10 ways to survive life on a student budget

10 ways to survive life on a student budget

Most students knew 2009 would be hard on their finances, but nobody thought it would be this tough. No sooner had 50,000 students just got used to the fact they'd have to start their courses without all their loan money; then The Confederation of British Industry recommended students should pay more for their loans.

Just over 16% of the 1millions students who applied for a loan this year, didn't get their money on time. So tough times ahead for English students it seems - or maybe not? Some savvy students are taking intelligent steps to ensure they meet the challenge of rising borrowing costs head on. They're employing a whole range of tactics to ensure they make their money go further and graduate university with less debt. Here's the top-10 in no particular order:

Get a part-time job.

Okay, this is an obvious one, but you'll be shocked at just how many students don't get a part-time job to support their living expenses. We're sure no-one need to tell you about the boost working in a bar or shop can bring to your social life! But it can also stop you from blowing your student loan on those things that make uni-life so much fun such as nights out, takeaways and parties. Getting a part-time job is also a great way to meet local people outside of the traditional uni-scene.

Have all your fun for nothing.

Enjoying yourself at university doesn't have to cost and an arm and a leg. There are countless companies and organisations willing to give you bucket-loads of free stuff. All you have to do is look for them online.

P** less money up the wall.

If going out and partying is your thing, then there are ways to have full measures of fun at a fraction of the price. There are several websites that provide discount vouchers for bars, pubs and clubs such as Jongluers.

Reduce your restaurant bills.

A treat on the taste buds it may be, but eating out can leave a you feeling sick when the bill arrives. So why pay the full total? There are hundreds of discount deals online including everything from Pizza Hut to your local Indian.

Buy and Sell second-hand books.

The trouble with university textbooks is that once you've read them and learnt from them, they just end up on the bookshelf gathering dust. So why not turn them into cash and sell them to other students. Alternatively, why not buy your books second-hand and save yourself the expense of new books. Follow the link at the bottom of this article and you can do both.

Switch gas, water or electricity supplier.

Shopping around for good deals on essentials such as utilities and car insurance can save you hundreds of pounds each year. The easiest way to find a cheaper utilities is on the price comparison websites.

Smell and look great the cheaper way.

The economic times are tough And from ski wear deals to free fake tans, fashion and health & beauty retailers are offering all sorts of incentives for your business. You can find loads of discounts on health & beauty and fashion by searching for voucher codes online..

Reduce the cost of your weekly supermarket shop.

Have you noticed how expensive your supermarket shop is these days? So, take advantage of all those money-off vouchers supermarkets offer and bring the cost of your weekly food shop down. {Supermarkets try to undercut each other all the time. So shop around online for deals before you go out shopping.

Get your high-tech stuff at low prices.

If you love gadgets such as iPods and mobile phones or just need to get a laptop to write your assignments on, you can save pounds on electrical goodies. That's because broadband providers, PC makers and mobile phone networks operate in a highly competitive market. To get your business, they've got shed-loads of promotions. Take a look at what deals they've got to tempt you by going on the internet.

Set yourself an entertainment budget and stick to it.

It's so easy to overspend on that gives us the most pleasure. Restricting how much you spend on fun doesn't mean having less of it; especially when you look at some of the great 'nights out and in' deals available online.

These are just 10 ways to live large and spend small at university. Your challenge is find as many additional ways to maximise your uni-budget and graduate with minimal debt. There are countless opportunities in the vastness of cyberspace. Good luck. Here's my favourite website.