Tag Archives: University

5 Ways to Save Money When You’re a Student

Saving Money, University, ,
Wallet
photo by Jeff Keen

This guest post is by Heidi Taylor from Graduate degree online.

It’s not something most students are programmed to do, but it’s something that makes really good sense. The habit of saving for a rainy day is an aberration for the young, what with their tendency to live for today and take tomorrow as it comes. But the cost of university is high, and if you don’t realize that today, you’re going to end up with a huge debt and no way of repaying it when you graduate, especially because of the way the economy is and because jobs are hard to come by. If you’re looking for ways to save money while at university, here are a few tips to help you along:

  • Don’t use your credit card: We’ve all heard that a penny saved is a penny earned; in the case of credit cards, a penny not spent is more than penny saved when you calculate the amount of interest you’re saving. Don’t get into the habit of charging things to your card. Remember, you’re spending money that you do not have but which is borrowed, and on which you will owe interest if you don’t repay it within a certain time. Continue reading 5 Ways to Save Money When You’re a Student →

Oops! Better Time Budgeting

Saving Money, University, , ,
Budget Time
photo by Mike9Alive

Well I hope you all had a good holiday, back at university now, apologies for the absence! I must try not to apologise in every post. Which brings me to my biggest flaw at university, my lack of time to do things I enjoy, or more importantly need to do. Probably this is down to me preferring to do things on the spur of the moment. Mind you I doubt I’m the only student who usually says yes to the offer of going to the pub! As people know TIME = MONEY, or for students TIME costs MONEY, and the fact is, the little ‘free’ time available often involves spending money for entertainment, e.g. cinema, pub, clubs, e.t.c.

Having a little extra time can save you money, an extra half hour in the evening could be used to cook a cost effective meal, rather than that expensive take-away or ready meal. Also that half hour could be used to finish that essay due in at 9am!

So what to do?

Plan, Plan, Plan ahead.

168 Hours you have each week, of which ideally you need to sleep 56 especially with exams ahead, therefore 112 Hours of usable time!

Obviously some of that is used up by work/lectures-

But you can:-

  • Get up in the morning (shock horror, students getting up on there days off, see zenhabits ideas if you need a little persuasion!)
  • Plan your meals in advance (no more thinking what shall I have for dinner, spending 10 mins thinking about it and then settling for the easy option.)
  • Set time specifically aside for work and play (sounds sensible but how many stick to it!)

Finally just remember time is like money, you always spend it, but unlike money you cannot earn it back. Just don’t cram to much in, a little relaxation (procrastination) time is always needed!

Still working on the time machine,

Martyn.

Enjoy More, For Less

Saving Money, University, , , , , , ,

Cheap TicketsThere’s no point going to uni, if you just go to lectures and then spend the rest of your time staying at ‘home’. Nothing wrong with spending a little time socialising with your flatmates and friends in your new home, but everyone needs to get out and about at sometime.

The problem, well going out costs money. Going out to a club, costs you entry plus drinks to get you in the right ‘state’. Going to the cinema to see the ‘must see film’, all your friends have seen. The list goes on, but how do you get a great night for less money? Well with clubbing it’s worth setting yourself a limit, e.g. only withdraw a set amount of cash before you go out. Also try drinking at home before going to a club, it’s always cheaper (pubs/bars/breweries put a large mark up on pints, remember you’re paying to use there facilities), just don’t go over the top, else you will never get to the club! If you do want to go to pub first always try your student union bar/pub, they generally give the best deals on drinks. But also listen and look out for pubs and clubs doing student deals, and remember drink responsibly!

So you want to go to the cinema? But if you are not on the Orange network or it’s not Wednesday? What’s plan B?

Well try studentbeans.com

As long as you have a student I.D. you can get great offers to print off including my favourite 2 for 1 at Cineworld from Mon – Thur. There are many other offers in a range of categories such as entertainment or eating out. Some offers are better than others. One slight drawback is studentbeans.com is mainly based in and around major university cities in the UK, therefore not everywhere is covered. Although I would say coverage is pretty good.

Plus things just feel better if you get them cheaper than usual!

Cheers,

Martyn.

image: www.freeimages.co.uk