The Push Guide to freebies
The Bog Standard Student Card
That flimsy bit of plastic with the awful photo of you is the best way to get money off. Wave it around wherever you go with a vague sense of hope and someone somewhere will give you money off. Pubs and bars often have student nights, many bookshops in university towns give 10% off to budding academics and even the local chippy has been known to shave down the price if the card is shoved under their nose.
For some savings, such as with National Express, you might need a discount card with a bit more weight.
NUS Extra Card
The big mama of all discount cards, offering a smorgasbord of savings in all of the strangest places - from money off books at Amazon to cheap cinema tickets with Odeon. There's even tasty savings at McDonalds - should you want to take the parents out for a swanky meal to thank them for their support...
NUS charge you £11 for the card, but a wise spender could easily earn that money back in savings...
http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/
Young Persons Railcard
If you're the sort of self-loathing person who loves to get around by train, then make sure you save yourself a third by getting one of these. They're a snip at £26 and even have the odd deal with other companies.
http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/
Studentdiscounts.co.uk
Not so much a discount card as a site that you can get good offers through. This card is accepted in some places, although you'll find that the regular student card cuts the Colemans in most cases. There's a cashback service for any goodies you buy through their site.
http://www.studentdiscounts.co.uk/
Vouchers Galore!
For those of you who prefer paying with printouts rather than actual currency, check out some of the many free voucher sites online. Print it off, take it in and claim big discounts on all sorts of things - mostly eating out.
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/vouchers/
http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk
http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/
Learning to drive
Driving can be an expensive way to get around; tax, fuel, and oh yes insurance - which goes up every time you hit a pedestrian. Fortunately Marmalade is here to help. As well as being delicious on toast they offer insurance specifically for young drivers, so you may be able to save some dosh.
Sponsored Degrees
Being a full time student isn't the only way to get a degree. If you're worried about money, or feel you want to go straight off to work then there are alternatives. Logica are offering a business-savy student the opportunity to work for them as well as getting a degree. Along with Winchester Uni, they have put together a three-year degree programme, which combines studying with hands-on expierence of the 9-to-5. You will spend one day a week studying and the other four working at one of Logica's sites, either in Reading or Leatherhead. There's also some cash invoved: you don't have to pay any tuition fees and will receive a starting salary of £13,000/year. At the end of it, you wind up with a BA(Hons) Business Management degree.
So who do they want?
• Top quality candidates with confidence, drive and the resilience to handle the pressure of working and studying at the same time.
• Three B's at A-Level (or equivalent) or a BTEC National Diploma with Distinction Profile.
• At least C-grade in GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths.
To find out more and to apply visit the site.
Last updated on: 14 October 2010