From cheap clothes shopping and student discounts to smart grocery shopping, a frugal student’s approach to saving money.
Introduction
It’s a pretty herculean task to be thrust into striking the balance between enjoying the fun of uni and not plunging into debt, so I’ve compiled some of my favourite cost cutting measures over the last year to avoid that! Some useful accompaniments are our article on budget friendly meals and on money saving apps!
Clothes Shopping
Charity shopping in York is some of the best in the country, so it’s a great thing to make use of! The student pilgrimage through the charity shops of York is so well-trod that it’s been discussed a little ad nauseum (which I guess I’m now adding to – whoops). Personally, not only did I get some swanky dress shirts for a fiver each, but it was a great opportunity to grow closer to my flat! We tried on outfits and encouraged one another to wear more ostentatious stuff and it’s a fun way to broaden your style. It also helps to know that your money is going to a good place too, while also being infinitely more ecological. If you’re put off by charity shopping then Vinted is the absolute go to (although they don’t do refunds and have inordinate delivery fees so beware).
Discounts
Not only do you have a ludicrous array of discounts available as a student, but your friends undoubtedly will have discounts wherever they work: one of my friends gets free Everyman tickets and another gets 50% off Rudy’s pizza, so asking people is legitimately a great cost cutting tool. Maybe you don’t have any friends? Well, the Student Art Pass regularly is half off to £5, and gives free or reduced entry to most galleries nationally, including the York Art Gallery (big recommendation by the way). That’s actually cheaper than if you bought one standard ticket into the gallery anyway. If you’re not the artsy type then another thing I wish I bought sooner was a plat card. I really recommend you get one before they’re sold out. Most importantly, they give free entry on three of the most popular club nights, and you recoup the price if you go out once a fortnight (and trust me you’ll go out more than that, even if you don’t think you will). It has some other goodies like queue jump but doesn’t apply on Tuesdays (indie night) or Thursdays (LGBTQ+ night).
Memberships
Gym memberships are a big expense but thankfully there are some very affordable options in York. On west campus, there’s the off-peak membership for the York Sport Centre or, in town, the gym group also have an off-peak membership. I’d give the edge to the sport centre though, as they allow you to freeze your membership so you can get an extra couple of months into the next year. You’d think it’d go without saying, but swap to student subscriptions for Apple Music (£6), Spotify (£6), YouTube (£8) or Amazon (£4.50). (You’d be surprised how many people procrastinate on this!) Some societies also have annual memberships (like the awesome Outdoor Society) so it’s a good idea. A final consideration might be a 3-year 16-25 railcard (£80) which will likely save you more than its price in the first year alone.
Freebies
For the café lovers, make sure to get the YorCup and scan the MyUoY app in the campus cafés for bonus free drinks and discounts for takeout. Similarly, if you’re a pub person, then make sure you get the Mixr app (basically just the UniDays for pubs) because it works for most of the popular pubs in York (including the Charles and Nag’s Head). The three most woefully underused money savers are Too Wonderful to Waste (free pastries and sandwiches), Crate to Plate (free fresh vegetables and fruits), and Get That Bread (free fancy loaves of bread) all of which are on-campus initiatives so you’ve got no excuse not to pop by.
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