Student life in London on a budget!
Student life in London on a budget!
It’s no secret that London is expensive, in fact, London is ranked one of the most expensive cities in the World. Nevertheless, London is one of the world’s most visited cities – offering something to everyone ranging from first-class restaurants to world-class cultural spaces! The city standing on the River Thames is also home to world-class institutions such as The University of London which attracts high numbers of international students every year! While pursuing your dream degree or studying a language course, you may find yourself on a budget and wonder how to survive your studies? Well, here are some Budget Tips from someone who was a student in London herself.
Eating in & Eating Out
Eating in is probably one of the cheapest options in London. Supermarkets like Lidl, Aldi and Asda make it possible. You will find them in most neighbourhoods, especially near student residences, or you can simply shop online and have it delivered to your door. If you have a lazy one, most UK Supermarkets also offer meal deals. You can enjoy a sandwich, crisps or some fruit together with a drink for only £3.
Eating out can be cheaper then you think, check online for special offers which can often mean 50% off your bill especially during weekdays! And don’t forget to carry your student card with you at all times to take advantage of student discounts available in many restaurants and shops. For example, Zizzi Italia offers a 30% discount to students.
If cheap grocery shopping and meal deals are still not making a difference to your budget- you can also eat for FREE! Yes, you have heard right! You will find tasty homemade vegan- food every day from Monday to Saturday in front of SOAS, University of London, served by Hare Krishna! Lastly, remember that most University campuses have their own canteen where you can have a nice meal for around £5. It also comes with good cheap coffee!
Clothing
London is the city of fashion and keeping up can be expensive but doesn’t have to be! While shopping on Oxford Street is an experience and you will find stores that have student discounts, you may want to try one of London’s famous street markets such as Brick Lane Market, Camden Market or Spitalfields Market for big brands at small prices. You will also want to go crazy with TkMaxx that offers anything from discounted clothes to homeware! At last, one of the best hidden gems are charity shops. While you support a good cause, you will find really expensive second-hand designer clothes for very little and most of the times they are hardly used or completely new – watch out for the original labels!
Socialising
While you will find many London attractions & activities that are discounted for students, your University’s Student Union may be the perfect place for you to socialise on a budget! From sport clubs & music events to your discounted student bar in the evening you will find yourself entertained while saving money!
Getting around
Choose your student accommodation wisely. Ideally, you will want to be within walking distance of your institution or within a short bus ride so you won’t have to pay for an expensive underground ticket! For cheap taxi rides, check out BOLT which offers great rates and if you stay with GoBritanya you will get an additional 10% off for each ride!
Take Away
Never forget your student card!
