While on a budget, you may choose to prioritise different items based on your lifestyle. Down below you can find information, resources and money-saving tips to help you budget your lifestyle as a student.
GCU Discount Codes
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How to socialise on a budget
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Even though socialising with friends is an important part of being a student, it can also be expensive! Below are some tips to help save money when hanging out with your friends:
Try to start a ‘kitty’ or joint fund with your friends for nights out. This can help you limit how much you spend and help you keep track of your funds. Also, if you have a set amount for a night out, it’ll stop you from being as tempted to pop to a cash machine to take out more money. If you are going out to a restaurant for a meal check to see if they offer student discounts or have any other special deals on. Also, most places will be more likely to have promotions on during the mid-week when it is less busy. Websites like Money Saving Expert keep you up to date on the latest deals and ways to save money on a wide range of activities such as the cinema, eating out, travel and more. Plan ahead, if you know you have a few big events coming up try to set a spending limit for them. It is easy to overspend if you don’t have a budget in mind, so having a set limit can help you manage your spending. If you are easily tempted you could bring only a set amount of cash with you to the event. Just make sure you also set aside enough money to get home safely! Not all activities have to cost money! If you’re trying to save money and still socialise, instead of going out you could always invite your friends round for a film or games night. Alternatively, Glasgow also has lots of attractions around the city which are free. Visit Scotland has a great article which links some of the best free things to do in Glasgow. This article is also really great as it can help you to get to know your way around Glasgow and see more of it! When eating out, go for the ‘Pre-theatre’ menu to save money. Websites such as 5pm and Itison which will show you what restaurants in Glasgow have promotional deals.
How to dress on a budget
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Whilst clothes are essential there are still ways you can cut down on your shopping habits which can help save you money in the long run and is better for the planet:
Try to buy second-hand if you can. There is a huge variety of clothes in charity shops or on websites such as E-bay, Depop and Vinted. Whilst also saving money, it is also a great eco-friendly way of getting a new outfit! You can also sell your own old clothes on these websites and make some money at the same time. Have a minimalist wardrobe. It can be tempting to buy whatever is in style, but make sure it's something you see yourself wearing long term. It is better to have a few quality pieces of clothing that you will actually wear as opposed to clothes that you will wear once and then forget about. Before you make a clothes purchase check to see if the shop offers a student discount. Most high street shops offer student discounts which usually range from ten to twenty per cent so it’s always good to double-check as these savings can really add up! Try to mend your clothes if you can! It's tempting to just throw something away if it has a hole in it, but not only is this wasteful it can also be pricey if you have to buy a replacement. By mending or sewing your clothes, you can give them a new life and help the environment at the same time. You don’t have to be particularly crafty to sew, and there’s an abundance of videos on YouTube that can teach you the basics. For more inspiration, ‘Which ’ has 15 top tips to help you save money on clothes as a student.
Review any services you don’t need
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Review your bank account and cancel services and recurring purchases that you don’t use or can’t afford anymore. As most of these purchases are direct debits, it is easy to forget that those expenses are leaving your account.
If you don’t want to get rid of subscriptions, you may want to share them with a flatmate or a friend so you split the cost.
Access free period products on campus and in your local area.
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GCU Students are able to collect free reusable period products (including reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups) from GCU Students’ Association Advice Centre. Drop in Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Single-use products are located:
In the female and accessible toilets in levels 1 and 0 of the Students’ Association Building. In the ground floor female and accessible/gender-neutral toilets in all buildings on campus. In the female and accessible/gender-neutral toilets on all levels of the Library In Caledonian Court in the Laundry room and the Social Hub toilets
Switching your broadband
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At the moment, switching an energy provider may appear difficult to achieve. However, there may be other bills that you can save your money on, such as broadband. For example at BroadbandDeals.co.uk
Before switching, thoroughly check the terms of the contract. Make sure you know if there are any hidden costs, how long you'll be tied into the contract for, and whether there is a fee to terminate the contract early.
Support services for families
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