There is no doubt that university is expensive. However, new students are able to have fun and maximise their enjoyment without spending a fortune. There are endless free opportunities to make the most during Welcome Week at university. For instance, societies fairs, icebreakers and socials are perfect for meeting new people and picking up a few freebies.

One thing that I would highly recommend new students to take advantage of is student deals and discounts. The app UNIDAYS offers loads of amazing discount codes for clothing shops, technology and beauty. Therefore, I would highly encourage students to set up an account with their university email address. Additionally, you can set up a student bank account, which will often offer travel discounts, free or discounted cinema tickets and vouchers for restaurant spending. 

Weekly food shops can be overwhelming and expensive. So it is important to plan what you will be eating for the week and purchase accordingly. A helpful and cost effective method is to meal prep at the beginning of the week; meaning you will have a couple of extra meals in the freezer if you do not have the time or energy to cook from scratch. Another tip that I live by is to make extra portions of my dinner to have for lunch throughout the week. Some great examples include pasta, stir fry, fajitas or bolognese. There are loads of great budget friendly meal suggestions on the UoB Instagram page (@unibirmingham). 

It can seem unnecessary, but consider if you would benefit from setting yourself a budget. This can be a set amount of money that you allocate yourself every week, in order to refrain from unnecessary spending and to keep track of your expenses. 

A final money saving tip is to shop sustainably. In terms of clothing, there are loads of amazing charity shops in Birmingham, as well as online second hand sites such as Vinted which is also great for selling clothing you no longer wear (and if you are in need of some extra money). To refrain from online shopping, I like to borrow clothes from my housemates and friends, particularly for nights out and themed socials. Additionally, if you are in need of textbooks or reading material, second hand copies can often be found on the student Facebook group Fab N Fresh or websites such as AbeBooks or World of Books.

It is important to keep an eye on your spending at university, but it is also important to have fun. So, don’t let your finances control you, and refer to the UoB Student Intranet if you are in need of advice or guidance regarding money.