Budgeting is an essential skill to learn – particularly when you’re a student. Two of our student Outreach Ambassadors have shared their top tips for saving money and having fun while at university.
Read on to discover Tabitha and Leah’s most practical advice for how to save money as a student at a UK University.
Contents:
- Prepare your meals
- Visit local markets
- Explore thrifting
- Open a student bank account
- Check out student perks
- Get involved with ResLife
- Jobs for students
- Useful links
Tip 1: Prepare your meals
Cooking your own meals is an integral part of managing your health and wellbeing while at university.
Tabitha highly recommends checking out Thrifty Chef: a student-founded organisation that aims to reduce food waste and teach students essential cooking skills through sustainable meal boxes. They set up outside the Newcastle University Students’ Union every Monday from 3pm, until they run out of stock. One box contains two portions of food, and is sold for £3 each – a bargain for anyone who wants to cook cheaply and sustainably while learning a few skills along the way.
‘My advice? Meal prep, meal prep, meal prep! Setting aside 1-2 hours on the weekend to prepare some tasty lunches will save you both time and money during the week – meal deals do add up if you get them every day.’ Tabitha, Outreach Ambassador
Tip 2: Visit local markets
Local markets can be a treasure trove of unique and affordable items. If you want to help your money stretch when you go shopping, you can find great handmade presents and jewellery at the Quayside, Ouseburn, and Tynemouth markets.
A short walk from campus, Grainger Market is also a favourite among Newcastle University students, including Tabitha: ‘Grainger market has really cheap fruit and vegetables. Often, you will get 10p pineapples or two punnets of strawberries for £1.’
Grainger Market is a great place to find food, clothing, and souvenirs, just a short walk from Newcastle University's campus. Credit: John Donoghue.
Tip 3: Explore thrifting
Thrifting is an easy, fun, and environmentally friendly way to shop, giving preloved clothing a new home while saving money on buying a new outfit. You never know what vintage gems you might find in local charity shops.
Both Tabitha and Leah recommend checking out online marketplaces for buying and selling clothes. Vinted is a sustainable way to get cheap clothes, as well as a nice way to earn money if you have anything in your wardrobe to clear out.
’Byker and Gosforth have a great selection of charity shops for saving money on clothes: especially handy if you need outfits for socials.’ Tabitha
Tip 4: Open a student bank account
One of Leah’s top tips for students starting university is to open a student bank account. There can be financial benefits to opening a student bank account, such as beneficial rates and terms.
As an extra bonus, many banks offer perks to students for opening an account with them, such as rail cards, gift cards, or sign-up bonuses. This varies from bank to bank, and changes over time, so it’s worth checking out what banks are currently offering before making your decision.
International students will need a bank account to get paid if you choose to take on part time work in the UK. Check out our blog ‘How to open an international student bank account in the UK’ for further advice, or you can speak to our Student Services team.
'Many banks offer a 0% overdraft on student accounts, giving you a financial safety net in case you need it – although you should always be careful with limits and repayment terms and conditions.' Leah, Outreach Ambassador
Tabitha (left) and Leah (right): two of our Outreach Ambassadors.
Tip 5: Check out student perks
From student discounts, to freebies and extra rewards, there are plenty of financial perks to being a student. Sites such as UniDays and Student Beans are packed full of discounts for students, but there are other ways to take advantage of student offers.
Leah recommends signing up to lots of rewards apps to get freebies and student subscription service: for example, Spotify, Amazon Prime, and YouTube sometimes offer discounted rates.
'To help ease the pressure of your mobile phone bill, checking if your mobile provider offers any rewards schemes. At the moment, I’m enjoying a £1 coffee each week as a perk with my phone contract!' Tabitha
Tip 6: Get involved with ResLife
If you’re studying at Newcastle University and living on campus, you will be introduced to ResLife: a service that will help you settle into accommodation and support you in your transition to University. Through ResLife, you can attend socials and fun activities, including:
- arts and crafts
- book clubs
- movie nights
- video game nights
- orientation tours
- pizza and cake nights
- quiz nights
ResLife organises a lot for students at Newcastle University, from welcoming events, to entertainment and social events.
ResLife also gives you the opportunity to develop practical life skills on topics such as healthy living, finance, safety and security, how to get along with your flatmates, and more. Checking out this service is an unexpected way to find perks while having fun and staying social.
ResLife hold ReConnect sessions during term time, giving you an opportunity to speak to your ResLife Coordinators – visit their Instagram page, @reslife_ncl, for more information.
'Make the most of ResLife. The University’s Accommodation Teams often have Amazon vouchers as rewards for their quizzes: take part and you might be in for some serious cash!' Tabitha
Tip 7: Jobs for students
If you'd like to make some extra cash while you're a student at Newcastle University, our Careers Service can support you with finding a part time job. From CV writing skills to interview practice, our careers advisors can help to set you up for success, whether it's for a short-term roles, internships, or preparing for your future career.
If you're interested in employment around the University campus, we have a dedicated Jobs on Campus team (JobsOC). Roles vary from helping out on our Open Days to admin, sports, or creative roles, and there are different opportunities weekly which are open to all students.
As an international student, you would be entitled to work up to 20 hours a week while you study. Our Careers Service can offer bespoke support, advice and connections to help you find the opportunities that will suit you.
Useful links
As well as all the advice above, there are a wide range of useful resources that are useful to take a look at:
- Money Saving Expert has a section dedicated to students, offering advice on finances, student loans, and bank accounts
- Save the Student is a one-stop shop for students looking to save money and make money, with advice on lifestyle, finances, employment, and even study tips
- Split My Fare can help you travel for cheaper by splitting the cost of your train ticket, saving an average of 26%
- FlixBus offers a range of affordable tickets for those who like to travel by coach
- High Life North is a digital magazine with a physical version, showcasing events around the North East
- @newcastlene1 on Instagram posts updates on events and offers in and around Newcastle
We've been voted top in the UK for student life in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2025 - trusted recognition from real students.