It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but Christmas can get expensive. If you’re a student on a budget; we’ve taken the stress out of Christmas with a few handy tips. Below, our prudent students have shared their favourite ideas to have fun this Christmas and save some cash too! Remember, saving money doesn’t just apply to Christmas; you can use these tips all year round!
Rhianna Gately, 20. Education Studies.
We all know Christmas time leaves us short on money with buying gifts for loved ones (and all those end of semester celebrations). But that shouldn’t mean you are left scrimping and eating beans on toast for the rest of the month. Most of us have a smartphone these days and there are plenty of apps out there that can get you discounts or even free food when you sign up. Some of the ones I use are:
- KFC – give you enough points for two free hot wings when you sign up and you can build up points every time you make a purchase.
- Subway (sub-card) – unfortunately, you don’t get the instant free food win, but its double points at the moment.
- Krispy Kreme – free donut when you sign up, as well as extra vouchers
- Café Nero – free hot drink when you first sign up (perfect for a Christmassy hot chocolate to keep you warm)
Also, I recommend being thrifty as its both great for your pocket and the environment. Especially at Christmas when so much is thrown away in the likes of spare food and packaging. Firstly, charity shops are great for treating yourself to some essential wardrobe party pieces. Ecclesall road has some lovely hidden gems. But going back to the idea of apps, I would recommend checking out “I heart OLIO”. You can use this app to pick up food locally that people (and often students who are going home) don’t want to eat, to save them throwing it away; as well as advertising your own food in the same way. Free food for you whilst saving the environment.
Gaia Martellucci, 22. International Marketing.
You do not need to buy expensive and colourful wrapping paper every single Christmas! Chances are, you will not use all of it and end up wasting it. Buy instead recycled brown wrapping paper. You would be able to personalise it the way you want it and also re-use it all-year around. Another way of saving up on wrapping paper is to avoid buying it completely! Instead, you can just use whatever you have got around the house. Even stuff from your Amazon parcel! I guarantee you it will look way more personal and thoughtful.
Brooke Pearson, 21. Childhood Studies.
Around Christmas, most shops have offers on, whether that’s 3 for 2 or special buys. Make the most of these offers by checking weekly what shops have on offer, sign up to their emails as some email discounts too! By using offers such as 3 for 2 you can save a lot of money by purchasing 3 gifts of a similar price and then repeating depending on how many presents you need to buy. This way saves you more money than just buying all your presents at once as shops will put your cheapest present as the free gift.
Saving up for Christmas can be a struggle so why not suggest Secret Santa to your friends. This way, you can set up a budget and you save money by only purchasing a gift for one person. You can often find great Secret Santa gifts in discounted shops such as Poundland.
Amy Jowett, 21. Digital Media Production.
Make Christmas less stressful money wise by saving up for it. Put a little money aside each month and it will soon add up. If you know roughly who you are buying and what you are willing to spend when December rolls around you have all your Christmas shopping money ready to go! So it won’t leave a huge dent in the bank account
Sites like TopCashback, Quidco and VoucherCodes offer cash back or a percentage off many sites! Then there is Zeek.me which offers discounted gift cards to spend online and in store many high street retailers. Some of these methods can be combined as well to make your money go further
Wishing you a very Merry Thriftmas!
