Starting university is both exciting and a little nerve-wracking (and that’s without getting to the money side of things!) But with a few smart tricks, you can keep your wallet a little happier too! Here are 8 handy ways to stick to your budget when starting university.
- Sign up for Amazon Prime Student -starting uni often means buying new books, stationery, homeware and essentials, so every penny counts. Right now, Amazon offers a fantastic deal for students or those aged 18-22. It’s a 6-month free trial of Prime, followed by half-priced membership at £4.49 per month or £47.49 per year meaning your first year could cost as little as £23.75 if paid annually. That gives you full access to fast delivery, Prime Video, Amazon Music, photo storage, student-exclusive discounts on fashion, textbooks and even cinema tickets, plus perks with National Express and Deliveroo. Plus you can cancel whenever!
- Always carry your student ID - even if you’re not in lectures. Your student ID is a silent savings superhero! Keep it on you to get discounts at shops, restaurants, museums and subscriptions like Microsoft and Spotify!
- Borrow, rent, or buy second hand textbooks if you can! Text books can cost an absolute fortune so your first stop should be your university library to borrow books where possible. Next, look to rent online, then look to buy used textbooks to save the maximum money possible.
- Create a budget from day one - try the 50:30:20 rule! This is where you budget 50% for things you need such as books, food, rent and travel. Then you budget 30% for ‘wants’ such as nights out or social events with new friends as this is such an important part of university. Or even just for pretty bits to make your room more homely if you’re living away from home! Then use the last 20% for savings. This is a really flexible plan but it gives a bit of structure when you’re starting out at uni!
- Cook at home and meal prep - eating out gets expensive, especially on campus. Instead, batch cook once or twice a week as it saves loads of cash and time plus it’s a little healthier too!
- Choose your accommodation wisely - university accommodation is often way cheaper than renting privately so do your research as this gets booked up quick once grades come out!
- Skip a car - unless you’re commuting long distances you definitely don’t need a car. Public transport around universities is usually great and is way kinder to your bank balance!
- Use platforms like UniDays, and Student Beans as well as Amazon Student to get access to lots more student offers! They can save you serious pounds!
Starting university is a huge step that can often feel daunting but with these smart moves you’ll be in control of your cash and ready to enjoy student life without the financial worries! Turn it into a little game, celebrate the small wins, and you’ll arrive at the end of term a little richer (in experiences and in your bank account)!
Here’s the link to sign up to Prime Student again in case you missed it!
