Monday 06-02-2023 - 11:28

BOLTON SU TOP TIPS TO SAVE YOU MONEY

Choose the best Student Bank Account

Student accounts are simply bank accounts for those in higher education. They let you pay money in and out, and often offer an interest-free overdraft.

Most students use an overdraft while at University, so make sure you aren't charged for it. Aim to get the biggest amount that will last as long as possible - some providers offer 'up to £3,000', though how much you get depends on you and your circumstances.  Don’t go over your overdraft limit, your charges will go up. You often have to request overdraft increases in stages as you study so check when you can and keep on top of it.

Some accounts offer ‘freebies’. Don’t always go for the best freebie, but weigh its benefit up against the interest free overdraft limits. For example, Santander offer a free 4 year, 16-25 Rail card which is great if you use the train often.

Student Broadband

Broadband providers have developed special products for students, but depending on your circumstances you may still find standard offers are better for you. Some providers, for example, Virgin and BT will offer incentives such as a 9 month contact and no installation fees during the enrollment period. They also cater for larger houses with many occupants. Compare local deals at Broad Band Genie. 

Student Discount

TOTUM Digital is a free online discount card giving you huge savings on everything from music and technology to entertainment, beauty, fashion and sustainability.

The TOTUM discount card and app is the only student discount card, proof of age ID and campus life platform recommended by the National Union of Students (NUS).  TOTUM gives you access to huge offers on food and essentials, tech, travel, fashion and beauty, in-store and online.  Buy a 2-year TOTUM membership card today and you’ll get in an extra year for free.  Visit TOTUM to apply.

There are a number of other student discount websites available such as Unidays and Student Beans where you can access student discounts with big retailers like Levi’s, ASOS, Apple, Hollister and many more all for free!

Available with the added goodness of Home Office and Police endorsed pr

Council Tax Exemption

You can save money by claiming student Council Tax exemption. Households where everyone’s a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. If you're a full-time student living alone or with other students you don't need to pay council tax, if you live with your parents and are a full-time student, you may be able to claim a discount.  For full information and the exemption form visit the Gov website.

Travel Cheaper

As a student you might find yourself using trains and coaches to travel more often, the cost of which can add up!  Make sure you make the most of offers available to you and be smart when purchasing tickets.  If you use trains frequently check out the 16-25 Railcard which can bag you a 1/3 off ticket prices, if you’re a mature student studying full time, you’re also eligible.

If you prefer the coach look up the Young Persons Coachcard with National Express. They offer a similar deal with a 1/3 off any time travel, also available to mature students studying full time.  Check out Megabus they often have student deals available. 

If you don’t travel far all that often there are still ways to save. Book train tickets way in advance where possible and check if ticket splitting could make the journey cheaper. This is the big trick everyone should know. Instead of buying tickets for the whole journey, buying tickets in its constituent parts can slash the price, even though you're on exactly the same train. For more information go to Money Saving Expert. 

Batch Cooking

Trying to keep meal costs down as a student can be tricky. Quite often you’re only cooking for one so batch cooking is the way forward. Most meals can be frozen in portions and defrosted when you need them. Dishes like Bolognese, curry, and stir fry are classic batch cook options which can be stored in reusable zip lock bags and laid flat to save on space.   Also, making a large batch of pasta sauce bulked out with lots of tasty veggies is great for freezing in small freezer bags ready to take out as much as you need, when you need.

Save money by batch cooking things such as chips or mash potato and store in the same way. Buy a big bag of potatoes and get started. For chips, peel and chop into chips around 1cm thick, parboil in salted water for around 4-5 minutes then quickly lie flat on a baking tray making sure they don’t touch. Place in the freezer for a few hours before bagging up in portions. To cook, bake in the oven at 180C for around 25 minutes.  For mashed potatoes, peel and chop into cubes around an inch thick. Boil in salted water for around 8 minutes, take of the hob and drain. Mash using a potato masher or ricer adding any extras you like such as milk, butter and pepper. Let it cool and bag up into portions ready to freeze.

Head to the supermarkets in the evening to check for heavily discounted items which are on the day of their sell by date, much of which is still good for a couple of days or can be frozen.

Register to Vote!

Not only does it give you the platform for your say but it also helps your credit score. Being on the electoral roll could help if you want to rent, take out a mobile phone contract or credit card. You can register both home and term time address. Registering is easy, click here to register to vote. 

Save money on textbooks

The University’s library has lots of fantastic resources so always check there first for a source, there may not be a copy available that day but you can reserve it for when it’s back in. However, sometimes you just need to have your own copy and there are ways of doing so cheaply. Buy secondhand books from local charity shops, former students or try textbook swap sites such as BookMooch and BookCrossing.  Now there may still be times you just need to buy a new book but there are a few things you can try here too. Shop around, including online for the best deal. Some shops offer student discount, for example Waterstones or perhaps you can get the eBook cheaper if you own a Kindle. Whichever way you purchase, consider selling it on after you have finished with it. Sometimes you can recover nearly the full price.