My money saving tips for students - Part one

With rising costs for students, like tuition fees, rents and transport, the debts that students find themselves in at the end of their courses are rising too. Some things you can't avoid shelling out for, but there are economies to be made and money-saving skills to develop which will help to minimise the debt and will help out in later life aswell. Below are a selection of my tips to help students save money.....

1 - Shop around. Things like contents insurance can be expensive but don't accept the first quote you are given. Go to a broker. They work on a commission basis but get exclusive access to deals which could save you money. Even better, go online and use a comparison site like www.confused.com. Just make sure you are getting the right amount of cover so you can replace your items should the worst happen. Don't under-estimate the value of your essential equipment or you'll leave yourself vulnerable.

2 - Team up with others. Buying in bulk can often get you a better deal, so gang up with your housemates. Food isn't getting any cheaper and cooking one meal for your whole house instead of four or five individual meals will save all of you some money. Get together and cook something nice for you all, rather than getting a take-away. Even if you do this just one night a week, the savings soon add up. Take it in turns to cook, give each other points like on Come Dine with Me and make it fun.

3 - Coupons, coupons, coupons. I know it's a very old-lady thing to do but look out for money-off coupons in the local newspaper and online. Stash them away for things you buy regularly, and remember to use them - they won't save you money stuck in the drawer - get them out! Remember - Nans know best.

4 - Buy used. You don't need brand spanking new everything for your room. There are plenty of charity shops, second-hand stores, and online sites where you can buy used items at knock-down prices. Try good old e-bay for smaller items, gumtree.com for bulky items from local sellers and, of course, theBookPond.com for your essential textbooks.

5 - Sell your stuff when you're done. Don't be lazy and throw it away just because you can't be bothered to take it home with you. You have a couple of weeks between your last exam and returning home so use this time to turn your stuff into cash. Put up ads to attract interest, or take it to a second-hand shop and see if they'll buy it from you. You might not get very much, but every little helps. You'll also be doing your bit to save the planet.

More to follow when I think of them. If you have any money-saving tips to share, please add them below, or email us at joanne@thebookpond.com and we'll include them in the next instalment.