Top 10 Budgeting Tips as a Student
Hello everyone, here we talk all things financial stability, credit scores, budgeting, and self-improvement.
How to Survive Uni Life at Surrey, On a Budget
I’m a final-year student at the University of Surrey, and after years of trial and error, I’ve learned a lot about managing finances as a student. Today I’m sharing everything I’ve learned so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
💸 My First-Year Financial Fails
Let’s take it back…
- In my first year, I was very irresponsible with money.
- I ordered takeaway almost every day, Deliveroo, Domino’s, you name it.
- I’d do massive food shops at Tesco, store everything in the fridge, and then let it go bad because I was always ordering food.
- Looking back, I’m honestly embarrassed, but I know I’m not the only one who’s done this.
The good news? There are actually a lot of free options and budgeting tricks I wish I knew back then.
(Tip 1) Accommodation Tips: Rent Smart
Your biggest monthly expense is going to be rent.
My Advice:
- Apply for university accommodation it’s on campus, super convenient, and can be budget-friendly.
- Choose Band A to Band C:
- These are the best value for money.
- Band D gives you a private bathroom, but it’s not always worth the extra cost.
- Band E and F? Ridiculous prices.
Even if you don’t get uni accommodation, don’t worry there are still affordable options off-campus.
(Tip 2) Avoid the On-Campus Corner Shop (Seriously)
Let’s talk about the campus shop… whew.
- It’s overpriced.
- Some staff? Not the friendliest.
- You can literally order takeaway and still spend less.
A Personal Example:
I used to live 45 minutes from campus. I wouldn’t go home for lunch and ended up spending £10 a day on food and still felt hungry.
Real Price Comparison:
- Oreos at campus shop: £1.40
- Oreos at Tesco: £1.00 or less
- Crisps: 90p for three at Tesco, more expensive on campus
- No cashback, no deals, no reductions
Seriously just walk the 10 minutes to Tesco and save your money.
(Tip 3) Grocery Shopping + Cashback = Winning
Pro Budgeting Tip:
- Make a shopping list
- Shop once a week
- Stick to it!
Pay with a Credit Card That Gives You Cashback:
I use the American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday card.
Why I love it:
- No annual fees
- 5% cashback for the first three months (then 0.5%)
- 24/7 customer support
- Purchase protection (lost packages? Amex sorts it out)
- I bought my MacBook using Amex and got £50 cashback
👉 Use the eligibility checker before applying.
(Tip 4) Meal Prep & Coffee Hacks
If you’re ordering delivery twice a day you must be on a wild budget.
Instead:
- Meal prep meals you know you’ll enjoy
- Make coffee at home
- Fancy it up with a mocha pot or French press
- You’ll save money and probably enjoy it more than overpriced Starbucks
Hidden Gem:
- The Hive gives out:
- Free coffee
- Juices
- Dairy-free milk
- Pancakes on Pancake Day
- …and more!
Why isn’t this better advertised?
(Tip 5) Eating on Campus (Without Going Broke)
Sometimes you need something quick but that doesn’t mean expensive.
My Go-To Spots:
- The Hideout: Chill vibe, great coffee, friendly staff.
- Paella: Big portions, only £5.
- Skip the churros though trust me.
- Lord Falafel: Great vegetarian/vegan options.
⚠️ Note: Paella opening hours are… “flexible.”
And don’t forget to pay with Amex cashback, always!
(Tip 6) Transport: Buses = Chaos
Let’s talk buses in Guildford…
- Stagecoach (the official uni bus company) offers no student discount.
- Meanwhile, other providers do.
- It’s £3 from Hazel Farm to campus, ridiculous!
Better Option: Get a Bike
- Faster than the bus
- No waiting around
- Great exercise
- You can find decent bikes for:
- £30 (second-hand)
- £100 (brand new)
(Tip 7) Get a Prepaid SIM
Prepaid SIMs = flexibility.
Benefits:
- No contracts
- Delay payments if needed
- Won’t hurt your credit score
- You’re mostly on Wi-Fi anyway
GiftGaff and Voxy offer great student plans.
Bonus: Voxy gives free stuff every month (e.g. cinema tickets, Greggs vouchers, Glossybox).
(Tip 8) Use Student Discount EVERYWHERE
That £50 cashback on my MacBook? I also got £100 student discount.
Sign Up For:
- UNiDAYS
- Student Beans
You’ll get discounts on:
- ASOS
- H&M
- Adidas
- Samsung
- Apple
- …and loads more.
(Tip 9) Budgeting Apps I Use (and Love)
1. Emma
- Syncs all your accounts (Monzo, Santander, Amex, etc.)
- Tracks:
- Spending
- Savings
- Debts
- Net worth
- Weekly/monthly reports with memes 😂
- Cashback offers built-in
- Weekly quiz with chance to win £500
2. Yolt
- Similar to Emma
- Spending categories, reports, budgeting tools
3. Monzo App
- Pots for saving
- Budget settings
- Locked savings options
- Note: Linking other accounts costs £5/month (Emma is free)
(Tip 10) Part-Time Work = Extra Cash
You already know about retail and hospitality jobs, so here’s a better option:
Try: UniTemps
- Average pay: £12/hour
- Roles include:
- Lab assistant
- Library shelf assistant
- Student ambassador
- Flexible, student-friendly, and CV-worthy
I’m a lab demonstrator for Computer Science, it’s a great experience.
Financial Help From the University
If you’re in financial difficulty, please don’t hesitate to contact the university.
- They offer hardship funds and it’s not a loan
- You don’t need to repay it
The uni is here to help so take advantage of that support.
💬 Summary
These are all of my budgeting and student finance tips so far, I really hope some of these help you save or even make some extra money.
Thanks for reading, see you in the next one!
