Food and shopping - Saving Money - Student Funding

Food & Shopping

Meal Planning and Preparation

Planning and/or preparing your meals in advance can help save you money by:

Buying bulk ingredients that can be used across several meals (e.g. a bag of potatoes).
Having the option to bulk cook and freeze meals.
Reducing the temptation to order a takeaway.

The National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA) has created a useful Meal PlannerLink opens in a new window to help you schedule your weekly meals.

You may not know which meals suit your taste buds and which are budget-friendly. If this is the case, why not take a look at Save the Student's Weekly Meal Plan: 28 Cheap and Healthy IdeasLink opens in a new window which provides recipe suggestions and prices per portion.

Food Shopping

Make sure to plan your shopping trip so that you are not running around throwing anything into your trolley. This means you can also plan not to shop on an empty stomach, as research shows you are more likely to buy more food when you are hungry!

Shops will often reduce their items at certain times of day, if you can get in to do your shopping at that time, you may pick up some good deals.

Did you know that by looking at the price per unit on product labels, you can easily see whether a bigger pack of the same product is better value for money or not? The following document from the Competitions and Markets Authority explains clearly how to understand Unit PricingLink opens in a new window. Also, remember to check the use-by date as it's only worth it if you are going to use the whole product before it goes out of date.

Have you also thought about swapping out some of your branded food items for unbranded ones? This can save you £££s at the checkout!

Discounts and Online Food Shopping

Many supermarkets now have reward schemes such as Tesco ClubcardLink opens in a new window, Asda Rewards,Link opens in a new window Sainsbury's Nectar CardLink opens in a new window, and Morrisons MoreLink opens in a new window. They each offer different rewards for their customers and could save you some money on your food shop.

If you have your shopping delivered, have you considered using the cheaper off-peak slots or buying a subscription? If you are living with flatmates, why not get your food in the same delivery and split the cost? You can find out more hints and tips, as well as a supermarket delivery price comparison in the following Save the Student article, Cheapest Online Supermarkets 2023Link opens in a new window.

There are other ways to save money on food online, such as cashback apps and coupons:

Cooking

You can save a lot of money by cooking, rather than ordering takeaways. There are lots of online budget recipes available such as:

Save the Student: Student RecipesLink opens in a new window - price per meal/portion
Tesco: Student RecipesLink opens in a new window - with recipes from online supermarkets, you can often add the ingredients straight into your online basket.
BBC Good Food: Student RecipesLink opens in a new window
Student Eats: Student RecipesLink opens in a new window

You may also be able to save money by improving your knowledge on:

Eating Out and Takeaways

While it is important to avoid spending money daily on takeaways they can be a nice treat and don't have to break the bank. When you next feel like a takeaway, check out the following Save the Student article for a list of helpful tips to save money -11 Ways to Save Money on TakeawaysLink opens in a new window.

The Too Good to GoLink opens in a new window app can see you get a takeaway bargain as vendors sell off a surprise bag (at a reduced rate) of their products that they would have ordinarily had to throw out. A variety of vendors are involved in this, from grocery stores to restaurants and coffee shops! If you are interested in cutting down your food costs and waste further, you might also be interested in the Olio Link opens in a new windowapp which allows users to share food for free!

When heading to campus, you can save money if you bring a packed lunch with you instead of purchasing it on-site. Check out our Small Sacrifices, Big RewardsLink opens in a new window webpage to find out how small purchases on the go can add up! If you do decide to buy food on campus, you should check out the Warwick Retail Offers Link opens in a new windowfor food offers, discounts and competitions.

Shopping

Smart Shopping

It can be hard not to spend money on items when you really want to. Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert website has coined two good mantras to utilise in these situations:

SKINT	NOT SKINT
1) Do I need it? 2) Can I afford it?	1) Will I use it? 2) Is it worth it?

If it's a no to any of the other questions, then best not to buy it. You can print out a copy of these mantras to fit in your wallet to prompt you as you go to grab your bank card - Money Saving Expert: Free Money Mantras Card.Link opens in a new window

Shopping Around

Being sensible with your money doesn't mean you can't spend it at all. When you're making a purchase, either big or small, it is always worth shopping around to make sure you're getting the best deal. A great article with over 40 tips about keeping costs down while shopping online is Money Saving Expert's Cheap Online ShoppingLink opens in a new window.

Remember, always check for Student DiscountsLink opens in a new window on any purchase or financial product!

Choosing Financial Products

When comparing financial products, such as a mobile phone contract, read the small print carefully to make sure that you understand exactly what is included or excluded from the cost. Don’t assume that all offers are the same!

Mobile Phones

Things to remember when buying a new phone include:

Clarify the number and cost of your calls, text, mobile data and extra charges when purchasing a pay-as-you-go phone or sim
Clarify the cost and length of a contract and what extra charges you could be liable for (e.g., roaming charges). Check that the contract covers the amount of data you need, you can use uSwitch's Mobile Data CalculatorLink opens in a new window to get an estimate of this or review your average monthly usage on your current phone provider app.
Check that the network you're choosing has good coverage where you'll be using your phone. You can use the Mobile Phone Coverage CheckerLink opens in a new window on the Money Saving Expert's website.
Buy your phone from a reputable seller - check their returns policy and read customer reviews.
Avoid impulsively buying a new phone/signing a new contract. You can use price comparison websites such as Compare the MarketLink opens in a new window to compare deals.
Never sign a blank form or contract documents.
Read any contract document thoroughly before signing.
Consider buying insurance for your phone in case of loss, theft or damage (or check whether this is covered by your contents insurance). You can use price comparison website such as MoneySuperMarketLink opens in a new window to compare deals.

Remember, always check for Student DiscountsLink opens in a new window on any purchase or financial product!