Cutting back on spending can seem like a big task, we’ve put together some simple tips to save money on everyday expenses...
Apps to Cut Back
The app store is full of gems to save you money, you just need to know where to look. Here’s a list of apps that we think are worth downloading:
OLIO: give away or collect spare things for free in your local area, e.g. spare food, household items, clothing.
UniDays: free student discount app for discounts on countless brands, such as Asos and Pizza Express.
Too Good to Go: buy cheap surprise bags full of leftover food from nearby businesses.
Student Beans: another free student discount app, an easy win!
Vinted: buy and sell clothes to get cheap new outfits or make some extra money.
Travel Tips
It’s a good idea to look into TFL discounts, especially if you want to explore London regularly! Luckily, there are a couple of ways to save on travel in the city.
18+ Student Oyster
Once you’ve enrolled, you can apply for a student oyster. This gets you 30% off Travelcards (7 day, monthly, or annual unlimited travel within chosen London zones) and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets.
You can link a Railcard to this Oyster to save 34% on pay as you go, off-peak fares.
Railcards
You can buy a 16-25 or 26-30 Railcard to get 1/3 off train tickets outside of London and off-peak TFL travel when linked to your Oyster card. You can also apply for a Railcard as a mature student if you qualify (check here)!
Food Shopping
It can seem like the supermarket options are endless in the UK, so where do you start? Here’s some tips on choosing the right shop for you:
The bigger the supermarket, the cheaper the products. Express shops always hike up the prices of their products, so avoid them where you can!
Buying a supermarket’s own brand products is usually cheaper than the branded alternatives. A lot of products are the same quality too! Look for the price per measurement (e.g. price per litre) and compare it with the branded product you normally go for to see the real price difference.
There’s so much choice when it comes to what supermarket to shop at. Location definitely plays a part in which shop you choose, but here’s a few of the cheapest options: Aldi holds the place for the cheapest supermarket, closely followed by Lidl and then Asda (who offer cheap home delivery slots). Iceland also offers free home delivery when you spend £40.
If these aren’t an option, check out Which’s price comparison guide.
Mobile Phone Plans
Finding the right phone plan can get confusing, there’s a lot of things to consider that will affect the cost. Save the Student have a handy site to compare deals. You can filter your search by different categories, including the amount of data and minutes you need. Check it out here.
Make sure to check the network speed in your area before committing to a contract, you can see if you will get 5G and if the signal is strong enough on Ofcom’s website.
The Student Advice Team are always around to help with any money questions you might have. Email them at studentadvice@uwl.ac.uk or book an appointment on the Student Hub to talk to them.
Check out Student Money Week events here! Workshops are running all week, on the week commencing 6th March.
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