4 Ways to Save Money as a College Student in London

Living in London on your own is a great opportunity to learn how to manage your finances. If you are on a tight budget, this blog is for you. Disclaimer: All of these are personal experiences and advice!

1. The Bus is Always Free with Your Oyster Card

All students are given an Oyster card that covers their daily commute back and forth. However, if you want to travel outside of the covered zones using the underground services, you will get charged. My tip is to use the bus for those trips because, with an Oyster card, all bus trips are free. It can take a long time given the traffic jams during peak hours but is definitely a great way to save money while getting a good view of London.

A Harry-Potter-themed bus.

2. Sainsbury's vs. Lidl

Lidl is the cheapest retail with a wide range of high-quality fresh food. My advice to you is to buy fruits and vegetables at Lidl. Sainsbury's, on the other hand, is more expensive but their food is considered better. I always shop meat and pizzas at Sainsbury's at around 5-7 pm because that's when the food is reduced to clear. You can buy fresh meat and freeze them right away for future uses. A large pizza on sale at Sainsbury's is around £1 to £2.25, an insane price, especially when it is made right at the store.

Caption: Cheap, yet delicious pizza from Sainsbury's.

3. Save Money On Your Luggage

Many of my friends brought two heavy pieces of baggage with them, full of clothing and accessories. In London, there are two major sales seasons where you can buy items at a really cheap price at well-known retailers like Zara, H&M, Mango, Bershka, Urban Outfitters, Nike, Adidas, Office, Schuh, etc. Don't bring too many items of clothing with you when you can buy them here for £1.99 to £5.99.

A view from Byng Place.

4. If You Love Coffee and Smoothies, Then Subscribe to Pret

Pret (A Manger) is a coffee and sandwich franchise chain with more than 460 shops in the UK. They have a subscription plan which is £25 per month and with that, you can get up to 5 drinks per day including their best-seller coffee, smoothies, and frappes. The best thing is the first month is FREE! I always have 3-4 smoothies and 1-2 cups of matcha latte or hot chocolate per day. It is an insanely good bang for your buck!

A mango pineapple smoothie from Pret.