We know when you first move away from home and live with your friends your first priority isn’t thinking about saving money, but follow these 10 simple tips and you’ll be sure to notice a difference in your finances… without ruining the fun of uni life too much! 

Home insurance

-       Check if you’re covered by your parents’ home insurance. Not only does this mean you won’t need to take out your own contents insurance when in your student house, it will give you peace of mind if you do happen to damage any of your belongings. Remember that your belongings are your responsibility! 

Food shop in the evenings 

-       If you do your weekly food shop in the evenings then you will nab all the reduced food AND it’ll be quieter! Top tip: Don’t shop when you’re hungry as you are guaranteed to buy more! 

Cook at home

-       If you live with your mates, try and make cooking at home fun! Make it a competition, even create your own Come Dine with Me Episode and have a prize at the end! Anything to ensure you are using the food you have in your house and are minimising the amount of times you eat out. A great tip is to bulk cook and freeze to ensure you always have a quick and easy meal to hand so you’re not temped to order a takeaway…

You may not need a TV license

-       A lot of students don’t realise that if you only stream online through the likes of Netflix or Amazon Prime, you do not need to pay the hefty license charge! However, if you do watch live TV through ariel or cable, then you will be liable. 

Loyalty cards are your friend

-       Sign up to loyalty cards/ mailing lists and you’ll be surprised how many offers and discounts you could get. Companies want your details so they can keep in touch and inevitably try and sell you products. So while it may be a pain to receive constant emails, there is usually always something in it for you! Top tip: Get loyalty cards at your regular big supermarkets and you will earn points which turn into free stuff!

Switch it off!

-       Wherever you can, try and use less electricity. This can be anything from switching to energy saving bulbs, adding clothing layers in winter and turn things off when you aren’t using them. It doesn’t sound like much but you will eventually notice a difference in your pocket! 

Sell it!

-       Still got stuff from your teenage years at your parents’ house? Sell it! There are always charities who welcome donations if you feel some items aren’t in a sellable condition either. 

Freecycle

-       Use freecycle to kit out your student house. Freecycle is a website where you can get free items that people don’t want anymore. This can be anything from glassware to furniture and will be a saviour when it comes to kitting out your new student house. 

Get your walking shoes on

-       A lot of student houses are for students for a reason… they’re in the right location! As tempting as an uber may sound if it’s a grey miserable morning, think of the money you would save in a week if you walked to uni!

Used academic books

-       For your uni course you may need to buy academic books that aren’t in the library to help you study. There are plenty of online sites that sell second hand books which will save you a ton of money. You can also add yourself to your course Facebook groups and previous students may be able to sell you their old books too!