19 money saving secrets all University students need to know

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Keep more cash in your pocket with these top 16 money saving hacks and tips.

Make money for free

Use websites like SwagBucks to make easy cash for free online by filling out surveys or just searching the web.

Get cheap food

Online supermarket Approved Food offers huge savings on food. The website specialises in surplus and short-dated stock, food that is either near or just passed its 'best before' date. It's still good to eat, but costs a fraction of the retail price.

Buy groceries from Amazon

Another place to get cheap food: Amazon's Pantry service! Yes, Amazon really does sell everything. Before heading down to the local supermarket, check out the website to see if you can fill your basket cheaper online.

Forget being loyal

It doesn't pay to be loyal with new customers often getting the best deals. Whether it's your bank account, gas bill, car insurance or even just the weekly shop, ALWAYS be on the look out for a better offer. Use websites like Broadband Genie to compare competing companies and don't be afraid to haggle to get your costs down even further.

Win at supermarket reductions

Read our guide to supermarket reductions to grab a bargain next time you go shopping.

Plus, learn about the sorts of dirty tactics supermarkets use to get us to spend more. Read up on their tricks and avoid parting with your cash.

Cook on the cheap by going Veggie

Tasty Halloumi Salad
Ditching meat, even if for a day or so a week, can save a load of cash and needn't mean boring or bland meals. For some cheap, quick and easy veggie recipes check these out.

Get train tickets for less than £1

You can get your way across the country with train tickets for less than £1 if you put some effort in - and make use of student discounts.

Organise a free night out

You don't need to spend loads to enjoy an evening. You can get free cinema tickets and free TV show tickets to programmes like The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing for a money free night out.

Get FREE stuff

Get stuff for FREE. Take advantage of give-aways, free samples, tasters and testers, as well as websites like Gumtree, to get stuff for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING without being scammed. There really is no catch.

Try the £10 a week food challenge

cheap student recipes
You can live off £10 a week in food without resorting to baked beans on toast for seven days. Take our £10 a week shop challenge and see how much you can save.

Find the cheapest petrol

Use the website PetrolPrices.com to see where the cheapest petrol is in your local area. Plan ahead to avoid running on empty and having to fill up at an expensive service station forecourt.

Don't get ripped off on your MOT

Get your MOT done at a council run or 'Just MOTs' garage. As these places don't do repairs or sales they have no reason to try and con you out of money for work that doesn't need to be done. Just MOTs offers a car MOT for jut £27 when booked in advance online. Also be sure to look at how to pass your MOT test first time

Free mobile photo prints

Get free photo prints of all those Instragram snaps straight from your mobile phone with a handy app that gives you 500 free monthly prints.

Make every day foods for yourself

Get practical in the kitchen and make some everyday foods - from bread to ketchup - yourself with these easy recipes. It'll save LOTS of money and is far easier than you think.



Learn cheap flight hacks

If you're looking to get away, check out how to get ultra cheap flights with some nifty and surprising online tips that save hundreds of pounds on a holiday.

Get free software

You can replace most expensive software with free (often better) alternatives. Most software companies (e.g. Microsoft) also offer cheaper or even free student and academic versions of their products.

Don't bother with a landline phone

You almost certainly do not need a landline phone so don't bother with it. Not only will it save you cash on the phone cost but also paying expensive line rental each month, assuming you can get cable broadband.

Get a TV license refund

A so-called TV licence loophole may allow you to ditch paying £145+ a year. Furthermore, you may be able to get a TV licence refund for what you've already paid.

Look out for 9 month contracts

Student Bills
9 month contracts are a blessing for students as it means you don't need to pay out over the summer when you're back home or away. Even if they're more expensive per month, they may work out cheaper than paying yearly. Virgin Media in particular offer such ideal student contracts on their services.

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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