Right, here are six ways to make sure you actually enjoy Freshers’ Week on a student budget

Freshers’ Week can be a seriously spenny time. From splurging on fairy lights to recreate the Pinterest inspo photos for your new room, to the McDonald’s fries that make the 3am walk home from the club a little more bearable, you can be edging dangerously close to your overdraft before lectures have even started.

But just because students seem to be more cash strapped than ever right now, that doesn’t have to mean your uni experience ends up being a week of FOMO.

Here are six ways to make sure you actually enjoy Freshers’ on a student budget, because otherwise the only thing worse than your hangover will be checking your bank account the next morning.

1. Open a student bank account

There are so many pros to opening a student bank account, whether that’s a free four year railcard or £120 in Just Eat vouchers. And not only do some accounts offer an interest-free overdraft, they can also be super helpful when it comes to budgeting.

Maybe it’s just me, but the word “budgeting” instantly brings to mind endless calculations and terrifying Martin Lewis-approved spreadsheets. If that all feels a bit overwhelming, one of the easiest student hacks is simply setting up a second bank account to manage your spending.

Transferring a small amount each week from your current account, where your student loan will be paid into (and potentially your spends from mummy and daddy), makes it so much easier to keep tabs on your outgoings. For the super savvy gals, account providers like Monzo make budgeting even easier with the inbuilt functions on their apps.

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There’s no better time than Freshers’ to get student banking sorted. You can apply for so many accounts online, meaning you don’t even have to leave your flat.

2. Snap up most of the freebies from Freshers’ Fair

Not only is Freshers’ Fair an opportunity to find out more about societies and sports – it’s a hotbed for freebies. I promise the piles of tote bags and stationery items do actually come in handy, and don’t just get shoved to the back of your wardrobe. Not to mention the free drinks vouchers and discounts from local vendors.

My only word of warning is this: Don’t be lulled into excessive spending because it feels like you’re getting a bargain. No, you really don’t need to order a discounted Domino’s pizzas when you can get one from Aldi for £1.15.

3. Don’t skimp on pres

Drinks on nights out aren’t getting any cheaper, and nobody’s Freshers’ Week budget was built for £9 doubles. So, the only solution is to go all out during pres.

It might feel like a big spend to stock up on bottles and mixers for your flat during Freshers’, but the savings quickly add up when you’re not buying round after round in the club.

Pres are also a great opportunity for getting to know people better – plus, stretching the night with a couple more hours of flat chaos before heading out makes the whole evening 10 times better.

4. Make sure you download Splitwise

Splitwise is an absolute godsend of an app, and it will become your best friend when you’re compiling your Freshers’ Week budget. It helps make sure you’re not breaking the bank on those small flat purchases, whether it’s the loo roll you got for everyone, last night’s Uber, or the squash people will be mixing with their vodka tonight.

The app essentially makes it easier to split the cost of purchases between friends, tracking what everyone owes and automatically adjusting calculations based on new transactions. It means your housemates do actually have to pay you back for the life-sized poster of Zac Efron now sitting in your kitchen window.

5. Don’t buy the Freshers’ wristband

Just don’t do it. You’ve got no way of predicting what the vibe will be when you get to uni. Even if you know you want to go out lots, Freshers’ wristbands often only grant access to a small number of places, and they’re probably spots you won’t want to revisit once you’ve got a feel for the city.

Instead, try and get the lowdown on the best places to go from your local Tab’s articles or Freshers’ rep. You’ve been warned.

6. Get a part-time job

While not necessarily something that will help your Freshers’ Week budget itself, it’s a good way to pass that awkward time when you’re sat in your room with nothing to do. A quick scroll of Indeed could go a long way, and universities also have an internal jobs board for you to check out. These advertise jobs specifically designed for students to do alongside their studies.

Getting a part time job can be a great way to fund your uni lifestyle, especially with such a high cost of living in many parts of the UK. It can also look good on your CV for those girlies and guylies aspiring to corporate life after graduation.

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