Living on a budget
Because you have a large amount of money in your account when you get your loan/grant, don't think you're loaded! While it might look a lot of money, remember how long this has got to last you and what it needs to cover.
Don't go on a big spending spree at the start of term! Use the Budget Planner to set yourself a weekly or monthly budget and stick to it.
Eating on a budget
Plan meals for the week ahead and buy food accordingly. Always use a shopping list so that you are not tempted to buy unnecessary items. Try to buy supermarket own brands as they are much cheaper than the more well known brands.
Look out for special offers, but do not buy things that you'll never eat just because it's cheap. Watch the sell by dates as you shop. You do not want to throw away food which you bought cheaply but cannot use in time. When you go to the supermarket, check out the reduced item shelves (usually at the end of an aisle) to see if there is anything you could use.
Never go shopping when hungry as it is too tempting to overbuy!
Take advantage of promotional money-off coupons. You may find some useful offers at the Student Voucher Codes website.
Learn how to cook! Get a student cookbook which will have numerous nutritional but low cost recipes. The recipes below are simple, tasty and won't cost a fortune.
Socialising on a budget
Always carry your NUS card and do not be afraid to ask for discounts - some restaurants, cinemas and stores offer student discounts but do not advertise it.
Set yourself a budget before you go out for the evening and only use cash, not cards, to help you keep to it!
Going to the cinema with a few friends can be an expensive outing. Instead of going at night, try catching a matinee. Daytime showings can be considerably cheaper than their night-time counterparts and can be just as much fun. Those of you on the Orange mobile network, take advantage of offers such as Orange Wednesdays where you can get two cinema tickets for the price of one. Access a list of participating cinemas.
Look out for two for one deals in restaurants in Nottingham, or early evening menus, as these can offer great savings. You may also find the following websites useful:
Most libraries offer you the chance to take out DVDs, CDs and other forms of entertainment at very cheap prices, so take advantage of this resource.
Before making a purchase, pause for thought. Try waiting for a few days before making the purchase as it gives you time to compare prices elsewhere, come up with an alternative or even to decide that you do not need or want it.
