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You can save money at university, especially using schemes such as UNiDAYS, Student Beans or TOTUM<\/p>\n
\u2018Watch your spending, use free perks\u2019: an insider\u2019s tips on student money<\/p>\n
With rents on the up and food costing more, maintenance loans are stretched thinner than ever. Knowing how, and where, to get a discount can make a real difference.<\/p>\n
A golden rule is to register with the big discount websites and apps \u2013 UNiDAYS, Student Beans and TOTUM \u2013 using your university email address as soon as you have one. Each has a slightly different roster of retailers, so it is worth signing up to all three.<\/p>\n
Many of the deals below are only unlocked once you have verified your student status. The sites explain how to do this. If you are unable to verify using email, you may be able to upload, for example, an acceptance letter from your university.<\/p>\n
Boots: an Advantage Card gets you 10% off thousands of products instore and online \u2013 handy for weekly toiletries and the odd emergency paracetamol run. You need to apply for a card then go into a shop with a valid student ID to activate your membership and qualify for the discounts.<\/p>\n
Marks & Spencer: 25% off in store\u2019s \u201cfood on the move\u201d range through UNiDAYS. This range includes sandwiches, wraps, pok\u00e9 bowls and salads, plus a variety of snacks.<\/p>\n
Uber One: after a four-week free trial, students get half-price membership (\u00a32.49 a month), for discounted delivery and takeaways \u2013 useful on the days when a big supermarket shop feels like one task too many.<\/p>\n
The Co-op: 10% off your shop in-store \u2013 but now only for some students, such as those with a Young Scot card. Central Co-op and Southern Co-op give Student Beans members 10% off at their participating stores.<\/p>\n
Many pub and restaurant chains \u2013 including Greene King, Pizza Express and Zizzi \u2013 offer money off. Greene King offers 20% off all food and drinks (show your student ID at the bar to get one of its 20% off student cards).<\/p>\n
Amazon Prime for Students: new sign-ups get six months of Prime free, after which it drops to half price (\u00a34.49 a month).<\/p>\n
Link your Amazon and Deliveroo accounts through a site such as UNiDAYS and you will also get a year\u2019s worth of Deliveroo Plus \u2013 which gets you free delivery on orders above \u00a315 from restaurants, or above \u00a325 from shops \u2013 at no extra cost instead of the usual \u00a33.49 a month.<\/p>\n
Kindle Unlimited: claim 30 days free through UNiDAYS \u2013 useful for clearing a reading list without buying every set text.<\/p>\n
Microsoft 365: many universities give students free access to the full Office suite \u2013 Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook \u2013 via their institution\u2019s IT department, so check before you pay for anything.<\/p>\n