Blog: 5 cost-effective swaps I make to save money
Hey! I’m Mimi, a fourth year Modern Languages student and one of the Student Content Shapers at UoB. Since starting university in 2021, the cost of being a student has definitely gone up, so here are some of the swaps I’ve learnt along the way to make my budget stretch that little bit further.
Buying in bulk
There are ingredients I know I’ll always use to cook such as pasta, spices, frozen veg, chicken and lots more, so I make sure that I buy these things in bulk (purchasing lots at once for a lower price) and make use of my freezer and cupboard space. It can be tempting to just do your shopping in Aldi or Lidl because they are the cheapest local supermarkets, but shopping around at different places is also key to save money. There’s lots of good places to buy in bulk around campus. The Food Warehouse by Iceland in Battery Retail Park in Selly Oak is great for dried and frozen goods, and I love Seoul Plaza for spices and snacks.
Meal prepping
Planning my meals and meal prepping is another great tip I’ve learnt to save me both time and money. I like to batch cook a meal in the evening and then eat that for my dinners and lunches throughout the week. There are lots of microwaves on campus that I always use to reheat my leftovers to save me having to spend money on lunch. I also like to make things that I can easily add different ingredients to make it more varied. For example, I would make a Bolognese and have it with pasta, and then just add a tin of beans and some chillis to make a chilli con carne with rice. I even have the same mix in wraps or on a jacket potato to reduce waste. Don’t worry about buying fancy containers to keep them in- I just use takeaway boxes, old Tupperware from my family and even jam jars. If you’re ever stuck for ideas on what to cook, the Student Content Shapers have created a series of Reels on Instagram on their favourite ‘Banging Budget Friendly Meals', including my toad in the hole.
Hot drinks
If you’re like me and are also addicted to caffeine, bringing your own travel mug and tea bags or coffee sachets onto campus is a must! There are lots of hot water taps in buildings across campus that are great for making a hot drink when I’m studying. Bringing a reusable mug with you also gets you 25p off a hot drink at the Food Fellows coffee outlets on campus. You can download the new Food Fellows app to collect loyalty points to spend at any of the outlets on campus and at the Exchange Café. You even get a free drink just for signing up!
Buying secondhand
It can be really tempting to buy all new homeware when you first move to uni or into a new house, but buying second-hand really saves me a lot of money. We’re lucky that there are some great charity shops in Harborne, which also makes for a great day out. Make sure to check online too! Facebook Marketplace often has items going for free, but personally, I like to use Vinted and Hazaar which are both great for homeware, clothes and books. You can even sell bits that you don’t use to earn some extra cash!
Student discount
Did you know as a student in the UK, you can access lots of discounts and deals on popular brands and services? I used to be shy when asking for a student discount when shopping or eating out, but during my time at uni I have become a lot braver to help me save money. It never hurts to just ask- even getting 10-15% off really helps to stretch my budget. Don’t forget to get those savings online too through UniDays or StudentBeans.
Student life can get expensive. Hopefully these simple swaps have given you some new ideas of how to save money at university. It’s also important to reflect on your own lifestyle and spending habits to see if you can make some small changes that will really make a difference.
Need a helping hand when it comes to managing your money? Our Cost of Living Support pages are full of handy tips, advice and resources to help you survive and thrive at university. You’ll also find information on the financial and wellbeing support available to you at UoB.