Five ways to save and make money in your first year of uni

Image by epSos.de via FlickrOne of the biggest fears students tend to have when leaving for university, is how they'll cope with money. For many, it's the first time they've had full financial independence. It doesn't need to be scary though. A little forward thinking can help you avoid dipping into your overdraft, while enjoying a social life and varied diet!

Here are five ways to save money and make money while at university.


NUS Extra card
The NUS Extra card is packed full of deals for you to save money in all areas of life. It costs just £11, and the average student saves £500 with theirs. For example, you can:

• Save 10% off toiletries at Superdrug
• Save 10% on your sports gear at JJB sports
• Get 40% off a haircut at Nicky Clarke 
• Get half price driving lessons with the AA
• 11% off a 16-25 Railcard. Talking of which...

16-25 Railcard
If you're going to travel anywhere this year, whether it's a trip home or a day trip to London, a 16-25 railcard will save you a lot of money. You'll usually save around a third on your ticket, unless you go at peak time. Book ahead on sites like TheTrainLine, and you'll save even more with their early booking rates! You'll usually make your money back on the railcard purchase within just a couple of journeys.


Get together!
The best way to save money is a bit of teamwork. It's far cheaper to cook a meal between five people, than to cook for just one. You'll save money on food, electricity and washing up, plus enjoy a nice meal together with your housemates.


Work for the union
If you're looking to earn while you learn, the union has a number of roles available. You could help behind the bar, work in the catering department, drive the safety bus or help out at the Freshers' Fayre among other roles. Shifts are flexible, so you can fit it around your studies. Have a look at our student job vacancies to see what we're currently looking for.


Quidco - Cashback
Quidco is a great service that lets you earn a small amount of cashback every time you buy something from one of their participating stores. You can use your NUS card alongside the Quidco cashback scheme when you buy in store. So, in theory, you can could buy a laptop in Comet, where you'll get 5% off, and then an additional 2.5% cashback. It might not sound like a lot, but it'll stack up throughout the year.

How do you save and make money at university?

20 student basic supermarket purchases

The first time you’ll do a student food shop can be overwhelming and exciting. It’s all too tempting to throw everything in your trolley, especially if you’ve just had your student loan through.

If you’re wondering what basics to buy, here are a few ideas:

• Milk. For tea, cereal and the odd hot chocolate treat
• Margarine. Or butter if you’re not too worried about calories.
• Bread. Just don’t live on it.
• Fruit juice: The easiest way to get one of your 5-a-day.
• Eggs: Cheap, filling and versatile.
• Cheese: Again, cheap and versatile.
• Pasta: An absolute student essential. Quick and easy to cook, and brilliant for lining the stomach.
• Rice: Great for curries, paellas, chinese dishes and stir frys.
• Herbs and spices: Most food can be livened up with some herbs and spices. And most of the supermarkets do sets of basic herbs and spices.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential parts of most savoury recipes.
• Meat. Certain cuts of meats and poultry are cheaper than others. Chicken thighs, braising steak and pork belly are all cheaper options - and often more tender. It’s worth popping to the frozen aisle to see if they’ve got any packs of frozen chicken breasts/steaks/chops as they’re cheaper. Also, check out the discounted section for any last-minute bargains.
• Beans and pulses. Great for throwing into a stew (and it’s worth investing in a slow cooker for simple and easy meals).
• Vegetables. I know, but you’ll thank us for nagging you about this. Again, hit up the frozen aisle for big bags of frozen vegetables, or those handy sachets of microwave vegetables (and sometimes rice)
• Pizza Bases: A cheap way to make a quick dinner. Just chuck your ingredients on and pop it in the oven.
• Sugar: For your tea, cakes and cereal.
• Olive Oil: A basic for cooking. You can also get Olive Oil is spray form.
• Flour: For sauces, cakes and
• Tomato Sauce: Great with pasta, or as a base to pizza.
• Soy sauce: A great way to liven up meat and fish.
• Tuna: What house is complete without several cans of tuna?

All of this will be available from Campus Central. Keep an eye out for upcoming deals!

What essentials would you add to the list?