Meeting the student budget to survive in the UK is quite complicated for international students as any unpredicted expense can throw your budget off. However, keeping your costs under control is not an unattainable task. These are the top money-saving tips you can follow to save money while studying in the UK.
Vigilant Budgeting
To not be left penniless at the end of the term, formulate a budget and stick to it. To keep track of your finances you can use your mobile banking app or you can create a spreadsheet to record your cash in hand and spending. Review it regularly to eliminate any kind of overspending.
Smart Food Shopping
You have to be smart with your food shopping as it is one of your biggest costs. You can buy your fruits and vegetables from the farmers market which is the cheapest place or buy supermarket brands rather than well-known brands and shop at the end of the day when reduced fresh food is discounted. Go for thrifty online shopping and get great deals.
Travel Cheap
Investing in Travel Cards will save you a lot of money. The 16-25 railcard for students in full-time education can be purchased for one or three years giving you a third off of the rail journeys across the UK. You can check for weekly/monthly discounted passes available on your regular bus routes too. Make sure you have an 18+ student oyster photo card to commute by public transport.
Avail Students Discounts
Ask for student's discount at every shop. You will be surprised how many shops give discounts quietly. Buy an NUS Extra card to get more than 200 student discounts. Try getting a part-time job at your favourite shop to get staff discount. Opt for cards that offer rewards, tastecard to knock 50% off in many restaurants and avail vouchers.
Shared and Communal Cooking
You can buy your groceries, plan and cook your meals with your housemates. You can cook in bulk and freeze the food. You can even plan the meal schedules to save energy and share the cooking.
Thrifty Shopping
By buying second-hand books from up-to-date publications, shopping from charity shops where you can bargain at the fraction of price and opting for online shopping and get discounts along with saving your time, you can put a tab on spending. Also shopping during seasonal sales and stock clearance will save your cash.
Pay Bills When Due
Pay your bills on time. Making a late payment can attract an extra charge. Set up direct debits for your regular bills and you may even receive a discount for the same. Sharing bills with housemates is quite effective. Make sure to give or receive the share promptly.
Spend Less on Accommodation and Calls
University accommodation is comparatively cheap and closer to campus hence saving your time and travel cost. Expenses are also inclusive of the price. Spend less by calling home using Skype.
Do Not Join a Gym
Do not join a gym. You may end up not going consistently there. Rather buy a bike that is cheaply available and save money. You can burn calories in a healthy manner by jogging or walk or practising stretching and doing light exercises.
You can take advantage of all possible sources of income and make money by working in retail, bars, and tutoring. You can work for your University and get good pay with flexible hours but do not forget that A Penny saved is A Penny Made. So follow the above tips to save your wallet.
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