There are lots of things you can do to reduce your consumption and save costs in your everyday life.
Energy consumption
NUS Student Switch Off+ provides some great advice on understanding your energy bills and offer some tips about conserving energy and heat.
MoneySavingExpert regularly put out guides on how you can cut the cost of your energy and water bills.
As mentioned above, you can also save money on your energy bills by working on campus. There are Study Spaces located around campus as well as the Main Library. We will be installing new mobile charging lockers at some locations too soon.
Shopping
An effective and fun way to save money on food while at university is to cook meals with your housemates and friends. Cooking as a group will save costs and reduce waste. You should also consider batch cooking meals and freezing them, this will prevent food expiring and save you time and money. Many shops are removing best-before dates in an attempt to reduce waste. Whilst best-before dates only offer a guide on quality, you should still refer to the use-by dates to ensure food is safe to eat.
When food shopping, you should consider which supermarkets best suit your budget. Non-branded items are considerably cheaper than branded items, and you can often get food for cheaper by shopping in the evenings when food prices have been reduced.
Save The Student have put together an article on how you can save money when online food shopping and BBC Good Food is a great starting point for finding budget-friendly recipes.
When it comes to clothing and goods, there are lots of second-hand shops that you can visit near the University to find a pre-loved bargain. It's cheap and better for the planet. Hazaar is a zero waste marketplace for students that was set up by one of our own students!
Health & Wellbeing
Students may be eligible for help with their healthcare costs by completing a HC1 form and applying to the NHS Low Income Scheme. This could include full or partial exemption from NHS prescription costs, or help with dental and optical care.
The university offers Student Membership at the Sport & Fitness Centre. You could also explore alternative exercise plans such as Couch to 5K, utilise exercise videos on YouTube or join a club or society here on campus.
Travel
The university has a rail station located right on campus (University) and is a quick and easy way to travel into the city. There are a number of Railcards available to purchase, with the majority offering 1/3 off UK rail fares. Our Student Train Travel Tips page has more information on other savings available.
The university operates a bike hire scheme and there are West Midlands Cycle Hire stations around the outskirts of campus.
University staff and students, and NHS staff can travel by bus for just £1.50. The 'Birmingham Uni Hop' will be available from any stop between Selly Oak and the city centre, in either direction, for bus numbers 61, 63, X21 and X22. Remember to take your University ID card with you, as you will need to show it to the bus driver to receive the special fare.
If you don't live in the Hop zone, or want to travel somewhere other than the city centre, there are other savings and discounted fares available. Explore deals offered by National Express and take a look at our Student Bus Travel Tips for more information.
The government has also introduced a £2 bus fare cap that will run until 31 October 2023. This will change to £2.50 for single tickets from 1 November 2023 to 30 November 2024. Make sure you visit the government website to check what routes are included in the fare cap.
Course costs
Use the Library Services where possible and always see what books you can borrow before you start purchasing course materials. Buying textbooks second hand is a sustainable way of reducing course costs, especially if you’re only going to use it for one module. You could even sell it on again when you're finished with it.