Student Special: How To Stretch Your Student Budget

When starting college, it is useful to prioritise your expenses. You should focus on rent, bills and food. Shop at discount specialists Aldi and Lidl and remember significant savings are to be made cooking in bulk. Rice and pasta have long sell-by dates and can accompany most meals. Also, they’ll fill you up quickly and are easy to prepare. 

Clothes-wise, spend time rummaging through charity shop rails. Clothes swapping is rising in popularity: Dublin's SWOPSHOP is branching into roadshows, with the aim of holding swapping events around the country. And basics never go out of style: stock up on affordable block coloured t-shirts that will work season to season. If leaving the familiar surroundings of main street shops is too much, have your student card to hand as most offer discounts.
If you've worn yourself out from raiding the rails of charity shops, grab a burrito or sandwich with the golden ticket that is your student card. For the next three years or so you can avoid paying full price for almost anything. Always ask, though: not everyone advertises their student discounts. In the capital, O'Brien's Sandwiches and Pablo Picante's student discounts are hard to beat. 
If commuting is set to become a regular feature of your life as a student, invest in a student travel card. Doubling up as a Leap card, this piece of plastic means you can get discounted bus and rail tickets. Your college student card alone won't entitle you to discounts: buying a travel card is definitely a necessary expense if relying on public transport. 
You should also consider joining the campus gym. Most colleges have gyms: DCU, UCD, TCD, DIT, UCC and UL to name but a few. Even better, join some sports societies and get your fitness fix without splashing out on gym fees.
And where better to show off your toned bod than on a night out? Look out for midweek student events and keep an eye on nightclub Facebook pages for cheap ‘list’ opportunities. A bit closer to campus, consider the student bar: there'll usually be several drinks offers on at any one time. Or, if you'd prefer to pass on the drinking side of college, some third level institutions have a sober society that organise nights - so you’ll be spared the hangover next morning.
Also, have a look at Freecycle. You can request and offer different household items – all for free. So if you're looking for a computer desk, CD tower, bicycle or even a trampoline give this service a shot.