{"id":34484,"date":"2026-01-09T13:55:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=34484"},"modified":"2026-07-16T14:03:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:03:19","slug":"5-must-have-apps-to-save-money-while-studying-in-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2026\/01\/09\/5-must-have-apps-to-save-money-while-studying-in-york\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Must-Have Apps to Save Money While Studying in York"},"content":{"rendered":"

The cost of living can be a big concern when you’re a student, but I’ve discovered that my phone is actually one of my best tools for keeping my bank balance healthy! Today, I want to share my top <\/span>5 apps<\/b> that help me cut costs on food, groceries, travel, and even shopping. You can easily snag good quality items for cheap, or even for <\/span>free<\/b>, just by having these apps on your device. Here are 5 must have apps to save money whilst studying in York…<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Too Good to Go\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

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\nCredit Source Via: <\/span><\/i>farmhouseinns<\/span><\/i><\/a> \/ <\/span><\/i>Too Good to Go<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

This app is my absolute favourite. Too Good to Go is the world’s largest surplus food marketplace, connecting customers to restaurants and stores that have unsold food at the end of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How it works is simple:<\/b> Just search for a nearby restaurant or bakery, reserve your “Surprise Bag” in advance, and then go pick up the food or baked goods at the specified time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Check out the example in the photo! I paid only <\/span><\/i>\u00a32.99<\/i><\/b> and got two sandwiches, two chocolate doughnuts, a slice of pizza, and a bread roll. That’s incredibly cheap, and the quality was still great! This haul was enough for me to cover about three meals. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Not only does this save me money and keep me full, but it also helps the planet by reducing food waste. My usage history shows I’ve already saved <\/span>\u00a363<\/b> from just nine Too Good to Go purchases. Plus, after nine buys, I got an extra <\/span>\u00a34 free coupon<\/b> to use on my next discount! <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Olio<\/b><\/h3>\n

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\nCredit Source Via: <\/i>olioapp<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Olio is a free mobile app for sharing surplus food and household items with neighbours. People post all sorts of things, from food that\u2019s about to go bad (for free or for a small fee) to non-food items like homeware, furniture, books, and decorations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nExamples of free food and non-food items available near me<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\nThey even have a “Borrow” system. I once saw someone post that you could borrow a cat carrier, which was so cute!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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\nI personally scored this lovely white flower vase and a free electric kettle from the app.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Sometimes, when I have food in my fridge that I know I won’t finish in time, I also post it on Olio so others can come and share the ingredients with me. It\u2019s a great way to build community and keep things out of the bin.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. First Bus<\/b><\/h3>\n

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\nCredit Source Via: <\/i>First Bus<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

This is a <\/span>must-download<\/b> for every University of York student who wants to use the bus cheaply!<\/span><\/p>\n

I live in the city centre, and if I bought a bus ticket to the university without using the app, it would cost me \u00a33 per trip. However, if I buy my ticket through the First Bus app, the price drops to <\/span>\u00a31.50 per trip<\/b>. They also offer other great discounts like 10 single trips for \u00a314, or you can buy a term or annual pass for unlimited travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publish (January 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n

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You need to download this app!<\/b> It can save up to more than 50% on your travel. <\/span>
\n<\/span>Top Tip:<\/b> Make sure to use your university email to log in and get your student discount!<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Railcard<\/b><\/h3>\n

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\nCredit Source Via: <\/i>Google Play<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

A Railcard is a mobile application for storing digital UK Railcards (like the 16-25, Senior, Family & Friends, etc.) on your smartphone, allowing you to get discounts (usually \u2153 off) on train tickets without needing a physical card.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a student, you should definitely apply for the <\/span>16-25 Railcard<\/b>. This lets us save up to \u2153 off train tickets when travelling across the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

The application process is easy:<\/b><\/p>\n