Some money saving tips

caffinated_geek

Hi, I'm about to go into my third year at uni and thought I'd pass on some money saving advicce to the new students out there.
1.Don't bother buying lots of pans before you move out. Chances are everyone your about to move in with will have brouhgt all the same stuff. Either get their msn addresses and decide who's going to get what together or wait untill you get there and see what everyone else has brought.
Its very annoying to have 6 kettles and no canopener. If this does happen knock on doors in your dorms and see if anyone in another flat wants to swap. My flatmates and I swaped a kettle for an iron and a toaster for a toasted sandwich maker.

2.Get an nus card. Most places that give discounts need you to have an nus card. It really is worth the £10. You get money off in lots of places so always ask if they have a student discount.

3. The freshers fair can be awesome. Freshers fairs at my uni are always good. The best one was in my second year where there was a free choc fountain with dounuts,flapjackas and fruit. There was free pizza and snickers bars,nivea goodie bags, green and blacks bars, noodles, energy drinks, razors, condoms, mugs and loads of other stuff. It was over 2 days and I kept going from the freshers fair to my room to drop off all the freebies.
I didn't need to buy food for 2 weeks and I had candy for 3 months. I've herd that not all freshers fairs are this good but they are always worth checking out.

4.Lots of local clubs will be promoting at the start of the semester. Some may offer free admission to students on certain nights, others may hand out flyers with free drinks offers or have free admission before a certain time . I always get a few flyers and know when clubs offer free admission.

5. Your local student union is really helpful. From offering free contriception to providing the forms you need to claim back money youve spent at the dentist. Find out what services they offer, you might need it.

6. Lots of companys will use uni's to recruit. Many of them will give a talk with a free buffet. I always went to these. And if you hang around at the end the caterers often let you take some left over home.

7. Use the best before date on food as a rough guide. I always go around the reduced section at the end of the day to look around. Most things like bread can be frozen and thawed again when you need it.

8. buy a blender. Great for making smoothies and soups, which are good if you buy reduced fruit as it can be a little mushy. Tesco has a tesco value blender for about £8 and although its not that good it gets the job done eventually.

9. This site is fantastic, especially the freebies section.

10. The end of season sales are great. I always go to the january sales and with the huge mark down on gift sets and things from christmas you can afford some luxury products that would normally be way out of your price range.

11 Second hand shops are fantastic for clothes. You need to have a good look but almost everyone will be able to find something they like.

12.If you are going to buy text books (because altough the library stocks them as the deadline draws closer other people have already taken them out) then buy them second hand. Your department will have a notice bpard where people in there last year are trying to sell books and equiptment. When you leave sell you books and equiptment.

13. Have some emergency food. You might run out of cash or your loan might be late. My emergancy food is always a big bag of pasta and a big bag of rice.

14. aldi is fantastic. the prices are great and the food is great.

15.join a society. It will give you somewhere to go once a week and you'll make friends.

16. Ask for samples at cosmetics counters. It might be a little checky but it works sometimes.

17.Learn how to make the best use of left overs i =n soups and pies, you really dont want to waste food.

18. find out if you uni has a night bus you could end up saving money on cab fair

19.Look for 2 for 1 vouchers on main meals if your going out. Some hwere always has an offer on.

20. www.studentbeans.com is a great money saving site for students.

21. Supermarkets basics range is fantastic, both cleaning products and food.


Thats all I can think of right now. I know it might seem cheap but in my first year I was always really broke and these things have helped me out so I hope its helpful to someone else out there.

richev

' Get an nus card. Most places that give discounts need you to have an nus card. It really is worth the £10. You get money off in lots of places so always ask if they have a student discount. '

When i get my uni student card can i not just use that ??
as a student will i be able to get cheaper bus fares ?

Thanks for your post !!
Richard

kpie

I've stopped getting the NUS card now they charge a fortune for it, & most places will just take your uni ID.

caffinated_geek

You really should get the nus card. Trust me when I say it's worth the £10.
Some places that say student discount require the nus card an dthey're the ones your most likely to use. Places like zavvi, hmv, amazon, superdrug, matalan and lots of others. Cinemas and stuff generally just ask for a student ID but most places will insist on the NUS card.
heres the link to the list of discounts. http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/Discounts/
Also at this time of year other high street shops start increaseing the student discounts for a while.
So its worth haveing a look around.

The_One_Who

I don't think I've ever been asked to show a NUS card. Every cinema I've been to has taken my student card, every club, every shop, XScape (even though it says NUS) and places like HMV have their own car which you need to have to get the discount. I think Amazon is the only one which I can't get discount with, but it doesn't really matter since I don't buy that much stuff from there anyway.

caffinated_geek

You need an nus card to get the hmv and zavvi discount cards.

dmg24

caffinated_geek wrote: »

You need an nus card to get the hmv and zavvi discount cards.

You don't at HMV in Nottingham.

Having been a student on and off for nearly ten years now, I have never bought an NUS card.

[Deleted User]

caffinated_geek wrote: »

You need an nus card to get the hmv and zavvi discount cards.

Not in Manchester they take university ID cards.

kr15snw

Everywhere is different with student cards. Its best to test the water first.

ALOT of football clubs will only accept NUS cards, hence making the £10 worth it for me. (I saved lots:D)

Some shops in your area will only accept NUS cards (my zavvi and new look) whereas others will take normal student cards.

The_One_Who

caffinated_geek wrote: »

You need an nus card to get the hmv and zavvi discount cards.

Not where I'm from. A normal student card will do.

I think this shows how useless the NUS card is when most people can get by without one.

robnye

caffinated_geek wrote: »

You really should get the nus card. Trust me when I say it's worth the £10.
Some places that say student discount require the nus card an dthey're the ones your most likely to use. Places like zavvi, hmv, amazon, superdrug, matalan and lots of others. Cinemas and stuff generally just ask for a student ID but most places will insist on the NUS card.
heres the link to the list of discounts. http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/Discounts/
Also at this time of year other high street shops start increaseing the student discounts for a while.
So its worth haveing a look around.

this is a little misleading, the nus card is in fact the univeristy card, the nus-extra card costs £10 and gives discount at some extra places,

but as mentioned, sometimes places will accept the uni card as proof of you being a student