As you might have noticed, groceries, gas, electricity and lots of other things have been getting more expensive lately which, for many students, is not ideal to say the least. Luckily, there are lots of ways in which you can save money! Here are six tips on how to make your money go further as a student, which hopefully means you can get by and even have money left over for unplanned expenses.

#1: Track your spending and budget

The most effective tip I can give you is to track your spending and to budget! It isn’t a quick fix as it takes at least a month to get it right, but it will save you lots of money in the long run. Start by tracking your expenses in a spreadsheet for at least a month. For me, Excel works best, but a Google spreadsheet is also great. I have categories for everything; groceries, eating out, going to cafés, going out, study related things, clothes, and travel expenses. I also include my fixed expenses like rent, health insurance and so forth. Per week, I will track how much I spend and, at the end of the month, I can see how much I spent per category, per week, and in total! At the bottom of the spreadsheet, I also write down the amount of money I started with that month so I can see whether I have some money left or not.

After you have tracked your expenses for a month, you have an overview of how you spend your money and you can start budgeting! In which categories have you spent a lot and where can you save some money? Personally for me, I set a budget for buying clothes, because I spent a lot of money on that. I also wanted to set a budget for my random expenses, like buying lunch everyday or buying little things I don’t need. Instead of buying my lunch everyday, I started to take a home-made lunch with me. Little things like that save a lot of money! Because I set budgets for several categories, I could set aside a decent amount of money for savings. While it takes some work to track your expenses, it is one of the best methods to save money! 

#2: Make your sweater your new best friend

As the prices for gas and electricity are going up, it is a good idea to turn the heater down and make your sweater your new best friend! Personally, I will only turn my heater on when my sweaters and blankets cannot keep me warm anymore. Although being somewhat cold is not so great, it’s quite cosy to wear a big sweater or to be wrapped up in blankets like a burrito. You can make the most out of it by creating the cosiest and warmest working or relaxing space for yourself!

#3: Shorter, colder showers

Speaking about higher gas and electricity prices, by taking shorter and colder showers you will also save money! This is because cold water uses less electricity as you do not really use the hot water heater. Moreover, if you shorten your showers you will save even more! While taking a slightly colder shower does not sound so appealing, it has lots of benefits. A cold shower wakes you up in the morning, for instance. It also increases your blood circulation as your body tries to keep you warm and, as a result, makes your skin look healthier. Moreover, your immune system is supported as the cold water stimulates the white blood cells that are present in your bloodstream, which help fight off infections. Shorter and colder showers are, thus, not only good for your wallet but also for your body!

#4: Plan your meals and meal prep

Another way to save money is to plan your meals for the whole week and make a grocery list (and stick to it) so you won’t buy lots of unnecessary things at the supermarket. I often plan my meals for the next week on Sunday, taking into account any plans I made with friends to eat together or when I want to make a bigger batch of food so I can freeze some portions to eat later in the week. Then, I go grocery shopping either on that Sunday and/or the next Monday depending on which products are on sale and when - but I will talk about that in a minute. This way I will not only save money, but also time because I do not have to make several trips to the supermarket throughout the week, and I have some meals in the freezer for when I don’t have time to cook. A win-win situation, if I do say so myself!

#5: Plan your grocery shopping carefully

Now, let’s talk about grocery shopping! In order to save money, it is a good idea to think about where you want to shop. I recommend that, for all the products you have to buy, you look where you can buy them the cheapest and where they are on sale. This is what I meant by shopping either on Sunday and/or on Monday, because there are different discounted products either days at AH, Jumbo etc. Additionally, every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, there is a market on the Vismarkt where you can buy vegetables and fruits for a reasonable price, which I highly recommend going to. Moreover, budget supermarkets such as Lidl and Aldi are also great for cheaper products. Although it’s quite a hassle going from place to place, it is definitely worth it!

#6: Buy second-hand

Lastly, buying second-hand is another great way to save some money and it is also sustainable! Want to buy a dress for a special occasion or switch up your wardrobe? In and around Groningen, there are a lot of second-hand vintage clothing stores where you can find beautiful clothes, such as in the Oude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat. While most second-hand shops sell mainly clothes, there are some that also sell furniture and books. Mamamini near the Noorderplantsoen, for instance, is a good place to start if you are looking for cheaper furniture and Marktplaats or Facebook Marketplace are also great! In order to save money on study books, I recommend looking for them online. Sites often offer a second-hand option, and there are lots of sites that are solely for second-hand study books, such as Bookmatch. For more information on where you can buy second-hand books, clothes, or furniture in Groningen you can look on this map, which was made by our Green Office!

Additionally, there are some flea markets coming up where you might find some clothing items you’ve been looking for or a nice decorative piece for your room:

• There is a Stadjersmarkt on Sunday 23 October 2022 at MartiniPlaza in Groningen. From 10:00 -16:30, you can wander through the stalls. Entrance will cost you €3,50.
• The Suikermarkt on Sunday 23 October 2022, will take place at the EM2 on the Suiker Terrein in Groningen. It is a vintage market where you can find vintage clothes, vinyl, jewellery, interior decor and much more. The market will have a festival-vibe, so there will be music, and something to eat and drink. It takes place from 11:00 - 17:00 and entrance is €3,50. A fun day out!
• The vintage kilo sale on Saturday 29 October from 12:00 - 19:00 and Sunday 30 October from 12:00 - 18:00 at Stadlab on the Suiker Terrein in Groningen allows you to shop by selecting a time slot and buying a €2 ticket online. For only €20, you can buy a kilo of clothes!
• Lastly, on Sunday 13 November 2022, there will be another Stadjersmarkt at MartiniPlaza in Groningen from 10:00 - 16:00. Entrance is €3,50. 

I hope these tips will help you with saving money! Even if money isn’t an issue right now, it’s always handy to have some extra cash on hand for unexpected events or to treat yourself once in a while. 

If you have additional tips that you would like to share, feel free to pop them in the comments!