Finance
6 min read

Top money-saving hacks for students

12th August 2023
Last updated 22nd January 2025
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Between tuition fees and textbooks, room rent and R&R, student life can be expensive. We’ve compiled a shortlist of the top 10 tips for students to save money, so you can avoid unnecessary costs and enjoy (guilt-free!) time off from studying.

1. Say hello to student savings

Student discounts are your friend. Sign up to UniDays online, get yourself a TOTUM card and away you go. Unlock a whole load of student deals on websites or in the shops, and don’t forget to check out cashback and deals sites for extra savings.

2. Shop at savvy times

If you time those big-ticket purchases just right, you could benefit from a major discount. For example, during Freshers’ Week there are lots of deals aimed at students. Remember, it’s all too easy to get swayed by items you don’t need, but it could be the perfect time to splash out on that laptop you were already planning to buy.

Others for the checklist? Black Friday, secret sale sign-ups, and well-timed evening trips to your local supermarket for yellow-sticker grocery bargains.

3. Be clever with monthly memberships

Be savvy with your streaming services or food-box subscriptions by utilising free trials, hopping between subs or sharing the burden with your flatmates, e.g. paying for one each is a lot more cost-effective than each of you paying for five. Many monthly ‘treats’, like cinema passes, can end up being cheaper than one-off ticket purchases if you use them regularly – but don’t forget to factor in the facilities that might be available at your accommodation, like free resident-only gyms and cinema rooms at your Student Roost property.

4. Abandon your basket

Ah, the age-old trick. Add that new outfit or reading list book to your online shopping basket, then… leave. There’s a good chance you’ll receive an email within a day or two offering you a discount. We’ll take it!

5. Make your night in your night out

Nights out are often more exciting – and affordable! – when they’re not back-to-back. Spend quality time with friends in your accommodation to save some cash without skimping on the social side of student life. Cook-alongs (or budget takeaway!), boxset binges, game nights, even karaoke… who needs a noisy club all the time, right?

Student saving money COVER

6. Commit to a no-spend day

You can make noticeable gains in your bank account by keeping the promise to yourself that one or two days a week you won’t spend a penny. By doing a ‘big shop’ at the start of the week, sticking to a meal plan and reserving a couple of evenings for studying or no-cost activities in your accommodation, you’ll find it’s easier than it might sound.

7. Save on travel

You might be lucky enough to live a few minutes from campus, but you may still want to explore cities across the UK or need to commute to your part-time job. Look out for student bus passes that offer a saving across the academic year, or get a Railcard to save up to a third on train tickets.

8. Make your bank account work for you

Set up a student bank account to bag yourself freebies or benefits like gadgets, insurance or travel tickets. Many also offer 0% overdrafts, but it’s recommended you use this with caution as rates will often change after leaving university.

9. Sell your stuff

Not gonna wear that statement-making LBD or vintage band tee anymore? Make some easy pocket money by selling on popular sites like Vinted, Depop or good ol’ eBay. You can also get some bargains by buying pre-loved. And if you don’t need the money, consider donating unwanted items; if you live at a Student Roost property, you can find British Heart Foundation donation stations and our own student-focused Give or Take Spaces near to reception areas.

10. Choose accommodation with all bills included

Perhaps the biggest cost-saving of all comes down to where you choose to live during your uni years. Rents in student accommodation may or may not include your monthly bills, so we recommend finding this out before you commit so you can know what your monthly outgoings are upfront. You don’t want to be in the position where you find yourself needing to source an additional chunk of money each calendar month to cover monthly utilities.

At Student Roost properties, all bills are included in your rent so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that there are no hidden costs or usage caps. So, that's your water, heating, Wi-Fi, etc. all covered.

Find out more on how you can save money with all-inclusive rent and don’t forget to check out our locations.

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