The King’s budget bible: How to save your SFE during your second semester as a KCL student

It’s no secret that the majority of university students are occupied by wanting to save their money. Whether you live in your overdraft or have managed to get a job alongside your degree, student life can be expensive. Especially for those of who live in London, where the average price of a pint is 7 quid.

So, here’s a few budgeting tips to help you save some money in 2025 as a KCL student. 

Meal planning and prepping

It’s not just for the gym bros— planning out and pre-preparing your meals can be an effective way of saving your money during term time. Firstly, it allows you to go into your weekly food shop with a clear plan to avoid overspending on items you might not use. Secondly, bringing your lunch onto campus with you will save you money on meal deals (a club card can only save you so much) and eating out. If you’re struggling for meal ideas, BBC’s Good Food’s student page is a life saver. 

Apps

If you find that most of your budget is blown on pints/cocktails on nights out, you may want to consider downloading DUSK. DUSK is an app which allows you to redeem free drinks from various bars and pubs in London, such as Simmons, and 2-4-1 deals at places like Be At One. Mixr is another useful app and will let you make the most of your student discount.  Mixr allows you to earn free drinks by collecting points and gives you specific discounts, hopefully making your nights out a little bit cheaper. 

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Make the most of your student ID

This is the most obvious tip, but using a 10% here and a 20% there adds up over time- so don’t neglect your student discount. Unidays in particular is especially useful, especially for deals on dining out. So, you might as well milk it whilst you can! 

Invest in a travel mug

Bringing your own coffee to campus can make a big difference, especially if you’re someone who finds themselves buying a £4 latte every day, and especially now that Pret’s subscription is no longer an option (a real tragedy for all Strandies.) Or if making your own coffee isn’t your style, most coffee shops will give you a discount for bringing your own cup, such as Pret and Greggs. Sustainable and economic.

Buy second hand

If you can’t resist spending your student loan on clothes, consider using Vinted or Depop to buy second hand clothes at a discounted price. During second semester, you might be looking for an outfit for a society ball, or for a themed social. This dress was a Vinted find! Use the right key words and try your hand at haggling and buying second hand can make a big difference to your spending. 

Forest Bikes

We have all seen the E-Bikes stacked up outside of Pret, and whilst the roads in central London are somewhat intimidating, if you’re a confident bike rider using an E-Bike to travel to campus can save you a fair bit on your usual tube journey. Forest Bikes in particular are a great option, giving you 10 free minutes a day and offering minute bundles to pre pay for your journeys. So, whether you’re a confident cyclist, are sick of TfL taking all of your money or are in the midst of your January health kick, biking to campus could help you save some of your weekly budget.

I no longer want to feel the weight of living in the capital. Let’s all agree to save some of our money this semester and stay out of our overdrafts, at least until the pub gardens open in summer.