5 money-saving tips for Bristol students

Go to your student bar

It might not be the coolest place. It might have a sticky floor and smell of stale urine. But your student bar is about to become your best friend. Serving by far the cheapest drinks in town, with pints and single mixers for around £2, student bars let you have it large without shrinking your student loan. They are also a great way to meet people at your uni. Make sure you keep an eye out for upcoming events, as your student bar will probably have some live music and pub quizzes throughout the year.

Buy second hand

Ever wondered where students really get their wavey garms? The edgy stylings of most students are thanks to eBay, ASOS Market Place and the city’s many charity shops. Check out the charity shops on Cotham Hill for great pieces at discount prices – Clic Sargent’s shop is particularly good. On eBay, find some great sellers and follow them. This will save your trawling through thousands of listings. Some of the best second hand sellers include voodoocouturevintage1 and prudery. Buying second hand will save you tons of money and you’ll also get unique items with a history. 

Get the bus

Whether you’ve spent the evening skanking in Lakota or belting out R Kelly’s Ignition (Remix) in Lizard Lounge, it can be very tempting to bundle into a taxi at the end of the night and head home to Stoke Bishop or Frenchay. But taxis are an expensive habit on a student budget, even if you decide to split the bill with your mates. Instead, get to know your local bus routes. First and Wessex have regular buses across the city with special student discount prices.

For information on routes and prices, visit www.firstgroup.com and www.wessexbus.com. The Wessex 16 can be found on the triangle until 4am with student singles costing only two quid. 

Do your food shop online

If you’re in self-catered halls or a shared house, cooking can come as a bit of a shock. Unless you’re a domestic goddess (or god), the chances are you’ve spent the last 18 years happily scoffing dinners cooked by your parents, but you’ve never actually learnt how to mash a potato. To get yourself organised and save money in the process, plan what you want to eat that week then do a shared shop online with your housemates. Buying in bulk is cheaper and planning your meals will mean you don’t get side-tracked in Sainburys, convincing yourself you really need Taste the Difference prosecco.  

Get tickets in advance

Most clubs in Bristol create Facebook events for nights out months in advance and post links to ticket sites early on. If there’s an event you like the look of, get the tickets straight away. Tickets for Motion and Lakota often go through release stages, with prices rising the closer the event gets. If you snag a first release ticket you can save between £5-£10. Buying in advance sometimes means you can’t make every event, but if something comes up don’t panic. Head back to the event’s Facebook page and resell the ticket. If it’s a popular night you’ll have no problem shifting your ticket. Some great events coming up include: Psyched x Alternate (October 2, Lakota) and Happy Daze : The Caribbean Carnival (October 16, Lakota).

Read our top gigs to catch in your first term.