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Student Funding Support

Small Sacrifices, Big Rewards

Small Sacrifices, Big Rewards

Spending on the go can quickly add up without you even realising it. We've highlighted below some costs of everyday on-the-go items to illustrate how buying these frequently can lead to big spending!

We've based the academic year price on you buying the item 5 days a week over the 39 weeks of the academic year.

Fruit

If you bought a 65p piece of fruit, such as an apple, every day of term, you would spend £126.75 per academic year.

 

Chocolate

If you bought an 80p chocolate bar every day of term, you would spend £156 per academic year.

Water

If you bought a £1 bottle of water every day of term, you would spend £195 per academic year.

Coffee

If you bought a £3 coffee every day of term, you would spend £585 per academic year.

Meal Deal

If you bought a £3.50 lunch meal deal every day of term, you would spend £682.50 per academic year.

So how can you keep these costs down? Here are some suggestions:

  • Bulk-buying snacks for the week, such as a bag of apples or a packet of chocolate bars can save you more money than buying these individually.

  • Invest in a reusable water bottle that you can fill up for free on campus.

  • Invest in a thermal travel mug. You can either bring a pre-made hot drink to campus or make use of the discount sometimes offered in coffee shops for customers who use their own mugs.

  • See if your favourite coffee shop offers student discount or discounts when using their apps. Some coffee shops will run a stamp loyalty scheme, where after you have purchased a certain number of hot drinks, you can then claim a free one!

  • Try to pre-plan your lunches. If you can batch-cook a meal to last over several lunches or prepare a sandwich before coming to campus you could save a lot of money!

It's worth reviewing your bank statements to see if there are other small costs you regularly spend on while on-the-go, and see how much this is costing you per academic year. How much could you save by making small sacrifices? You can use the Money Saving Expert's Demotivator ToolLink opens in a new window to help you estimate your non-essential spending.

Remember, it is okay to treat yourself occasionally to a nice coffee or lunch out. Just be mindful of how often you are doing this!