Saving money does not only involve opening a savings account with a bank; saving can mean spending wisely! This article will help you find tricks to shop smart and not hard!

Many brands offer online and in-person discounts for students, and sometimes, you can ask for them when shopping in person, especially among smaller brands. I recommend looking at UniDays and StudentBeans; these platforms have a vast selection of student discounts for most brands. They even advertise student-friendly earning opportunities and tips on how to get free items (I learned about the free bakery thing that Lidl does through StudentBeans). Consciously checking to see if there is a student discount before shopping is a wise thing to do.

Many big chains also have loyalty card schemes where members can get items at discounted prices or earn points to be redeemed later. Think Tesco Clubcard, Lidl Plus, Boots My Advantage, Superdrug Beauty Card, etc. Usually, signing up is quick and easy and makes a difference in the long run.

Some people are particular about getting certain brands for specific products. However, other products may not vary too much across brands. You can choose the cheaper option where it doesn't make a difference. Hopefully, the long-grain rice in Aldi and Waitrose will be pretty similar.

Sometimes, the time and season you shop can affect the price. During a period of high demand, you may have to pay more than you normally would, so it may be worth avoiding buying certain things at peak times. For example, train tickets become more expensive as the journey date approaches.

In some grocery stores, in the evenings, they put yellow stickers on items that will soon go past their best-before date. If you plan on using that item immediately, it's a no-brainer. For Greggs lovers, they also have outlets where items are crazy cheap. It's so worth it if you plan to consume them in a day or two. Similarly, on platforms like Too Good to Go, you can get food items and ingredients much cheaper.

The final tip I have on shopping smarter is to avoid the temptation to buy things you do not need!