Financial woes have seemed to become a rite of passage nowadays as part of the student experience at university. Why wouldn’t it be? From funding living expenses such as food and accommodation to the continuous running costs of subjective essential luxuries including monthly music and streaming subscription services amidst the cost-of-living crisis we’re experiencing today, let alone living in the country’s capital at home or away, it’s almost impossible to fund the basic student lifestyle without going skint. Tired of having the same meal rotation? Staying in to save more? Want to find out how to get more for less? Well then, look no further and discover today how to save money as a student in London.
UNiDAYS and Student Beans
The apps UNiDays and Student Beans are practically student essentials whilst navigating university life. Both apps serve as discounts galore for students, offering in-store and online discounts, free items, and exclusive offers from major and smaller brands at no cost, only the desire to help students live comfortably whilst remaining financially savvy. For anyone unfamiliar as to how to use both apps, the only requirement is to sign up with your personal email, then link to your university email account to indeed verify your student status. ASOS, Currys, JD, Amazon Prime and more discounts await on both apps, so why not sign up today and get more for less?
Too Good To Go
Cooking homemade meals everyday whilst juggling a hectic student schedule just isn’t practical, neither is expecting meals made with love delivered to your doorstep or awaiting your arrival at home by your parents on a day-to-day basis. It’s only natural to fall into the occasional habit of ordering in to save time and rightfully so after being exhausted from student life. Rather than opting to spend tens of pounds with each purchase on takeaways from food delivery giants, why not play a game of meal roulette with Too Good To Go? It’s one of my best tips for how to save money as a student in London.
Too Good To Go is a mobile app connecting its users to local restaurants offering bags of food containing either snacks or meals for a third of its actual value. Baked goods, sweet treats, great tasting meals, you name it Too Good To Go has it . So why not contribute to reducing food waste by indulging in a cuisine of your choice at a discounted price?
Student Art Pass
For students with the desire to be culturally enriched and visit museums and exhibitions at an affordable price or at no cost, investing in a Student Art Pass may be the way to go. A year of affordable days out await for the small fee of £10 annually, students can gain free/ reduced price entry into hundreds of museums, historic houses, and galleries within the United Kingdom, discounts at shops and cafés as well as 50% off major exhibitions. Aside from discounted visits, a student art pass offers access to paid opportunities and competitions, making it worth the investment for young creatives looking for a way to break into their desired career field. For anybody interested in applying today, sign up for membership on the Student Art Pass website here today.
18 + Oyster and 16-25 Railcard
For students attending university in London, investing in an 18+ oyster is a smart idea. With the only requirements being that you’re attending a London university and living within a borough in the city during term time, you can get discounted travel on TFL services. The benefits of an 18+ Oyster include saving 30% on travelcards as well as bus and tram passes.
Attempting to explore the country for less, visit friends and family outside the city’s capital, then why not consider purchasing a 16-25 Railcard? A third off rail travel and an average annual saving of £192 is to be gained with the purchase of a railcard for the small price of £30 annually or £70 for three years. As well as travel discounts, being a railcard holder entitles you to special offers and rewards from their partners, such as a three-month Tastecard membership. The generosity of a railcard is not only limited to students between the ages of 16-25 but also kindly extended to mature students, making it accessible for practically everyone. So, for the price of a takeaway for two, why not invest in a railcard today?
Spotify Premium for students
Tired of using your data to listen to your favourite artists on the go? Can’t find a streaming platform for an affordable price? Well then, look no further than Spotify and indulge in all your favourite music genres and podcasts for the price of £5.99 and receive ad-free and offline streaming of your downloaded playlists and podcast episodes. The only requirement to access this discounted membership is to verify your student status on Spotify when you sign up.
MyODEON/ MyLimitless membership
Movie buffs can opt to fuel their cinematic cravings at the ODEON as opposed to other cinemas and choose the membership of their choice. The ODEON offers two schemes– MyODEON and the myLimitless membership. MyODEON is a free app to download offering cheaper cinema tickets and member Mondays with all films available to see for as low as £5. Opting for the MyODEON membership also entitles members to entry into prize draws, competitions and exclusive giveaways when you book online/via app to see a film at an ODEON cinema.
ODEON also offers a monthly paid myLimitless membership. This may be more suited for film buffs who aim to get the most for their money’s worth. For the price of £14.99 per month, members are entitled to watch as many films as they wish. From loving rom-coms, timeless comedies to spine-chilling thrillers and more, all the ODEON has to offer is at your disposal for the price of two movie tickets per month or splurge and upgrade your membership for a measly £3 to use it across all locations including Luxe cinemas. Other perks include exclusive screenings prior to theatre release and 10% off food and drinks.
Find out more on whether ODEON Limitless is worth it in our guide.
Knowing how to save money as a student is far from easy, but saving whilst living in London is nearly impossible. However, I hope some, or if possible, all the suggestions listed above proved helpful to some extent with your money-saving ventures. As costly as it is, London can most definitely be a joy to live in whilst undertaking your studies with entertainment galore being within the reach of a tube stop or two. It’s all about finding cost-effective ways to enjoy yourself on a budget and live comfortably.
