Money-Saving Tips from an International Postgraduate Student at the University of York

Money, money, money… Is it funny?

The short answer is: not always. Planning to move, live and study abroad for the first time can feel seriously overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to work out how much everything will cost.

Thankfully, the experience taught me to become much more intentional about managing my money. With rent, groceries, transport and everyday essentials taking up most of my budget, I also wanted enough left over to enjoy everything York and the UK had to offer.

As part of the scholarship I received from South Africa, I was required to prepare a detailed budget for my year abroad. It took nearly a month to research the costs of tuition, accommodation, travel, visas and everyday living expenses. It certainly felt like the most “adult” thing I’d ever done! Now that I’ve experienced what it’s really like to live and study in York, I feel much better equipped to share the money-saving tips that helped me settle in, stretch my budget and make the most of my time here.

Start with a realistic budget

Before arriving in York, I looked at my spending habits using my banking app’s budgeting feature. I also attended one of the University’s International Student Support’s Drop-In Support Sessions, where I spoke to the team about my estimated monthly food costs. Their advice helped me create a much more realistic budget.

To make my budget as accurate as possible, I categorised things into three options: the least expensive, moderately expensive and most expensive plan. These showed me that my overall costs could vary by several thousand pounds depending on accommodation and travel choices.

My budget included:

• Rent: If you’re living in University accommodation, remember that rent is usually paid in installments rather than monthly.
• Groceries: Before moving to the UK, I filled an online shopping basket at a UK supermarket (eg Asda) to estimate what my weekly and monthly food shop might cost.
• Toiletries: Remember that items like shampoo, toothpaste and soap don’t need replacing every week, so factor that into your estimates.
• Health: When it comes to specific medications for any health conditions you have, I would budget to buy as much as you are allowed to bring with you from your home country. Just in case they are more difficult to get in the UK.
• Transport: Although I was used to taking Ubers back home, I quickly adapted to using the First Bus app. York is also a very walkable and cycle-friendly city, which can help you save money.
• Course materials: I borrowed books from the University Library whenever possible instead of buying them, which significantly reduced my costs. I did, however, buy second-hand books through Awesome Books, an online bookshop.

Finally, try to leave room in your budget for unexpected expenses. While that isn’t always possible, having even a small financial safety net can make settling into university life much less stressful. If you need additional guidance, the University of York also offers a range of financial advice and support services.

How the University of York offers financial advice and support

The University of York’s Students’ Union (SU) has the “Sustainable Pantry” which offers their enrolled students free toiletries and cleaning products at the Student Centre on Campus West and the Ron Cooke Hub on Campus East. This has really helped me save on costs throughout my time in York. Be sure to note their opening times on their website – it changes in the summer vacation period.

Collage by author: A student filling their bottle with washing-up liquid at The Sustainable Pantry in Student Centre on Campus West.

York SU’s Crate to Plate scheme also provides free surplus food, including fresh fruit, vegetables and cupboard staples. It’s a great way to lower your grocery costs and reduce food waste.

Photos and collage by author: A student selecting items from the fresh food section of the “Crate to Plate” SU event at The Lounge. 

Student discounts? Yes please!

I regularly shop at Co-op, Lidl, Savers, Poundland and Boyes, and signing up for their membership schemes helped me save even more. I also used UNiDAYS for discounts and found affordable clothes on Vinted and in York’s charity shops. During the academic year, it’s also worth keeping an eye out for clothing sales at the Spring Lane Building.

Lastly, always ask if there’s a student discount. Whether you’re shopping, eating out or visiting attractions, it’s always worth mentioning that you’re a student. You might be surprised how many places offer discounts.

Final thoughts

Learning to budget is one of the most valuable skills I’ve gained during my time at York. It wasn’t about saying no to everything, but rather, it was about spending intentionally. This meant I was still able to eat well-balanced meals, have the occasional coffee date with a friend, and explore York without constantly worrying about money.

Everyone’s budget will look different, but planning ahead, taking advantage of student discounts and accessing the support available at York made a huge difference for me.

Working as a part-time student content creator for the University also gave me some flexible extra income, which meant that I could save a little more. Also, I would highly recommend looking for part-time job opportunities on campus and in York.

Hopefully these tips will help you feel a little more prepared before you arrive.