Free (sort of) money

Sign up to websites like Swagbucks to earn cash (or other rewards) by doing stuff online like searching the web or just playing games.

Also, get cash back when you buy products through websites such as Quidco. Be sure to check our top cash back guide for more information.

Free meals

Sign up for Tastecard Trial for free and you’ll get a Tastecard which gives you 50 per cent off or 2 for 1 deals at more than 7,000 restaurants for a month, so half your food will be FREE!

The service costs a £80 a year usually, but you don’t need to provide any payment details for the free trial.

Free groceries

Get free food from Tescos by signing up to websites like tescohomepanels.com and Tesco orchard where you can get to try new or improved foods which are sent to you for FREE.

More free groceries

In addition to the above, sign up for a Tesco Clubcard Credit Card and you’ll earn clubcard points on all your purchases which will turn into vouchers. Use the Credit Card for your normal every day purchases and pay it off each month to avoid interest.

Free Cinema Tickets

Get to see the latest films before anyone else AND without paying with this free cinema tickets hack.

Another option is to take out a cheap travel insurance policy at Compare The Market to take advantage of their two-for-one cinema tickets deal.

Free gym visits

Many gyms offer free trials or passes where you can make use of their facilities of free. See here for more – it’s cheaper than signing up in January before deciding you cba.

Free condoms

Why pay? The NHS gives out free contraceptive through various locations across the UK. Click to the NHS page here to search for your nearest free condom service.

Free lottery

There is such a thing. Granted, it won’t make you a millionaire, but there is the potential to win free cash. Enter with your postcode online at the Free PostCode Lottery.

Being lazy

Don’t accept the first place your see and do your research when looking to let privately: Search for reviews of your potential landlord, consider how much bills for the property will be (see the EPC certificate) and check out other things that may be relevant to you in local area, such as parking.

Checking the condition of the property

When visiting a potential property be sure to have a GOOD look around and NEVER agree to live anywhere you haven’t seen. Make sure you check all the corners, cupboards and see everything such as lights and appliances are in working order.

Not taking photos

When you first move in be sure to photograph the condition of the property, especially any damage or issues already present, to make sure you don’t get the blame and lose your deposit. > 5 tips to keep your flat deposit safe

Bringing everything you own

Make sure you know what’s included (if furnished property) and don’t bring pointless things you don’t need.

Not budgeting

Sort out a budget when it comes to paying rent and bills as they’re the most important things. If you’re sharing a house, make sure you figure out a way to split bills and for everyone to pay for their share…

Sort out who pays what

On that topic, deciding who makes student bills can be a bit of a nightmare. Generally the best advice is to make sure everyone’s names are on any bills so that no one person will be held liable if another fails to pay up on time. An alternative option is to give each housemate a different bill to be responsible for.

Upsetting the neighbours

Making the neighbours angry is just not on so keep the noise down late at night else you could find yourself getting evicted and/or given a bad reference when you move on.

Not getting contents insurance

Make sure you to cover your personal property with contents insurance in case of fire, flood, theft and so on. You may be regret it if you don’t, and some tenancies may require it.

Maintaining the property

You could lose your deposit or be charged if you damage the property so look after it as if it were your own home. Report any problems to your landlord as soon as possible. Not only will damage hurt your wallet, it won’t make for a good landlord referral when you want to move on.

Paying council tax

If you’re a full time student, you don’t need to pay council tax but if you’re sharing with non students or part time students, they may have to pay.

Sorting out whether or not you need a TV license

A so-called TV licence loophole may allow you to ditch paying £145+ a year. Furthermore, you may be able to get a TV licence refund for what you’ve already paid.

A study carried out by What Car? magazine in association with Warranty Direct has looked at pretty much every car available in the UK to decide which is the cheapest and most reliable to run.

And – for the ninth year running – Honda tops the list with its Jazz.

The so-called Reliability Index used to rank cars takes into account a vehicle’s typical failure rate, age, mileage and repair costs.

What Car? editor Jim Holder said: “Honda’s success in the Reliability Index is chiefly down to low failure rates.

“However, when things do go wrong, the cars are also relatively cheap to fix.”

Other good cars included the Toyota Yaris, Mitsubishi Lancer and Vauxhall Agila.

On the other hand the most expensive cars to maintain were topped by the Audi RS6, BMW M5 and Nissan GT-R.

Check out the full lists below…

Most reliable cars

1. Honda Jazz
2. Mitsubishi Lancer
3. Vauxhall Agila
4. Toyota Yaris
5. Suzuki Alto
6. Chevrolet KALOS
7. Suzuki Liana
8. Hyundai Getz
9. Mazda MX-5
10. Mercedes-Benz

And the least…

1. Audi RS6
2. BMW M5
3. Nissan GT-R
4. Porsche 911
5. Bentley Continental GT
6. Mercedes-Benz CL
7. Mercedes-Benz V-Class
8. Citroen C6 512.00
9. Mercedes-Benz SL
10. Mercedes-Benz GL

Main picture credit: M 93/Wikimedia

Whether it’s ready sliced mushrooms, peeled carrots or even halved avocados – which, yes, do actually exist now – your laziness could be seeing you ripped off.

Of course one would expect that prepared veg would cost more but the mark up on some products is often extortionate, a study by Which? magazine has revealed.

The convenience sees some goods costing more than 400% over their unprepared alternatives.

Carrots can cost more than twice as much (60p/kg v £1.50/kg) while broccoli and mushrooms also see big price rises for just having been cut up.

The same goes for spiralised vegetables, including carrots and courgettes, which you make yourself using just a regular old peeler or cheese grater.

Which? said: “Most of us like to think we’re savvy shoppers. But it’s not always easy to compare costs when complex mental arithmetic is required just to weigh up the same product presented in various packet sizes and styles.”

They added: “It’s not only carrots that are more expensive when they are ready-prepared, shaped or sliced – broccoli florets are more than three times the cost of a whole head of broccoli. Even when you discount the weight of the stalk, it’s still a hefty mark-up for a ‘ready-to-cook’ label.

“And you could be paying up to an extra £1 per kg just for the convenience of having pre-sliced mushrooms.”

What not to buy

Don’t bother with expensive ready meals which almost always cost far more than the raw ingredients you can purchase to make yourself. It’ll also be a lot healthier made at home rather than in a factory being pumped with chemicals to keep it preserved.

Get budget busting recipes

You can make huge savings with these budget busting recipes and don’t underestimate the student classic super noodles – here are 8 ways to improve instant noodles.

Plan

Plan your meals ahead and you’ll save loads: Select cheap dishes that share common ingredients to minimise your spend. For instance, you can turn one packet of mince into meatballs burgers, lasagne, Shepard’s pie and much more. When you head to the shops, make yourself a shopping list and stick to it strictly to avoid impulse buys.

Don’t waste

Never waste food. In shops, search for items with a long a shelf date as possible, keep an eye on foods that are nearing their expiration and use them up! Even if food does go ‘off’ you may be able to eat it – brown bananas can become banana loaf cake while you can turn stale bread into a delicious pudding.

Win at supermarket reductions

You can’t guarantee it but supermarket reductions can mean HUGE bargains. Check out the reduced isles or sections when you’re shopping to see if there is a good offer to be had.

Love your freezer

You can freeze pretty much anything (including milk and bread!) so love your freezer to avoid waste and get more for your money (see below). Consider buying prepared frozen fruit, veg, fish and meat ahead of fresh alternatives as they’ll last a lot longer and you don’t have to worry about preparing it for freezing yourself.

Buy in bulk if you can

It costs more upfront but you’ll make long-term savings buying in bulk so if you have the money to hand it makes sense. We’re not talking crates of stuff here, but simply buying bigger packets of foods you often eat (rice, pasta, etc.) works out cheaper gram for gram. Same goes for meat, buying a pack of eight chicken breasts for a month will be cheaper than buying packs of two each week. As above, use your freezer to store what you don’t plan to immediately use.

via LendingMemo.com

Not making a budget in the first place

Do it. Do it now. Even if you’re halfway through a year, make a budget. It’s boring but it’s key to making sure you get the most out of your money and don’t get into problems down the line.

Ignoring debts

Make sure that you include any debt repayments, such as credit card charges, in any budget you make. Also, if you’ve any spare cash, use it to pay off any debts first and foremost before enjoying it or putting into savings.

Impulse buys

We’ve all done it. You go into town at the weekend with the aim of picking up a few things and come back having maxed our your credit card with allsorts. Training yourself to avoid impulse buying is hard but the easiest way is to make a strict list of what you need, stick to it and not to even look or go anywhere else.

Buying new

You can buy almost everything second hand – or even get it for free. Books at the obvious place to save money, but you can use websites like Freecycle or Gumtree‘s free section to get all sorts of stuff – from furniture to TVs – for NOTHING.

Not comparing

Always compare before committing. Don’t say yes to the first house you visit or sign up to the first broadband company you find on Google. See who can offer the best deals and don’t be afraid to haggle with rival companies.

Being enticed by freebies you wont use

Many companies offer freebies for signing up, whether it’s opening a bank account or buying a newspaper, or extra services included for nothing. If you’re not going to use what they’re offering, IGNORE IT when it comes to your decision making process. Don’t be enticed by extras that you won’t benefit from.

Refusing help

It can sometimes be a bit hard to admit you’re in need of a helping hand, especially when it comes to money, but it’s often the easiest way forward. If you find yourself getting into signifcant finanical trouble (that’s not just not being able to afford a night out), talk to family, friends or your University at the first opportunity. They may be able to lend support, advice or even cash itself.

via Flickr/Barn Images

Forgetting those small, every day costs

You know, the morning coffee or the monthly gym membership. These are the expenses where cuts can easily be made. While it may only be a few pounds a week or month, it all adds up over a year and can save you hundreds of pounds.

Keeping up with that ridiculously rich friend

It can seem that some students at University have an endless pot of cash and that can seriously harm you’re own wallet if they’re twisting your arm to join their expensive tastes or social life. While it can be tough to say no if you can’t afford it, learn to do so.

Not keeping up to date

Budgets are fluid things and you should always take the opportunity to review and update them now and then to see how you’re getting on and to change any figures that may have fluctuated.

Get a TV license refund

A so-called TV licence loophole may allow you to ditch paying £145+ a year. Furthermore, you may be able to get a TV licence refund for what you’ve already paid.

Look out for 9 month contracts

9 month contracts are a blessing for students as it means you don’t need to pay out over the summer when you’re back home or away. Even if they’re more expensive per month, they may work out cheaper than paying yearly. Virgin Media in particular offer such ideal student contracts on their services.

Forget being loyal

It doesn’t pay to be loyal with new customers often getting the best deals. Whether it’s your bank account, gas bill, car insurance or even just the weekly shop, ALWAYS be on the look out for a better offer. Compare competing companies and don’t be afraid to haggle to get your costs down even further.

Win at supermarket reductions

Read our guide to supermarket reductions to grab a bargain next time you go shopping.

Plus, learn about the sorts of dirty tactics supermarkets use to get us to spend more. Read up on their tricks and avoid parting with your cash.

Cook on the cheap by going Veggie

Ditching meat, even if for a day or so a week, can save a load of cash and needn’t mean boring or bland meals. For some cheap, quick and easy veggie recipes check these out.

Get train tickets for less than £1

You can get your way across the country with train tickets for less than £1 if you put some effort in – and make use of student discounts.

Organise a free night out

You don’t need to spend loads to enjoy an evening. You can get free cinema tickets and free TV show tickets for a money free night out.

Find the cheapest petrol

Use the website PetrolPrices.com to see where the cheapest petrol is in your local area. Plan ahead to avoid running on empty and having to fill up at an expensive service station forecourt.

Don’t get ripped off on your MOT

Get your MOT done at a council run or ‘Just MOTs’ garage. As these places don’t do repairs or sales they have no reason to try and con you out of money for work that doesn’t need to be done. Just MOTs offers a car MOT for jut £27 when booked in advance online. Also be sure to look at how to pass your MOT test first time

Free mobile photo prints

Get free photo prints of all those Instragram snaps straight from your mobile phone with a handy app that gives you 500 free monthly prints.

Try the £10 a week food challenge

You can live off £10 a week in food without resorting to baked beans on toast for seven days. Take our £10 a week shop challenge and see how much you can save.

Make every day foods for yourself

Get practical in the kitchen and make some everyday foods – from bread to ketchup – yourself with these easy recipes. It’ll save LOTS of money and is far easier than you think.

Learn cheap flight hacks

If you’re looking to get away, check out how to get ultra cheap flights with some nifty and surprising online tips that save hundreds of pounds on a holiday.

Get FREE stuff

Get stuff for FREE. Take advantage of give-aways, free samples, tasters and testers, as well as websites like Gumtree, to get stuff for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING without being scammed. There really is no cash.

Get free software

You can replace most expensive software with free (often better) alternatives. Most software companies (e.g. Microsoft) also offer cheaper or even free student and academic versions of their products.

Don’t bother with a landline phone

You almost certainly do not need a landline phone so don’t bother with it. Not only will it save you cash on the phone cost but also paying expensive line rental each month, assuming you can get cable broadband.

Start preparing for next Christmas now

Seriously. Head down to the supermarkets and pick up leftover stock like wrapping paper and the like for pennies. Not only will it save you loads of cash but it’ll mean you don’t have to spend as much time next December getting ready.

Open a savings account (and put money in!)

If you don’t already have one, open up an ISA cash savings account. Look around for the ones with the best deals and put in whatever money you can afford each month. Even a little bit adds up over the year.

Get a piggy bank

Piggy banks aren’t just for kids and pocket money. Spare change can quickly rack so keep somewhere to put it all. And when it comes to Spring cleaning, do a clear out of your sofa, car and such for any spare change or cash. You could be surprised!

Make a budget and stick to it

With your latest student loan payment ready to hit your account in January, make yourself a budget for the year ahead and STICK to it. If you’re ahead of the game and already have a budget, take some time to review it and make any adjustments you need, especially as you’ll have a lot better idea of your finances now since starting last September.

Don’t bother with that gym membership

Gym memberships rocket in the New Year but the truth is most of us never seem to make use of them by the end of February. Don’t bother in the first place and instead save money by ditching the gym: Here are 5 ways to stay fit without spending anything

Cut out expensive habits

Cut back on the coffee, booze, smoking, fast food and ready meals. Start the new year by having both a body and wallet cleanse by cutting out these 7 surprisingly expensive habits now.

Compare to save a load of cash

Set an afternoon or evening aside to look at your bills and see if you could save money. From car insurance to broadband, you could save hundreds of quid over the next twelve months by simply switching suppliers.

Don’t bother with that gym membership

Getting fit is a classic New Year’s resolution but chances are you’ll sign up for an expensive monthly gym contract that you never use beyond February. Don’t bother with it – save money by ditching the gym with these 5 ways to stay fit without spending anything.

Stop smoking

It’s bad for your health, expensive already and is only set to get more costly as time goes on. Make a clean start in the New Year and give it up. Even if you’re just a ‘social smoker’, cutting it out will bring health benefits and a heavier wallet.

Cut back on booze

Most of us like a good drink and there’s no need to cut it out completely, but getting wasted three times a week is not only likely to end with you waking up in a hospital sooner rather than later but will be be sure to leave you with a significant dent your wallet.

Cook your own food

Ditch expensive ready meals and make your own food with easy student recipes. It’s not just at home either, when out and about avoid unhealthy shop brought sandwiches and salads and try some of these University student lunch ideas.

Save pennies

Literally. Get yourself a piggy bank (and an old cardboard box will do) and keep a hold of all your spare change. It can add up over the next twelve months!

Stick to a budget

If you’ve not made one yet, get the low down on how to create a student budget and stick to it. Plan your finances ahead to avoid costly bank charges or – arguably worse – having to beg mum and dad for extra cash.

Walk more

It’s healthier and best of all, completely FREE! Most places around Universities are within easy walking distance and for slightly longer journeys there is always the opportunity to cycle instead.

MAIN PIC: Flickr/Karen Blaha

This isn’t about being a Scrooge, simply making the most of your money during the festive period.

Start saving early

If your budget isn’t super tight, put a little money away each week in the run up to Christmas. £10-15 a week from September will leave you with more than £200 come the big day.

Get cashback

Use cashback websites like QuidCo to get money back online when buying gifts, food and other Xmas essentials.

Buy early!

A lot Christmas stuff you can buy months before the festivities began at a much cheaper price. If you want to start REALLY early, pick up bargains in the January sales from the previous year’s leftover Christmas stock that shops are trying to shift.

Travel on the cheap

Book in advance to get home on the cheap to see friends and family, and remember you can get train tickets for less than £1. Alternatively, try car sharing with the BlaBlaCar website or get the coach.

The £10 Christmas roast

Get a full Christmas dinner for less than a tenner with this ultimate student Christmas dinner recipe with chicken, veg and trimmings for 4-6 people at just over £9. A bargain!

Make home made decorations

Make decorations yourself: It’s creative and more fun, honest! Check out Pinterest for countless ideas

Get cheap (but awesome!) presents

If you’re stuck for gift ideas or have left it to the last minute, check our Christmas gift ideas for cheap but awesome inspiration.