Following the increase of tuition fees in 2012, prospective students have been forced to really consider the costings of attending university. With rent and bills eating up a chunk of university loans, some students are finding that basics, such as food and books, have to be sacrificed to make ends meet.
Don’t worry though - there is light at the end of the tunnel! Here are a few simple ways of shopping wisely on a student budget.
Make savings with cashback sites
Cashback sites are a great way of topping up the funds! For purchases you make you can earn a percentage back, which quickly adds up. Sites like Quidco and Topcashback offer cashback on a multitude of brands and products, from items such as phones and laptops, all the way through to insurance! So if you have to make those essential purchases for uni, checking out cashback sites is well worth it!
Collect those points
Saving doesn’t necessarily mean you have to cut back on everything; you just need to be a savvy shopper. Nectar and Tesco Clubcard are examples of points merchants that offer you the chance to collect when you shop online, buy fuel, and more. The best thing is you can see clearly how much money you’ve earned.
Avoid the high street, shop online
Shopping online gives you the chance to browse for the best deals, all from the comfort of your own home. Not only this, but shopping online means you can avoid queues, expensive high street prices, and limited stock! Often retailers who just have an online presence, rather than physical stores, generally tend to be cheaper as they have fewer overheads to cover - perfect for students on a budget!
Never pay full price
It might sound obvious, but not paying full price for your goods isn’t as difficult as you think! There are many sites who sell last season’s stock much cheaper than mainstream retailers. Sites like this are known as off-price retailers, and usually sell top brands and designer labels with up to 75% off the original RRP, just like MandM Direct.
The good thing about off-price retailers, instead of shopping on the high street, is that their prices are consistently low all year round meaning you don’t have to wait for a sale or voucher code before you can get a good deal!
Sign up
Follow blogs and your favourite brands online. Most retailers will send their subscribers deals and offers that they may not show on their sites, so it’s well worth taking advantage of this. However, if email isn’t for you, following brands you like on social media is also a great way to stay in the loop and find out about the latest offers and deals.
This post was contributed by MandM Direct, who are currently one of the UK’s most established off-price online fashion and sports retailers. With 30 years of experience, they are able to source some of the biggest brands and negotiate some of the lowest prices so that their customers can have the latest deals for less!