It’s that time of the year where students across the country are packing up their bedrooms and moving to a new city with new people and fresh prospects; it can be exciting and daunting at the same time, depending on how you feel about growing up. And so, with freshers week coming to a close, it’s time for many to realise that they probably shouldn’t have blown their first loan all at once… student budgets are a real thing. Thankfully, we have compiled a list of the best apps to save you money, so you can still have fun but not use your overdraft too willingly just yet.
1. Sidechef
If you’re learning to cook by yourself for the first time but are stumped with where to start with all the food in your cupboards, then Sidechef is a great app to start with. By entering in the ingredients you want to cook with that night, Sidechef masters up a number of recipes that you can make with what you’ve got at home, and also works out the cost per portion. It also has a cast number of cuisines and recipes you can choose from if you get tired of cooking pasta with a different sauce every night.
2. Trolley
Moving out can definitely make you realise how expensive a weekly shop can get if you just shove everything you fancy for the week into a basket. Trolley is an app that lets you compare the prices of products from all the major superstores, ensuring that you can get the best deals and savings in your weekly shop.
3. Get Chip
Although having a maintenance loan can seem very attractive once it goes in at the start of the semester, majority of the time most of it goes to rent which means many people need to spend the rest wisely if they don’t have a job. Chip allows you to save money by calculating what you can afford to save based on your spending habits, and so will then transfer that money from your current account to your Chip account. That way you always have money saved and are not guilty of entering that dreaded overdraft.
4. StudentBeans
Just like UNiDAYS, StudentBeans allows you to search thousands of retailers ranging from lifestyle and beauty to health and food for companies that offer student discounts. So whether you’re looking for a new freshers fit or treating yourself to some free McDonald’s, StudentBeans has you covered.
5. TopCashback
Free to join, TopCashback lets you make money off your own purchases. When making a purchase through one of their retailers, you can earn money whilst you’re spending, and the commission you make will be payable for you to withdraw and spend. On the app you can compare deals to find the best offer, and earn ‘cashback’ on mobile phones, insurance, fashion and homeware brands.
6. Vinted
If you fancy making some extra money on the side and saving that, or even just to have extra cash for nights out, then Vinted is a great app that lets you sell your unwanted things without any fees. If you’ve had the tendency to overpack for university, or just fancy a fresh clear out of your wardrobe, using Vinted can help you declutter and give your clothes to someone that would get more wear out of them than you.
7. Groupon
Just like Trolley lets you compare the prices across major supermarkets, Groupon lets you do the same thing just with everything else. It searches the best deals online across thousands of products and retailers and automatically applies the discounts when you check out. So whether it be decorations for your new room, or even meals out with your flat, Groupon will have you covered across every department.
8. Shopsavvy
Shopsavvy is a mobile app that lets you scan the barcode of any product and compare all the best prices online and locally. It can also search for deals and discounts on the scanned items, alongside comparing their prices across retailers and displaying user reviews. It’s the perfect one-stop app for, well, everything really!
9. Honey
Honey is a free browser extension that automatically applies discounts at checkout when you’re shopping. It saves you having to tediously scroll through voucher code sites to find a legitimate one because it’s already applied it for you! What’s better, if you find an item you’re not willing to buy just yet, Honey will notify you when there’s been a price drop, ensuring that you never overspend.
10. Splitwise
When moving into a flat with your mates in second and third year, you need to pay more attention to the bills than you did in first year, because they may not be included in the overall rent price. Splitwise lets you split your bills easily with your flat mates, organise your expenses and keep track of balances. It can also be used for paying friends back, tracking your spending total, and probably preventing many arguments if someone hasn’t payed their bill!
Last Updated on March 20, 2024
Published on September 30, 2021
