
• Martins Money Saving Expert – Great money saving tips
• Direct.gov – Government information on student finance
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Send free texts with http://www.CBFsms.com and http://www.02.co.uk if your an 02 customer.
Boycod the Holylands spar and go to Dunnes Stores over the bridge.
http://www.quidco.com helps you get cash back on online purchases.
Add them as links to this post.
http://www.studentdiscountbelfast.co.uk I’m a queens student and set this website up with a list of student discount available around Belfast. No sign up or anything required. Check it out!