Home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, the UK has garnered a global reputation as being one of the best landing spots for international students. But lofty tuition fees and international relocation costs makes studying in this part of the world a huge investment. Many international students get by with very tight budgets, so it’s vital that you’re managing money properly whilst at university, particularly when it comes to daily spending. Here are three tips to help you save the pennies on a day-to-day basis when studying in the UK.

1. Look out for student discounts
Lots of retailers, restaurant chains, cinemas, gyms, galleries, museums and online subscription services in the UK offer discounts to students. They usually advertise their discounts, so check websites before shopping or visiting to figure out where you can save the most money. Most places simply require proof of your student status, such as your university ID card. There are also several companies who offer further student discounts if you sign up to their subscription service. Do some research around which ones would be most useful to you and you can
start saving on everyday purchases.

2. Buy a Railcard and use an Oyster card in London
If you’re planning to explore the UK during your studies, it might be worth investing in a 16-25 Railcard which gives you discounted fares. The card is available to anyone aged between 16 and 25, and to mature students. It costs £30 per year and entitles you to a 33% discount on all rail travel.

If you live in London or plan to visit London regularly, you can apply your Railcard discount to your Oyster card. The Oyster card is a pay-as-you-go smartcard that makes travel on public transport in London incredibly convenient and cheaper than buying single journey tickets each time.

3. Shop and cook meals with housemates
Living with housemates in shared accommodation tends to be significantly cheaper than living alone when it comes to rent and utility bills. Plus, you can save money regularly in small ways by joining forces with your housemates to shop and cook. You could buy non-perishable food items in bulk and split the costs, or work together to compare prices and special offers at supermarkets to find the best deals.

Cooking large meals for several people tends to work out much cheaper than cooking for one, so consider setting up a system where you take it in turns to cook for the household and split the cost of ingredients. This has the added benefit of reducing the frequency at which you have to cook, which might help you to avoid visiting restaurants or ordering takeaway food for the sake of convenience.

Ask your peers for more tips
There are many more small ways to save money as an international student in the UK, so be sure to ask your fellow students for tips. Most students are working with tight budgets, no matter if they’re from the UK or from overseas, so pool resources to find the best deals and money-saving tactics.