As the cost of living continues to shoot up, many families are looking at ways they can pinch the pennies. And what better way to save time than by taking the advice of a savvy student who wants to make every penny count.
Now 23-year-old influencer Jess Martin has teamed up with Coffee Club to share some of the ways she saves money while living on a student budget. Jess, from Buckinghamshire, regularly shares her tips and tricks with her 11,600 Instagram followers.
Jess likes to use a number of hacks to live her best life without breaking the bank. From cutting the cost of cappucinos to saving on gym memberships, she's considered it all.
"Keep your bank balance positive with happy hour"
Heading out to the bar has always been a staple of student life. But the costs can soon add up.
Jess however says to keep an eye out for bars that offer happy hour discounts or even look at apps like UniDays or Student Beans to check where the deals are. She said: "Most bars offer cocktails that are 2-for-1 or student discount during various times and days of the week, and who doesn’t need another excuse for a quick break on a Monday afternoon?
"You can check your Unidays or Student Beans app to find out which venues offer student discount, and a quick web browse on restaurant/bar websites will tell you when the happy hours are. Some restaurants also offer lunch time deals or set menus which are a cheaper alternative to eating from the main menu.
"You can also sign up to member schemes through restaurant websites to get up to 20% off, sometimes even on weekends. Subscription services such as Tastecard also offer 2-4-1 across loads of different chain and independent restaurants, which is a great way to save in the long run.”
Ways to save on your hot drinks
Many people will be inclined to pick up a hot drink on their morning commute. But Jess says this is another way where you can save some money.
Signing up to coffee clubs or memberships can earn you money off. Or, in some cases, you may even be able to get a free coffee every now and then.
She added: "We all splurge on little treats to brighten the day, whether it's a hot drink or a guilty-pleasure after-lunch treat – and we deserve them! If you're reluctant to give up your everyday staple, finding ways to save on these costs is a great way to carry on enjoying those well-earned breaks.
“For me as a coffee lover, using a subscription service like Coffee Club allows me to make savings as I spend, I mean who doesn’t love coffee? Especially when I can set aside the money I’ve saved for other treats.
"Coffee Club is a monthly subscription service offering a 25% discount on all standard sized barista-made drinks at hidden independent gems and high street favourites such as Black Sheep Coffee, Ditto Coffee and Caffé Nero."
"No gym, no problem"
The monthly gym subscription could take a good chunk out of your bank balance each month. But there's plenty of resources online where you can find everything from workouts to yoga poses.
Jess said: “If you love staying fit but a £20 gym membership is just too much to part with every month, there are loads of great YouTube videos for yoga and fitness, for example, Yoga with Adrienne and Chloe Ting for HIIT workouts. There are also a number of different workout routines online and social media that can be done at home, which can be super useful if you want a quick, free workout.”
Reduce, reuse, resell
Instead of spending money on clothing, have you considered earning extra cash? There's plenty of websites and apps where you can sell your unwanted clothing and earn a few pounds.
Jess said: "A great way to make a bit of extra cash is by selling clothes you no longer wear that are unworn or in excellent condition. If you’re like me and love fashion, you’ll find your wardrobe gets super full and you’ll have clothes sat in there that you haven’t worn for months, so what better way to make your money back than selling them, it’s also better for the environment than just throwing them away."
Keep calm and budget that loan
If you've ever sat there thinking there's too much month left at the end of the money, chances are you're not the only one. And many students will find themselves making friends with their overdraft early doors.
But Jess says budgeting is one of the best ways to make your student loan go further. She said: “Budgeting your student loan or graduate wage is a great way to ensure you’re getting the most for your money.
"If you put the dates in your calendar that your loan or payday drops and the week before, work out how much you can spend per week on food, travel and other activities it will make sure you have enough to last you the month. There are also some amazing online tools to help with budgeting if you need a bit of extra help working it out.”
