Student finance in 2026 doesn't stretch as far as it used to. But students also have access to discounts, benefits, and money-saving schemes that aren't available to anyone else. Here are 20 ways to make your money go further.
Discounts and Benefits
TOTUM (formerly NUS Extra) card — 10% off at hundreds of retailers, £15/year but pays back fast. 16-25 Railcard — saves 1/3 on rail fares, £30/year (also valid for 26-30 year olds). Student council tax exemption — full-time students pay zero council tax, but you must apply each year. Student bank account — most major banks offer interest-free overdrafts of £1,000-£3,000, plus cash/voucher incentives. Amazon Prime Student — 50% off Prime subscription while studying. UNiDAYS and Student Beans — free cards giving discounts on clothing, tech, food delivery.
Food and Accommodation
Cook in batches: a Sunday batch cook for the week costs around £15-£20 and saves daily decision-making. Use your university canteen strategically: most serve subsidised meals at lunch. Shop yellow stickers: supermarket reduced-to-clear items (usually from 7pm and again from 9pm) can be 75% off. Live in second-year housing: first-year halls are typically the most expensive accommodation. Shop at Aldi or Lidl for basics.
Tech and Subscriptions
Student Microsoft 365: often free via your university — check before paying. Student Spotify: 50% off if bundled with Hulu (not available in UK but equivalent deals exist with Spotify Premium Student). GitHub Student Developer Pack: free premium developer tools worth thousands. Apple Education Pricing: significant discounts on Macs and iPads for students. Don't pay for software your university licenses — Adobe Creative Cloud, MATLAB, SPSS are often available free through the library.
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