YOUR FOOD OR YOUR MONEY: SURVIVAL TIPS FOR STUDENTS

by Carol Akiwumi & Angelica Udueni (www.Money4Youth.com)

Food is both essential and enjoyable, so often we don’t like to compromise our spending on it. A survey by moneysavingexpert.com saw that students prioritised spending on food above all else. However, it need not be expensive. It is entirely possible to have a varied, healthy and delicious diet whilst on a budget. Here are five easy tips to help you get more money-savvy with food:


1. Plan meals in advance

If you schedule your meals on a daily or weekly basis, it will make it easier for you to allocate your money accordingly so save one day a week to do a budgeted big shop. Whilst having spontaneous lunches and coffees with friends is okay once in a while, you should pay attention to outings like these because if they become a habit, they will negatively impact your finances over time. So try to plan your meals so you don’t get tempted to overspend.


2. Make the most of student discounts and loyalty cards

If you do plan to eat out, it’s worth investigating if the restaurant or café you go to offers a student discount. Often you can get 10% off your meal if you show a valid student ID. Also, most supermarkets offer some kind of points based loyalty card scheme, where points can be saved up as you shop and substituted for money off groceries in the future.

3. Invest in a flask

Rather than wasting money on overpriced cold drinks from Stores, why not make your own cold drink and take it out and about with you? You can purchase a 500ml flask from most markets, which is excellent value for money. They often last for years and can hold more liquid than the average coffee cup from high street Cafés.

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