Discover various methods to save money while studying in the UK.

Table of Contents

• Accommodation and food
• Transport
• Shopping
  • Partying and exploring
  • Utility bills
  • Mobile and internet charges
  • Healthcare costs
  • International transaction fees

Accommodation and food

Where you stay and what you eat will take up a large portion of your spending money. The amount of money you need to pay will change based on different things like the place you are staying and the kind of place you choose to live in (such as dorms on campus, hostels, or rented apartments). If you carefully decide what to eat and where to stay, you can save a lot of money.
Here are a few tips that could help with this:

• • Check the prices of different places to stay before picking one. Don’t forget to think about the extra costs for things like electricity, water, and keeping the place in good condition, that come with the place you will be staying in. Sometimes, the cost of these things is already included in the payment for rent.
  • Choose a private non-catered hall or share a place with others because they are usually the least expensive choices.
  • Instead of always going out or getting takeout, try cooking your own meals.

  For more on accommodation

Transport

As a student, you will rely on public transport frequently. You can buy discounted student transportation cards to save money when you travel. First, you can obtain:

• Student bus passes – Buses connect every town and city in the UK. By getting a bus pass, you can save a lot of money while traveling within your city.
• Railcards – buy a railcard for £24 and save almost one-third of train fares while traveling all over the UK for a year.

Shopping

When you make a plan before shopping for groceries, clothes, or anything else, it can help you spend less money. Follow these tips to save money.

• Student discounts – Many retailers and shops offer student discounts. Before paying the bill, ask to check if the shop offers a student discount if so, show your student ID card and save. You can get even more discounts if you buy an NUS card for £13.
• Cashback offers – You can look out for retailers that provide cashback offers. Many online retailers have more cashback offers than retail stores.

Partying and exploring

Having fun and celebrating is also a part of the experience as an international student. You don’t need to stay in your room and not go out with your friends to save money. Instead, you have the option to:

• Plan in advance – Start by exploring nearby local sights and go with a group of friends to share the costs. Booking your flights and hotels in advance during off-season times can also help.
• Scout the city – Go around your city and find cafes, restaurants, and pubs that offer student discounts. Once you find a few, you can make them your regular hangout spots.
• Go out to your University’s bar – These places are usually budget-friendly and often sell drinks at lower prices.

Utility bills

Make sure to keep an eye on your utility bills for electricity, gas, and water. Keep track of how much you use and how much you have to pay for it. In many locations, you can use a device to track how much of something you are using.

Mobile and internet charges

Using your mobile plan from your own country in the UK can be expensive. After you move to the UK, you can obtain a simple mobile phone and a sim card. Using a UK sim card to make calls within the country can help you save a significant amount of money. You can use Wi-Fi to make calls on the internet and talk to people at your home.

Healthcare costs

As a student from another country with a Tier 4 visa, you can use the UK’s National Healthcare System (NHS). Make sure to learn about the advantages and steps. Instead of going to a fancy hospital that you have to pay a lot of money for, sign up with a doctor through the NHS and spend less money.

International transaction fees

Instead of using your bank account in your home country, open a student account when you move to the UK. Go to different banks in your city, see how much they charge for doing transactions, and what they will give you for free or special deals. Make sure to do this before picking one bank.