As a student, saving money can be a difficult. This is especially true if you want to enjoy your independence or if you’re an international student and want to try out and explore what the country has to offer. But there are easy and simple ways you can save money and still have fun at the same time.

Food and drinks

• It’s both healthier and cheaper to cook your own food and make your own drinks. So when eating at uni, bring your own food and drinks. But if the uni has a boiling water tap, you can use it to make your own coffee or tea. Rather than buying bottled water, you can also bring a water bottle and fill it up at the uni. If the student union building has a microwave, use it to heat up your food.
• Shop for food at the supermarket or at bargain grocery stores, as they’re fresher and cheaper, but only go after you’ve eaten a big meal so you don’t impulse buy. Buy generic brands placed at the bottom of the shelves.
• To save money on condiments, just buy one jar of salsa, which can be used on bread, rice and noodles.
• If you’re going to have a gathering of some sort with other students, consider holding a ‘potluck’, where each person brings something along to share.
• If you still want to eat out and enjoy Australian cuisine, then consider eating out once a week, but keep tabs on how much you spend.

Textbooks

• Check how many copies the uni or your local library has of any non-mandatory textbooks and consider whether you can borrow copies when you need them rather than buying them.
• You can buy cheap textbooks at second-hand bookshops and online stores (e.g.eBay orTextbook Exchange). You can useBooko to compare the prices of textbooks, both here and overseas, and get the cheapest deal.
• If there are students selling older copies of textbooks that are practically the same as new copies, consider buying them as they are a whole lot cheaper. But if a newer edition has essential information not found in the old edition, then get a copy from the library and photocopy those pages.
• To save more money, swap and share textbooks with other students. If you have any textbooks you no longer need, consider selling them for cash.

Transport

• If you live close to the uni, it’ll be healthier and cheaper to walk or cycle to the campus rather than driving. You can get a $200 quality bike and not pay any fuel, insurance, road tax, or parking fees.
• If you live quite a distance away from the uni, then it would be cheaper to take the bus or train. You can sign up to receive discounted public transport from your uni.
• If you’d rather take private transport, it’s best to carpool with friends who live nearby as this will allow you to save on petrol.

Discounts

• When buying food at the supermarket, go to the discounted section. You can also go shopping just before the closing time to snatch up discounted food.
• If you’re visiting a campus store, cinema, restaurant or clothing store, ask for a student discount. You’ll need to show your student card to receive the discounts.
• The Aussie websiteStudent Edge also provides member-only student discounts, offers and online deals.
• You can also sign up to daily deal websites to save more money, such asScoopon andCatch of the Day, and search for the best deals. ShopFree also provides information about all sorts of free samples and events.

Accommodation

Consider sharing accommodation with other students so you can divide the rent between yourselves. Getting a roommate or two also offers you the chance to meet new people and even make new friends for life.

Employment

If you’re a domestic student, finding a local part-time job means you can earn and save money and meet new people at the same time. If you’re an international student, getting a part-time job can be quite beneficial in other ways apart from earning money. You’ll be able to gain confidence and easily settle into the new culture, as well as meet even more new people.

Budgeting

Set up a student budget where you get to spend only a specific amount of money each month and stick to it. There are plenty of free apps you can get to help you keep track of your budget and note down the things you spend money on. If you’re going over budget, find out which areas you need to cut back on. Also save some money every month for emergencies. This way, you won’t need to borrow money to pay for them.

Using the library

You can use the uni or local library for free Wi-Fi and internet access, especially if you’ve reached the quota at the place you’re staying. You can also borrow a movie or a game that you can watch or play while you’re on study break.

Social life

Be particularly frugal when it comes to your social life and don’t let your peers pressure you to spend money – your marks may improve as a result! You could stay at home or in your dorm and play a game with your friends or watch a movie. If you want to talk to someone overseas, use Skype or chat online instead of using the phone.

If you go to bars, pubs, or clubs, find the ones that offer student discounts – look for Cheap Tuesdays or Thirsty Thursdays.

Clothes

To save money on clothes, consider buying clothes online, especially those that are plain with simple designs and in different colours. This way, you can wear one every day and no one will notice anything striking.

Free stuff

Download legitimate free software for your computer from your uni’s IT support system. You can also get legitimate free downloads from websites such asdownload.com. Moreover, you can listen to free music on Spotify rather than buying albums. If you’re looking for furniture, ask someone if they have any that they’re no longer using or you can pick some up from the curbside at council cleanup time.

Bills

Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees. You can also save on heating and cooling costs by winterising your place, as well as save on the electricity bill by turning off the lights in rooms that aren’t being used.

Electronics

eBay is a great place to buy cheap computers and electronic gadgets, but make sure to compare prices from different stores before making your final decision.

Travelling

If you’re thinking of travelling during the uni break, look online for cheap travel deals. You can save money on hotel stays by going on group trips.

Surviving on a university student’s budget isn’t always easy, but with a little creativity and some organisation, you can make the best use of the money you have.