17 Money Saving Hacks for Students

Here are some easy ways to save money and make some extra cash as a student.

With a tight budget, here's how to make every penny go further and hopefully get a few extra in your pocket...

Make extra money online

The more money you have the less savings you need to make! Swagbucks allows you to earn points (aka Swag Bucks) by searching via their website (which is powdered by Google and Bing).

The Swag Bucks points can be exchanged for all sorts of rewards such as gift cards or just straight cash into your Paypal account. You can also earn points by completing surveys and polls, shopping and watching videos.

Get discounted food online

Online supermarket Approved Food offers huge savings on food, selling out-of-season, surplus and short-dated stock. It's all still good to eat, but costs a fraction of the retail price.

Ditch ready meals

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They're costly - make your homemade grub with these student recipes.

Use soap for most cleaning

Warm soapy water works great for most cleaning jobs: Don't bother with various expensive supposed specifically designed cleaners

For ladies, buy men's clothes

When it comes to pajamas and sweats, men's products are often a lot cheaper. Perfect for a day wrapped up in bed watching Netflix.

For everyone, buy cheap clothes and shoes from supermarkets

There will like be times when you're clothes are going to end up being destroyed, or you just want a load of cheap socks and pants: Supermarkets are your friend for that.



Cancel the gym membership

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Especially if you've never used it since January...

Eat before you shop

Shopping when hungry is dangerous for your wallet. Also be sure to make a list of what you want and stick to it.

Watch out for dubious offers

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Cast a critical eye over supposed supermarket offers to see if you're actually getting a deal or just being ripped off.

Drink more water

It's free and healthy.

Ditch the morning coffee

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Make it yourself, lazy bones.

Split the ticket

When travelling by train, check to see if its cheaper buying two tickets via a station along the journey. See Split The Ticket.



Walk more

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Avoid taking the bus and get some free fresh air.

Buy second, third or fourth hand books

There are almost zero reasons to buy new books, or even second hand books. When it comes to textbooks that haven't changed for many years, you can pick up bargains online or in used book stores.

Eat 'off' food

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Turn stale bread into pudding or brown bananas into chocolate cupcakes!

Take advantage of student discounts

hot air balloonvia Flickr/littlemoresunshine
Yes, your student ID means cut price balloon rides and much more. > 30 Surprising Student Discounts You Probably Didn’t Know About

Own supermarket reductions

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Grab a cut price bargain by checking out the reduced section of supermarkets when you're out shopping.

Say no

Finally, learn to say no - to yourself or others - if you just can't afford it.

About the author: Thomas Brella

Thomas Brella is the founder of Student Hacks, starting the website in 2013 while studying at the University of Brighton to share tips and tricks on life as a cash-strapped student. He's now spent over 10 years scoping out the best ways to live on a budget

More on: Money
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