| We all knew 2009 would bring some difficult news | | | | you've read them and learnt from them, they just end |
| about student loans, but no-one expected it to be quite | | | | up on the bookshelf gathering dust. Earn yourself a |
| this bad. No sooner had 50,000 students just got used | | | | few extra quid buy selling them to other students. Or |
| to the fact they'd have to start their courses without all | | | | save yourself money by buying them second-hand. |
| their loan money; then The Confederation of British | | | | You can do both by following one of the links at the |
| Industry recommended students should pay more for | | | | bottom of this article. |
| their loans. | | | | Switch gas, water or electricity supplier |
| Of the record 1 million UK students who applied for | | | | Shopping around for good deals on essentials such as |
| funding this year, 16% have not yet received any | | | | utilities and car insurance can save you hundreds of |
| money. So tough times ahead for English students it | | | | pounds each year. There are plenty of price |
| seems - or maybe not. Some savvy students are | | | | comparison websites out there to help you switch |
| taking intelligent steps to ensure they meet the | | | | providers and one exclusively for students. |
| challenge of rising borrowing costs head on. They're | | | | Look and smell good for less |
| making sure they stretch their budget to the limit and | | | | The economic times are tough. And from ski wear |
| graduate with as little debt as possible. Of the | | | | deals to free fake tans, fashion and health & |
| hundreds of tactics students are using to make uni-life | | | | beauty retailers are offering all sorts of incentives for |
| easier on their pocket, here are the 10 most popular in | | | | your business. You can find loads of discounts at |
| no particular order: | | | | health & beauty at and fashion by searching for |
| Get a part-time job | | | | voucher codes online. |
| It may seem obvious but a surprising number of | | | | Reduce the cost of your weekly supermarket shop |
| students don't supplement their loans with a wage. | | | | The price of a basket of food and drink has never |
| Now, nobody needs to tell you about benefits working | | | | been so high. So, take advantage of all those |
| in a bar or supermarket can bring to your social life! | | | | money-off vouchers supermarkets offer and bring the |
| But it can also stop you from blowing your student | | | | cost of your weekly food shop down. Supermarkets |
| loan on those things that make uni-life so much fun | | | | compete and try to undercut each other all the time. |
| such as nights out, takeaways and parties! Getting a | | | | So shop around online for deals before you go out |
| part-time job is also a great way to meet local people | | | | shopping. |
| outside of the traditional uni-scene. | | | | Get your high-tech stuff at low prices |
| Get your kicks for free | | | | If you love gadgets such as iPods and mobile phones |
| It doesn't have to cost the earth to enjoy yourself at | | | | or just need to get a laptop to write your assignments |
| university. There are plenty of people happy to furnish | | | | on, you can save pounds on electrical goodies. Mobile |
| you with shed-loads of freebies. All you have to do is | | | | phone companies, broadband providers and computer |
| look for them online. | | | | manufactures are falling over themselves to get your |
| P** less money up the wall | | | | business. Take a look at the what deals they've got to |
| If going out and partying is your thing, then there are | | | | tempt you by going online. |
| ways to having full measures of fun at a fraction of | | | | Set yourself an entertainment budget and stick to it |
| the price. There are several websites that provide | | | | It's so easy to overspend on that gives us the most |
| discount vouchers for pubs and clubs such as | | | | pleasure. Restricting how much you spend on fun |
| Jongluers. | | | | doesn't mean having less of it; especially when you |
| Eat out for less | | | | look at some of the great 'nights out and in' deals |
| Restaurant bills can leave a nasty taste in your mouth. | | | | available online. |
| So, don't pay the full amount. From Pizza Hut to your | | | | These are just 10 ways to live large and spend small |
| local Indian restaurants, there are hundreds of | | | | at university. Now it's over to you to make the most of |
| money-off vouchers out there. | | | | them and find more ways to stretch your student |
| Sell books and buy cheaper ones second-hand | | | | budget - so you graduate with less debt. |
| The trouble with university textbooks is that once | | | | |