Doing the food shop, spending money on days out with friends and paying utility bills can all quickly add up. It’s important to budget where possible to avoid unnecessary money stress.
1. Track Spending With a Budgeting App
There are many budgeting apps out there like ‘Goodbudget’ which you can use to track your spending. Many banking apps like Monzo and HSBC also allow you to categorise your spending, giving you insight into where your money is going each month. Doing this allows you to see which areas you’re overspending in so you can budget and save more.
2. Plan Your Spending Weekly, Not Monthly
Not every week is the same. One week might look expensive; maybe you need to do a food shop and your bills are due to be taken. The week after, you might have lots of lectures and not much spare time to spend money. Tracking your spending weekly means you can be more precise and prepared.
3. Master the Student Food Shop
If you’ve ever done a food shop and been surprised at the total cost, then you’re not alone. Here are some things you can do to avoid expensive shops:
- Give yourself a food shop budget: It’s okay to experiment with your budget until you find one that works, but once you do, stick to it. Many supermarkets have the option to scan your food as you shop, so you can see how much you’re spending and how close you are to your budget.
- Meal planning: If you know what meals you’re having for the week, then you’re less likely to buy food you don’t need.
4. Use Student Discount Apps
Apps like UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and Totum offer discounts on a range of brands. Next time you go shopping, travel somewhere or go to a restaurant to enjoy a meal with friends, check what student discounts are available. If you’re somewhere like a shop or a pub and are unsure if they have student discounts available, make sure you ask.
5. Avoid Subscription Traps
When signing up for a new subscription, carefully read their terms and conditions and look for anything important, like the cancellation policy. If you’re using a free trial, set a reminder on your phone a few days before it ends so you can cancel it if necessary. Subscriptions can be costly, so it’s best to avoid having them where possible and only have the essential ones.
6. Split House Costs Fairly
If you’re getting a takeaway, make sure everyone pays their part. If you’re having drinks with your housemates, ask everyone to bring something. The responsibility doesn’t have to be on one person to pay the full price. Something else you can do is take turns to buy household items that you all use. This can be toilet roll, washing up liquid, bin bags for the kitchen, and tea bags. Buying something that everyone uses for yourself can become expensive, so help each other out!
7. Use a Student Bill Splitting Service
With The Student Energy Group, we’ll combine your household bills into one monthly statement, which can be split equally between everyone you live with. By signing up with us, you’ll only pay your fair share to ensure you can focus on university and reduce your money stress.
8. Budget for Fun Activities to Maintain Consistency
Having to say no to something fun with friends, like a meal or a night out, can feel disheartening. However, it’s important that you find time to hang out with the people in your life, as it gives you a break from assignment stress. To make sure you can take part in activities, allocate ‘fun money’ aside each month.
9. Look for Free Events and Campus Perks
Enjoying time with friends doesn’t have to cost money. There are many free activities you can spend your weekend doing, like going on a hike, visiting a museum, or reading a book in a park. Many universities hold free events; you just have to look out for them so you don’t miss them. Remember to look at what societies your university has; you might even find a new hobby or passion.
Budget Effectively With TSEG’s Student Bill Splitting
At TSEG, we can help you save time and money. We’ll combine all your bills (such as energy, gas, water, internet and TV licence) into one monthly student bills package. This can then be split equally between everyone you live with to avoid hassle and arguments. If you sign up with us, we’ll also make sure to plant a tree! Get a free no-obligation quote from us today so you can begin budgeting.
