Uni Series: Living For Less

At University it can become very easy to slump into spending tons on ready meals, bread, takeaways and beer. It's hard to balance eating and your out going costs if you're buying your dinner everyday at uni and drinks at a bar with your card.

So tip number one: Use cash not card. Even if you just get £10 out once that £10 is gone you know how much you've got left if you check your balance when taking the tenner out. And if I go on a night out I always leave my cards at home. 1. If my bag is stolen I don't have to ask for replacement cards. 2. I know how much I'll have spent because I'll only have cash on me. 3. I keep £20 in my bra for emergency's plus when I come home from a night out I feel rich and find £20 on the floor.

2. Give up the takeways: Take-aways are expensive and although you probably get two meals from a dominos pizza that's a lot for one meal. Go to Tesco and buy a take away style pizza (the Chicago ones are ace and only £2.50). Its the same and if you don't want to wash up put it back in the box  it came in and eat out of the box authentic take away experience. If you do really crave a takeaway then opt for the smaller options a fraction of the price , calories and are you really gunna eat a whole kebab or pizza on your own? Go for less inches (don't laugh) and half a kebab over a full one.  You bank balance and waistline will thank you.

3.  Reduced aisle: This is my bezzie mate, you get stuff that's about to go out of date for half the price sometimes 1/10th of the price. I advise going about 4-6pm after a full day of uni you can get a Warburton's loaf for £0.09 that's a lot cheaper than £1.20. They also reduce fresh veg and fruit as well as yoghurts or cakes so keep a look out.

4. Please freeze, freeze freeze: Following on from the last point your freezer should become your best friend as well. That bread you bought for 9p freeze it. That fresh ready meal you just bought freeze it. That meat you just bought freeze it. If you can buy frozen fruit and veg then do. I spent £2.50 a week on fresh veg last year. Now I buy frozen mushrooms and peppers instead. Which reduces money and wastage.

5. Trade branded for value: Don't be a snob, switching labels doesn't  mean compromising quality less in spent on the packaging in order to make it cheaper.

Hope this helps,
Bekka.