Channelling your broke uni student lifestyle

Being a university student often means mastering the art of making £20 last an entire week. After rent, food, laundry, nights out and the occasional ‘treat yourself’ purchase you absolutely did not need. Your bank account can start looking slightly concerning after all these transactions. 

But being broke does not mean you have to spend every weekend hiding in your room, missing out on plans, surviving exclusively on toast and waiting for your next maintenance loan. So, if your budget is looking a little tragic right now, here is how to channel your broke uni student lifestyle in York.

Become a tourist in your own city

It is surprisingly easy to spend months living in York without actually exploring it properly. It took me until second semester to even go near Fulford. You typically walk through the city centre, showing the Shambles, York Minster and the City Walls, but there are often parts of the city that are underrated. 

A personal favourite is spending weekend mornings running in Rowntree Park, going for a coffee on Bishy Road and walking the long way home past the River Ouse. These places are just some of the special parts of York that could of become background scenery rather than things you actually stop to appreciate if you don’t make efforts to explore what your uni city has to offer. 

Walk the city walls

If you have not walked York’s city walls yet, consider this your sign. The historic walls stretch for approximately 3.4 kilometres around the city and are completely free to access everyday (until daily closure at around 9pm). It is also one of those activities that sounds much more sophisticated than simply going for a walk. You can get your steps in, take some nice pictures and see parts of York you might of missed on. Walking is obviously free, and it’s also good for your mental and physical health. Sometimes you get more endorphins from being in the fresh air and exercise than any gym would do. 

Get cultured for free

York is home to some genuinely brilliant museums, and one of the best things about being a broke student is that some of them are free. The National Railway Museum, for example, has free admission and is right next to York station. Even if trains are not exactly your passion, it is worth visiting. 

York Art Gallery has a rotation of exhibitions throughout the year that are reasonably priced with specific student tickets and so much space to wander and explore the art on display. Bring your headphones, stick on your favourite playlist or a podcast and have your “im in a film” moment, all while pretending that you are someone who regularly chooses educational activities over watching Netflix in bed.

Pretend you’re nonchalant at the markets

York’s markets are another great place to spend time when your budget is questionable. Shambles Market is right in the city centre, with independent traders, food stalls and plenty of things to look at. 

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The important part is to look at anything and everything. You do not have to buy handmade jewellery, candles, clothes or baked goods. Window shopping is completely free, although it does require some impressive levels of self-control. You can wander around, discover independent businesses and tell yourself that you will come back when your next student loan arrives.

Make the most of York Minster

York Minster is one of those places you can walk past dozens of times without ever actually going inside. However, if you live in York, you may be able to visit without paying the standard admission price.

York residents can get free general admission with proof of address, meaning students living locally should definitely check whether they are eligible. If you are not eligible, there is still nothing stopping you from admiring it from the outside. The area surrounding the Minster is one of the prettiest parts of the city, and it makes for a great place to wander around when you have absolutely no idea what else to do.

Eat before you go out

One of the biggest threats to a broke student’s bank account is being hungry while out of your accom. You might leave your accommodation thinking you are just going to the library, only to spend £9 on food and a coffee because you were ‘absolutely starving’ and ‘needed caffeine’ to get through your study sesh. There is an easy solution: eat before you leave. After all, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to your cost-effective bulking meal prep.

This particularly happens on nights out for me. At pres no one wants to be the one person you’re waiting for all because you’re eating your dinner or heating up your ready meal. But it is essential and actually very clever to fuel your body before the consumption of alcohol. This way, there is less chance you spend even more money on your night out by avoiding the cheeky McDonalds trip or the long line at Salt and Pepper. 

Embrace the broke era

There will be times when your bank balance makes you question every financial decision you have ever made, but that does not mean your social life has to disappear until Student Finance (or your family) saves you.

York can give you plenty of opportunities to make memories without spending a fortune. So embrace the broke era. Whether your bank account is fighting for its life or you are wanting to be intentional with where your money goes, at least you can say you are making the most of student life, preferably without spending your entire maintenance loan in one weekend.