Recent graduate Isabelle shares simple budgeting tips to help you save money, make the most of student discounts and enjoy university life without overspending
For many students, university is the first time they are responsible for managing their own monthly budget. It may seem daunting at first, but budgeting is far from meaning you have to say no to everything fun.
With a little planning, you can enjoy student life without worrying about your bank balance. In this guide, I’ll share some simple tips to help your money go a little further and make the most of your time at the University of Portsmouth.
Budgeting for the essentials
Accommodation will likely be your biggest expense at university, with hall fees on average ranging from £110-£206 per week and private accommodation ranging from £130-£175 including bills. Thankfully, Portsmouth as a city proves to be more affordable than many others on the South coast, but it is still important to know how to budget for an expense that many of us have not had to deal with before.
Personally, I found it really useful to keep my rent and utilities money in a separate bank account. As soon as my student loan came in, I'd transfer the money across, set up my direct debit and then treat it as money I simply couldn't touch. It stopped me accidentally overspending on nights out or shopping and gave me one less thing to worry about.
The weekly food shop can also become one of your biggest expenses, but it's also one of the easiest areas to save money. With a little planning, your supermarket shop can stretch much further."
Top tips for saving money on your food shop
- Plan meals before shopping and stick to your list.
- Don’t shop hungry - or else you’ll buy the whole shop!
- Batch cook meals such as chilli, pasta bakes, curry and spaghetti bolognese
- Try a few recipes out before you come to university so you feel confident when first cooking in halls - there are some great student cookbooks out there!
- Freeze leftovers for busy weeks
- Include a few vegetarian meals a week - lentils, beans and chickpeas absolutely saved me when I was a student! They are cheap, filling and tasty.
- Make lunch at home instead of buying meal deals every day.
- Keep easy freezer meals or snacks for after nights out—pizza, pasta, toasties—so you're less tempted to spend £20+ on takeaway
Take advantage of student discounts
One of the most forgotten ways to save money at university is remembering to use your student discount, whether using UNiDAYS, Student Beans or your student ID. Saving 10% here and there will always add up, especially since some companies will sometimes offer exclusive deals at an even better discount!
If joining in September, keep an eye out for Student Night at Gunwharf Quays. Many of the outlet stores offer exclusive discounts making it a great time to pick up any clothes or gifts at a lower price.
Gunwharf Quays is not the only place where these promotions can be found however. My advice would be to always ask - many independent places offer it around Portsmouth even if not obviously advertised.
Make the most of Portsmouth
One of Portsmouth's biggest advantages is how walkable it is. Many of the university buildings are only a short walking distance from each other making it easy to get to lectures, Southsea or Gunwharf Quay saving the money spent on tedious bus and train journeys.
There are also plenty of low-cost or even free things to do in Portsmouth, whether a walk along the common, swim at the beach or checking out our museums. Joining a University society not only keeps costs low but also is a great way to meet people.
University is as much about making memories as it is earning a degree, and learning to budget is a skill that will follow you for the rest of your life.
By making the most of Portsmouth's walkability, using student discounts and planning your spending, you'll have more freedom to enjoy everything student life has to offer.
Whether you're treating yourself to a meal in Southsea or browsing the shops at Gunwharf Quays, you can do it knowing you've planned ahead and kept your finances under control.
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