While the thought of fresher’s week may be appealing, the idea of your student loan dropping into your account is even sweeter. But the harsh reality is, it isn't going to last very long unless you look after your money, especially when it comes to kitting out your uni halls and having to decide between every day essentials and a night out.
Step forward the money experts at PIWoP, a price drop alert tool, who have detailed five ways to save money when you move to uni, without even realising it.
1. Find your flat mates on social media, and coordinate what you bring
When you’re moving into halls, the university usually puts together a forum or Facebook group that you can join and find who you’ll be living with. Try getting in touch with your prospective housemates to find out who’s bringing what, otherwise you may end up with five toasters and three kettles to one house. Not only will contact avoid doubling up, but it may get rid of the ‘stranger danger’ anxieties - and save you a shopping trip and valuable cash in the process.
2. Utilise voucher codes, and shop around for student discounts
More often than not our inboxes fill up with emails from different shops alerting us to flash sales and various money off deals. Now might be the time to start paying attention to them - especially if you already qualify for your student discount. Though, it’s important to remember that just because something is on sale or discounted it doesn’t mean you necessarily need it - try writing a list of essentials you need and make sure you stick to it.
Some uni essentials you might forget
3. Plan ahead and grab the bargains
Even though you’re not moving until September, it’s never too early to buy your essentials. If you see a sale on bathroom products or discounted kitchen utensils, grab them while they’re cheap. Getting things when you see them at a good price will prevent you having to rush last minute when you don’t have time to shop around and also spread the cost out over time.
4. Don't be too fussy
Let’s face it, at uni you won’t have the luxury of a dishwasher and your mum won’t be there to do the washing up. Your items won’t be kept in the same condition they are at home, they’ll be left in the sink or used by other housemates. Don’t be tempted to splash out on fancy items with pretty patterns, because at the end of the day, a fork is a fork. Affordability over style will help you save money for the more interesting aspects of uni.
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More uni essentials
5. Use apps or Chrome add-ons to grab the best deals
Technology is increasingly helping us find discounted items as soon as they are reduced, ensuring that if there’s an option to buy something for less, we don’t miss out! PIWoP allows users create lists of items they have their eye on, such as new kitchen appliances for uni, plus the price they are willing to pay for them. The tool then sends an alert when any item drops to or goes below their chosen price point.
6. Share, share, share
In between cheesy chips and fancy dress nights, get together with your new housemates to agree a fund for the things you're going to share, so that no one ends up fronting the money all the time. Loo roll, cleaning products and everyday essentials, but also the bigger things that you might need to invest in - a hoover? Fairy lights for your shared kitchen? A speaker?
MORE MONEY SAVING HACKS FOR STUDENTS:
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
