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Dealing with money is a frustrating thing, I hear you. It’s tempting to shut your eyes and ignore your perpetual descent into an overdraft. But here are a few York-specific, money-saving tips to keep a few digits on your bank balance.
Mega Stationery Savings
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: PHYS…ICS…SHOP. I don’t know what the official name for this place is but I do know it was a massive mistake for me to buy my folders elsewhere in term 1 (and not here).
In the Physics department, there is a store that sells all the basic stuff you need: paper, flashcards, folders, glue, notebooks, scissors, staples – it’s there! And it’s cheap. All the prices are a random amount of pennies (like 42p) and with that lack of rounding, you can tell this is a proper wholesale pricing situation.
To be entirely transparent, I don’t get everything from here since I am pretty picky about pens and splash out on them online (my fav pen, if you care). Though, if you’re cool with biros, phys-shop is the one for you.
YOYO Wallet & NUS Extra
When you’ll inevitably be getting a meal deal from YUSU shop, buying nachos from The Courtyard or spending some sterling at any other YUSU commercial outlet, make sure you pay with YOYO Wallet. Rack up points and let Future-You redeem some free food and drink.
But don’t stop there; connect your NUS Extra card to your Yoyo Wallet and get extra offers and no minimum-payment fees.
These NUS cards are good. They are good for Yoyo, they’re great for Pizza Express, but they also give you 10% off at Co-op supermarkets. Now, this is crucial as a resident of the student-filled Hull Road. The Co-operative Food is minutes away from my front door while Aldi – which was the obvious choice when living on campus – is not worth the trek just for some baked beans. No, Co-op suits my laziness and gives me 10% off with my NUS card as well as an extra 5% off with my Co-op card. On top of that, they seem to love giving me coupons, to the point of me expecting them every time. I once spent 40p for freshly baked cookies and a pack of Jammie dodgers!
Bread
Story: I was on a search for some fresh bread near me, one day, and entered Thomas the Baker to browse through their baguettes (patisserie perusing, if you will). I put a nondescript loaf on the counter and was told it was 2-for-1, and I was like “cool” and went to grab another. Once I brought it back she said “that’s 95p” and I was like “nice!”. “But,” she said, “you can also get four loaves for one pound”.
Why she didn’t tell me sooner? I don’t know. Anyway, the moral of this fascinating tale is: Thomas the Baker – 4 loaves for £1. Sharing this type of dough with your housemates will save the other type of dough for all of you.
Yorkey card
If you occasionally get the 66/66a bus, then get a Yorkey card. Your rides last for 3 years and it’s cheaper (and easier) than buying £2 singles all the time.
NatSci exclusives
If you are (or will be) a Natural Scientist, like me, then make the most out of your extra privileges to save a bit of dosh. The Natural Sciences Learning Studio has some features, you see.
- Bring food from home to heat in the NatSci microwave. If there’s no time to get to your off-campus accommodation, then there is this as an alternative to a panini from Cookies.
- Coffee! Tea! It’s free and it’ll be fuelling you through your studying all year.
- Pizza Thursdays (formally known as Natural Sciences Hour) will put some food on your plate for one evening every week, so that’s at least a couple of quid saved to burn on something more exciting.
If you want to be an expert saver and find some more general tips, then check out www.savethestudent.org for guides on preserving your pounds.
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