You've just found out your A-level results and got that all important confirmation e-mail from your chosen University.
Now it’s time to live like a student.
Here at Discount Insurance we have put together some
cost-saving tips for you!
Invest in travel cards
No doubt throughout the University term you will
be making trips home to see your mum and dad, or even for a boozy weekend at a
friend’s university. The last thing you want to worry about is paying
extortionate train prices. The 16 – 25
Railcard was designed for young
people in full-time education.
The card gives you a third off rail
travel across the UK; and access to partnership offers and competitions,
including West-End theatre discount and holiday offers.
As of August, 2013 - a one – year card will cost
you £30 and a three-year card for £65 which can be bought online at: 16-25railcard.co.uk. However, if you
sign up to certain student bank accounts, they sometimes include a rail card as
part of their sign up package. If you usually travel in a group, most rail
companies have a group money-saving deal – for example, three or four adults
can travel for two thirds of the cost of two adults.
It’s also likely that there will be local bus
operators offering travel cards, if not specifically for students, then for
local residents. If you use the bus to travel into university each day, then
figure out the cost of single journeys, return journeys, and a week-long travel
card – it’s almost guaranteed the travel card will work out the cheapest.
Watch TV for free – legally!
The BBC license fee terms stipulate that you must
pay the license fee if you watch or record the television as it is broadcast. This
means you don’t need a TV licence for watching on-demand TV over the Internet. Buy a cable to connect your laptop
to your TV, and that’s a lot of free, good-quality viewing with no spend. Also
there are a number of pay-monthly services which require no TV license such as
Netflix and LoveFilm which give the user access to hundreds of films and
TV-series. And if you do happen to have
a licence, make sure you claim one quarter back for the three summer months
you’re probably not in your house.
Cook from scratch and buy in bulk
Cooking from scratch is far cheaper –
than simply buying ready-meals or eating take-out every day, plus it’s probably
a whole lot better for your health.
It’s a lot more effort and involves a little trial-and-error, but it’s much
more rewarding! Buying in bulk is a no-brainer; staple; non-perishable foods
like pasta are great to buy, especially as a household or a flat, as it works
out so much cheaper and lasts a long while.
Vouchers & Offers
Students get bombarded with vouchers and offers
particularly during ‘fresher’s week’ – a seven-day welcoming party for new arrivals
at the start of the academic year. Make sure you take full advantage! In
addition, there are some great sites out there to help you cut costs. A very
good website is www.studentbeans.com – a little hub of discounts and deals which are specifically aimed at
students.
Health Costs & Council Tax
These are still areas where students can save!
Students get exemption from council tax when living in halls, or if everyone in
a privately rented house is a student. However, if you do live with
non-students, although the council tax
bill may be reduced, you do still have to pay it! Ask your local council
for more information.
Students get help with health costs such as free prescriptions, dental treatment and eye test – phone the health costs
advice line on 0845 850 1166 – and they will be happy to help with any
questions and queries.
Earn a little money from home
We’re not about to tell you a trick that has
allowed so many ‘stay-at-home mums’ to earn thousands from home. That isn’t
real. But there is a way to earn a modest amount of cash not doing very much,
and that is to do online surveys or
turn up to special focus group events.
Payment is done in cash or vouchers,
a few pounds at a time online – and a lot more in the flesh, when completing
surveys for marketing firms or political pollsters.
Find the cheapest utilities
Your bills – gas, electricity, water and Internet
– will account for a massive chunk of your student loan every month, so it
really pays to shop around and do your
homework! Don’t be afraid to switch suppliers if there is a better rate
elsewhere, you do not owe these companies any loyalty!
Consider going on a meter for water, and winter
fuel will hit the wallet hard if use too much central heating. And if
you’re the poor one who has to get your housemates to cough up every quarter,
take a look at a company like Glide,
which packages up all utilities for a household and then itemises them for each
resident into one monthly lump.
Do not use payday loans
This market is taking off at the moment, with the
only people it helps being the lenders. The APRs are usually thousands of
percentage points – and borrowing money like this is crazy. If you’re running
out of money talk to your bank first,
or your parents, or look for a job. If you have experienced
a financial cost you did not prepare for, talk to your University’s student welfare service, which will be able to advise
and provide information on certain matters.
Get insured!
Get insured!
Make sure you cover your possessions against
theft, loss and damage when you move into your university accommodation with our Students Insurance.
At Discount Insurance, we offer new for old on all
student’s contents, with no administration fees and no hidden costs. Call now on: 0208 847 8000 for a quick-quote.
Gaurav Ahluwalia
