‘Tis the season! Christmas is fast approaching and we’re dreaming of hot chocolates and festive markets with great food. However, if you’re a student then December may instil fear within you about how you’re going to get through the month. We understand, it’s coming to the end of term and your student loan is beginning to dry up after freshers week and the past few months have taken their toll. Don’t stress! With budgeting and some bank account-friendly activities, you’ll survive December easily and still be able to enjoy the festivities. We’ve got some tips to help you through this season.
- Make Use Of Student Discounts
Whilst you’re at university, student discounts will be a lifeline for any shopping you do but particularly at Christmas time! Showing your student ID at shops that offer the discount will save you 10-20% off major brands and some food. This will definitely add up when shopping for presents, but you should still keep track of your spending!
- Secret Santa
Regardless of your circle size, Christmas presents can add up. A great way of managing this spending is by doing a Secret Santa. You can also set a budget so people are spending no more than £10. Everyone gets a gift but no one is spending all of their money on it.
- Christmas Meals
There is nothing better than a turkey roast dinner at Christmas time with your friends and some drinks. However, Christmas dinners can be expensive if you choose to go out and you can end up spending upwards of £50-£60. An easy way to avoid this is by making a Christmas dinner in your flat or house. Everyone can put some money in and you can buy the supplies on a budget at the supermarket. This ends up being much less expensive (and you can bond over figuring out how to cook a turkey in a tiny student oven)!
- Ask For Useful Presents
Christmas is a time to indulge and enjoy luxuries, but it’s also an opportunity to get useful gifts if you need them. If you’re lucky enough to have family members asking you for present ideas, you can mention items that you need which will take down the costs for the rest of the year. Kitchenware and warm clothing for winter can be really expensive, so putting it on your Christmas list can save you a few pennies. You could also ask for loved ones to contribute to any subscriptions you have such as gym memberships, Amazon prime memberships or streaming platforms.
Christmas can be daunting when trying to keep your spending low but there are options available for low-cost Christmases. Also, don’t stress if you end up spending a little more than usual in December, there are more functions and outings to attend and it’s important to enjoy your time at university! The biggest piece of advice we can give you is to regulate your spending over the term, don’t blow all of it in freshers week if you can help it.
