Arcadia England

“Nothing is certain in London but expense.”

William Shenstone might have said this in 1743, but it still rings true today. As incredible as London is, it can also be incredibly expensive if you don’t keep an eye on your spending. Here are some of the best ways to avoid splashing the cash.

Money Tracking 

We all spend money, but what are we spending it on?

Tracking your spending habits is easy with Mint. This website/app automatically pulls all your financial information into one place and makes it easy  manage your money. 

Food

eating in is key 

It's true, the simplest way to save money is to cook at home! There are plenty of inexpensive grocery stores to chose from such as Lidl, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Even “higher-end” stores like Waitrose price match Tesco on many of its own items.

Try and avoid the smaller versions of these stores (Tesco Metro, Sainsbury's Local etc.), they tend to be more expensive, even though it's the same shop! Bigger is better when it comes to supermarkets.

If you can’t find the motivation to go food shopping by yourself, bring along your flatmate and take advantage of BOGOF (buy one get one free) and other deals that will make checking out easier on your wallet. 

Travel

Whether you’re traveling to Europe or within the UK, there are many ways to find cheaper, or even discounted rates.

Flights

Check out sites such as EasyJet and RyanAir, and you can find some great deals, but make sure you’re following their travel restrictions (i.e. size of carry-on). Also, take advantage of websites/apps like Opodo and Skyscanner that search dozens of websites to find you the best available deals. Keep in mind that if you’re searching for flights online, it’s best to use a private browser. Flight booking sites use cookies to track visitor behaviour and if you've been checking the same airfare repeatedly, they may show you a higher price because the jump in price might persuade you to make the purchase right away, before the price rises again.

Travelling in the UK 

Although booking a flight every weekend to a new European destination sounds like the study abroad dream, it can also make your semester very costly. Instead, take the time to see what’s right on your doorstep!

• If you’re itching to see the coast, travel to Brighton (often called ‘London by the sea’), Cornwall, or Wales.
• Visit the mysterious neolithic circles of Stonehenge.
• Head north to Scotland to stay in beautiful and historic Edinburgh. While you’re there, set aside a morning to climb Arthur’s Seat - there is truly no better view of the city.
• In need of  some green space? There are plenty of national parks such as the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Peak District and Dartmoor.

Deals & Discounts 

For those who want to go that extra money-saving mile

• LivingSocial and Groupon-  Features deals on the best things to do in London, including restaurants and travel.
• Student Beans - Over 10,000 discounts and deals for students!
• Money Saving Expert - Sign up to the weekly email of budgeting tips, and hot but short-lived deals.
• Discount Vouchers - Latest discount vouchers and voucher codes.
• Don't be afraid to use Google to find vouchers for a restaurant you know you're going to. You never know what you could save!