Tips

Tips for cheaper living...

Use vouchers and tokens

You can find vouchers everywhere. In newspapers, magazines, flyers posted through your door. Keep them handy.

• Newspapers do voucher schemes to get more student readers. See our links page to find out more.
• Magazines usually have deals with other companies to promote their product with a few pounds off. Tear them out and make use of them.
• HMV do voucher booklets on the run up to Christmas.
• Ask for vouchers for your birthday or at Christmas, rather than tacky trends or the same woolly jumper you get every year.
• Find tokens in papers, magazines, cereal boxes, food wrappers - if you eat a particular brand of food a lot, keep the tokens to send off for gifts.

Take advantage of student discounts:

• 10% discount is usually the standard student rate, although during freshers, these offers can be doubled.
• Student discounts are usually advertised outside the place you're going into. To name some places that accept student discount: Topshop/Topman, QS, HMV, Ryman Stationery, Pizza Hut, Subway, Specsavers.
• McDonalds give you an extra sideline on presentation of student ID: a cheeseburger or a McFlurry!

Use loyalty cards

Earn back a little on what you spend!

• Top of the chart is Boots, earning 4pence for every pound spent, plus extra points on offer (watch out for the TV and newspaper ads or see instore) - thats 12pence for every pound! Larger Boots stores also do foods and electronics meaning you can earn more points under one roof!
• Tescos have their own loyalty card, Sainsbury's have the Nectar card system, HMV have a games reward card - £5 off every 1000 points you earn, earn extra by placing pre-orders). Game also have a games loyalty card too.

Shop during sales

If you were I, shop after the hype has died down a little with fashions and presents. Try waiting til after Christmas before buying what you want, as prices drop by as much as 70%.

Shop using a list and stick to it

The hardest thing to do when you have a wad of cash is not spending it! When you need to shop, know exactly what you need by writing a list and sticking to it, this acts as an incentive NOT to overspend.

Factory seconds or buy last season wear

• Check the garments for damage or defects before you buy, obviously.
• Probably the biggest retailer on the high street that does this is TK Maxx. This can mean hours of going through racks of clothes, but there are treasures to be found.
• Madhouse stock cheap designer gear too, although many of their outlets have closed down recently.

Compare prices elsewhere

It requires a little more shopping around, but you can often find the same item you want to buy elsewhere for cheaper. Don't feel like a fool next time you walk past the same shop and see it for cheaper - look about!

Look out for press discounts

Often in collaboration your favourite magazine, these the magazine makes a deal with the advertising company to sell their items for a discount to readers. Take note of the reference codes.

Work out cost effectiveness

A simple equation, cost effectivenes = price divided by how useful something will be.

• If you're going to buy a PSP but wont have enough time to play it (due to studying hard like a student should!) - don't buy it, it isn't cost effective!
• Apply this equation to anything that may work out expensive in the long term - work out the best phone tarriff this way - don't pay for 1000minutes a month + 50 texts if you don't talk alot but do text compulsively!

Have an insider

Know people in the business! You want a cheap dinner? Befriend a chef!

• Realistically, if you have a friend that works somewhere where they can get staff discount, you should take advantage of it. Consider that someone working for PC World can get you a special rate on a new computer, or someone working in retail can get you huge cuts off a new outfit.
• Alternatively, be the person on the inside. Clothes retail are probably the best when working for a known brand - Firetrap gives you around £200 store credit to buy their clothes for you to work in every month. You can then sell on unwanted stuff and make a small profit

Ditch vanity!

Namely shaving! This doesn't mean walk around with a fuzzy face (or legs, ladies).

Triple-blade razors don't come cheap. Take care of your razor and you can use it up to three times without it nicking. The amount you shave a week can also save pounds on buying razors. Anything over a week of not shaving, given the rate your beard grows, is not recommended!