Student life can be super exciting and so much fun, but it’s also the first time many students need to manage their money. There are loads of expenses that can add up quickly: housing, food, books, and socials like nights out!

To celebrate Talk Money Week we’ve compiled some of our top money saving tips to help you stretch your budget!

Create a budget

Making the most of your limited budget is so important, especially when it’s hard to keep track of what’s going in and out of your bank account. Being able to create a budget plan is super useful, and knowing exactly what you're spending your money on helps you make the best financial decisions you can. 

Budget planners can be a great tool to help you track your spending! Here are some links to useful templates to get you started with your budget planner:

https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-budgeting/student-budgeting.html

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/budget-planning/

Explore other incomes

Unfortunately, most of the time student finance won’t cover most of your living costs. This means that getting additional and reliable income is super important, especially since socialising and doing fun activities with friends can be expensive.

It can be difficult to know where to start, whether that’s writing your CV or knowing how to answer interview questions, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Leeds Beckett offers amazing employability advice, and there’s so many ways to access this support. Have a look at the LBU careers and employability advice for getting started and applying for job roles here. 

Make the most of free activities

Another way to make your money stretch is to look for free activities to do with your friends! There are always free things going on around the Students’ Union, as well as around Leeds - especially coming up to Christmas. Check out the Leeds City Museum and explore the history of the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks in the Ancient Worlds Gallery, or if you’re looking for something more creative Leeds Art Gallery has plenty of free exhibitions in its beautiful grade II-listed building. 

You can also check out all the great events coming up on campus on our What’s On page here. Many are free or low-cost, like our Give it a Go! activities, and they’re a great way to try something new and meet new people too!

Take advantage of student discounts

There are some amazing student discounts on offer if you know where to look. Apps like Unidays, Student Beans, TOTUM and more offer some great deals for you to make the most out of. Another way to make sure you’re saving a few bucks is to ask whenever you go out if they do student deals! 

Sometimes it can be easy to miss student offers, especially when you get to the counter. Don’t be afraid to ask if there are any discounts for students, and you may be surprised with what you could get off! Another way to make sure you don’t miss out is to look it up online- it can be as simple as a quick Google search. Sometimes student ID is required, so make sure to bring your student card with you whenever you plan to go out!