Starting University is a momentous occasion for any student. For some, it’s even more special because they move away from home for the first time, and live on their own.

While all of the independence and freedom can be quite intoxicating, the reality of paying for a lot of new expenses that didn’t exist before can quickly snap students back into reality. Here are a few money saving tips that will prevent you from breaking the bank:

Contact your Housing Office

Contacting your Housing office long before you move in can be extremely beneficial when figuring out what to bring. Most offices of residency employ a list of furniture and amenities available for students, preventing them from bringing their own. For example, if there’s a huge TV room, and free DVD rentals in the library, you won’t need to purchase a TV.

Buy Real Products, not Paper

Buying a real set of cutlery, and your own cups, bowls, plates and other kitchen wares will help you in the long run when saving money. While more expensive in the present, with paper you’ll have to purchase more than once which will cost you in the long run. Washing a dish or two can save you lots of money, and it’s more eco-friendly!

Buy a Filtered Water Bottle

Using a filtration system is great, because you purchase less bottles of water, don’t have to schlep them from the store to your dorm, and you reduce your carbon footprint! The best part is that you will save so much money; you can spring for a beer or two!

Work Together With your New Flatmates

If you request it, your housing office will often supply you with some contact information for your new flatmates before you move in. Contacting them not only forges a level of friendliness and camaraderie amongst you, but also can save all of you money in the long run. You can discuss which large items each of you will be bringing, and if one person is bringing something sharable (like a fan, or a microwave) then the other doesn’t have to purchase it.

Bring Bedding from Home

While maybe not the most stylish, your old sheets and blankets from home can save you a lot of money when moving to your dorm room. An added bonus is that this bedding can serve as a comfort when inevitable home sickness kicks in.

Consult your Library

The University textbook industry is a racket to say the least. Students often spend hundreds of dollars per semester on textbooks that they use for only a couple of months. The best tip is to see if your school library carries the same books you use for your classes and head to your local copy center and just copy them.

Check other options

While these are just a few tips that you can use to save money along the way, it’s still always best to make sure that it’s cheaper to have a halls versus a private house or flat. Because of all the different amenities, some Universities offer halls that are more expensive than an private share in the same area. For cheap flats check here, and utilize these tips no matter the living space you choose.

About the author: Marleen Clover

Marleen Clover works at Timeo.co.uk. She has a background in business and project coordination. When not working, she’s enjoying a good film.