A guide to all the subscriptions or student discounts you need before you start uni in York

Starting uni comes with a very exciting realisation: Student discount is basically a form of financial aid 

As someone who loves shopping, eating out, drinking in bars, trying new things and generally spending money I probably shouldn’t, I’ve learnt that being a student is the perfect time to become a little more strategic with your spending. 

So, here are the subscriptions, apps and perks I think are actually worth having before you start uni that will save your money.

1. UNiDAYS & Student Beans (get both)

These should be some of the first apps you download once you’ve read your UCAS acceptance email. 

Both UNiDAYS and Student Beans are free, so there is genuinely no reason not to have both. UNiDAYS currently offers student discounts on over 800 brands, while Student Beans has thousands of deals across fashion, food, technology, travel and more.

And yes, there is some overlap between the two (my most used are coffee chains like Starbucks and shops such as ASOS or Urban Outfitters) but there are also offers on one platform that you won’t necessarily find on the other.

Before I buy anything online, I always check if it has a student discount.

2. Amazon Prime Student (use the free trial)

This is one I would definitely recommend getting before you start buying loads of things for uni, whether it be decor for your flat, refills of your favourite coffee products or extra beauty products you can guarantee get delivered fast. 

Amazon currently offers UK students a six-month free trial of Prime Student. After that there is a discounted rate of £4.49 a month or £47.49 a year. Included in this price there is access to Prime delivery (next day ), Prime Video (films and series) and other Prime benefits.

And let’s be honest: University involves a lot of last-minute purchases. Need a phone charger? Prime. Forgot storage boxes? Prime. Need something for a night out tomorrow? Prime.

However, if you only want to use this as a trial, set a reminder for when your free trial ends. The whole point of being mindful with money is not accidentally paying for subscriptions you’ve forgotten about.

3. Spotify Premium Student

If you listen to music every single day, I think this is one of those subscriptions that is actually worth paying for. Spotify Premium Student is currently £5.99 a month (compared to the £12.99 for the standard individual plan) and new subscribers can get their first month free.

University or school without Spotify? I honestly don’t want to imagine it. I’ve used Spotify Premium since my GCSE days and I promise its worth every single penny. 

You’ll want ad-free music for getting ready before nights out, walks to lectures, gym sessions, cooking in your flat, long library sessions, train journeys home, comparing recently listened albums with your friends and podcasts to fall asleep to. If you already use Spotify for all of these purposes, the student plan is a much better option than paying full price.

5. Too Good To Go

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This is guidance for myself as I really should be using the app more, especially as my motivation to cook everyday is running thin. 

Too Good To Go lets you buy food from so many restaurants, cafes, bakeries and shops at a reduced price. You reserve a “Surprise Bag”, pay through the app and collect it during the specified collection window.

This can be so useful when you’re trying to save money on food but also want a little treat to keep you going. Its particularly good when you don’t know what you fancy eating, you can go on the app and have a look at what’s available nearby for cheap prices. 

The whole purpose is that the exact food in the bag is a surprise, so don’t use it if you need something very specific. You can choose from your favourite places of course, but don’t be disappointed if you get something you wouldn’t usually buy.

6. Boots Advantage Card

If you are someone who spends a lot of money in Boots on skincare, toiletries, makeup, medicine, haircare, literally anything… get an Advantage Card.

Boots currently offers a student discount when you link your Advantage Card with valid student ID, with the standard student discount listed as 10 per cent on almost everything.

This is one of those discounts where you can actually save money on things you were going to buy anyway. I find it most useful when I’m walking around the city centre and realise I’ve just ran out of a necessity and can do with a restock.

7. Gym membership (ideally close to your accom)

This is probably my biggest piece of advice when it comes to gym memberships. Pick a gym that is convenient. Personally, I’m not bothered if my gym doesn’t have a sauna, a fancy interior, or that it’s the cheapest in the area. My concern is having a gym I can promise myself I will go to that is near to my house.

Student discounts can also make gym memberships more affordable. For example, Student Beans currently lists student offers for gyms including The Gym Group where there are free trials and specific student memberships.

Before signing up to a gym, check whether your university itself has a gym. University gyms can sometimes be incredibly convenient because you’re already on campus and keeps the work-life balance. 

9. Streaming services (you don’t need all of them)

This is where the shopaholic in me needs to be restrained. You do not need Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV, Paramount, NOW, Spotify, Apple Music and every other subscription known to mankind. Especially when you are already paying for so many more things.

My advice is to choose the services you genuinely use and rotate the others. For example, if there’s one show you really want to watch on another platform, subscribe for a month, watch it, then cancel. Don’t keep paying £10-20 a month just because you might watch something eventually.

Also, check with your flatmates and housemates if they have any platforms, then you can swap and share whos laptop to watch movies on (this is also a good social element where film nights together become a regular thing). 

10. And finally… don’t be shy to ask for student discount

This is probably the biggest thing I learnt in my early months of uni. If you’re shopping somewhere and you’re not sure whether they offer a student discount, just ask. The worst they can say is “no, sorry we don’t.”

Most high street stores and popular brands will offer a student deal of some sort over the academic year. Take your student ID with you (I keep mine in the back of my phone case or digitally on my Apple Wallet) and ask when you can.  

My final advice is to remind yourself that discount doesn’t mean free. As someone who openly admits to being a shopaholic, this is something I am still trying to remind myself of. The student discount is amazing and has saved me a lot of money over the years, but a discount is not a reason to spend money.

If you need new trainers and there’s 20 per cent off? Amazing. If you weren’t planning to buy trainers and suddenly convince yourself you need them because they’re 20 per cent off? Your bank account may disagree.

The subscriptions and perks I would prioritise before starting uni are therefore the ones that are free, genuinely useful or likely to save you money on things you already buy. You are paying enough for university already. You may as well make the student perks work for you.