The biggest savings for UK students come from a handful of things: claiming every discount and exemption you are entitled to (railcard, council tax, NHS help), getting food spending under control, and treating your maintenance loan as a termly budget rather than a windfall. Small daily habits matter too, but they come second.
Here are 30 practical tips grouped by area. The figures are for 2026/27. For a step-by-step plan built around your loan, see our student budgeting guide.
Money admin (tips 1 to 6)
- 1. Budget per term, not per month. The maintenance loan arrives in three instalments, so divide each by the weeks until the next one. Our budget planner helps.
- 2. Pay rent first. Move rent and bills money to a separate account the day your loan lands so it cannot be spent.
- 3. Choose a student account for its 0% overdraft, not the freebie. Treat the overdraft as a safety net and plan to clear it before graduating. See our student bank account guide.
- 4. Check you are getting the right loan. If your household income has dropped, you can ask Student Finance to reassess using the current tax year's income.
- 5. Ask about bursaries and hardship funds. Most universities have support funds for students in difficulty, and many offer bursaries based on household income that you do not have to repay.
- 6. Avoid buy now, pay later for everyday spending. Several small plans due on the same day can easily outrun your budget.
Food and drink (tips 7 to 12)
- 7. Plan meals before you shop. A list built around four or five meals cuts impulse buys.
- 8. Use discount supermarkets and own brands. Aldi and Lidl regularly come out cheapest in Which?'s monthly supermarket price comparisons.
- 9. Batch cook and freeze. Chilli, curry and pasta sauces in portions beat a takeaway on a tired evening.
- 10. Cook with flatmates. Sharing staples like oil, spices and rice cuts waste and cost.
- 11. Use yellow-sticker reductions and apps like Too Good To Go and Olio for cheap or free surplus food.
- 12. Take lunch and a reusable bottle and coffee cup to campus. Many cafes give a discount for your own cup.
Housing and bills (tips 13 to 17)
- 13. Claim council tax exemption. Homes where everyone is a full-time student are exempt. Tell the council or you may be billed. See our student council tax guide.
- 14. Check what your rent includes. Bills-included rent is easier to budget for; if bills are separate, agree how they are split before moving in.
- 15. Only buy a TV licence if you need one. You need one to watch live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer. It costs £180 a year; you can claim a refund for full months you will not need it, such as summer.
- 16. Get contents insurance checked. Halls often include basic cover; check whether laptops and phones are covered away from your room.
- 17. Switch to SIM-only when your phone contract ends rather than taking a new handset.
Travel (tips 18 to 21)
- 18. Buy a 16-25 Railcard. It costs £35 a year (or £80 for three years) and gives a third off most rail fares, with a £12 minimum fare on weekday journeys before 10am. Mature students can get one too if they are in full-time study.
- 19. Book trains home early and compare split tickets.
- 20. Use coaches for long trips; student or young person coachcards cut fares further.
- 21. Cycle or walk. A second-hand bike and a good lock can pay for themselves within a term compared with daily bus fares.
Course costs and tech (tips 22 to 24)
- 22. Use the library first for textbooks, including e-books, and buy second-hand from older students only if you need your own copy.
- 23. Get software free. Universities usually provide Microsoft 365 and specialist software free to students; check before paying for anything.
- 24. Ask about printing and kit funds. Some departments give printing credit or loan equipment like laptops and cameras.
Earning and saving (tips 28 to 30)
Wondering what you will repay after graduating? Repayments depend on earnings, not on how much you borrowed, so check the student loan calculator before making any decisions about borrowing less.
- 28. Find flexible work. From April 2026 the minimum wage is £10.85 an hour at 18 to 20 and £12.71 at 21 and over. Campus jobs often fit around lectures. See our student side hustles guide.
- 29. Sell what you no longer need, from last year's textbooks to clothes, at the end of each term.
- 30. Save something, however small. Even £2 a day is about £730 over a year. Logging it in SYM keeps the streak going, and the savings goal calculator shows when you will hit your target.
Frequently asked questions
How can students save money on food in the UK?
Plan meals, shop at discount supermarkets, buy own-brand staples, batch cook with flatmates and use yellow-sticker and surplus food apps. Taking lunch to campus is one of the quickest wins.
Do students pay council tax?
Not if everyone in the property is a full-time student; the home is exempt. If you live with someone who is not a student, the bill may be reduced rather than removed. You usually need to send the council proof of student status.
Is the 16-25 Railcard worth it for students?
Usually yes. It costs £35 a year and gives a third off most fares, so it pays for itself after you save £35, which can be a single long return journey. Full-time mature students can get one too.
Do students need a TV licence?
Only if you watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or use BBC iPlayer. If you only use other on-demand services, you do not need one. A licence costs £180 a year.
What help is there for students who run out of money?
Contact your university's student support or money advice team about hardship funds, which do not usually have to be repaid. Your students' union advice centre can also help, and Student Finance can reassess your loan if your circumstances have changed.
- student money
- saving tips
- university
- student budget
- UK
Social life (tips 25 to 27)