Studying in London as International students can be an amazing experience, with many things to do, places to be and people to meet. However, everything has a price, in this case quite literally considering the high expenses that comes with living in the capital city. This article outlines ways in which you can balance studying and budgeting, so if you are an international student studying in London, here are practical ways to help you save money!
Accommodation – Where should International students live?
One way you can save money on accommodation is through house sharing with other students. A reduction in rent and utility bills can be a great benefit as a result, as well as the potential to make friends and develop your network.
The areas in London are also an additional factor to consider, although ideally you should choose a location where traveling to your University is easy, areas in zones 3-4 are generally cheaper for both commuting and renting, with one downside being a longer time to travel around.
For more information regarding accommodation, check out our article: https://glidesdotonline.wordpress.com/2024/09/04/what-the-chinese-student-needs-to-know-about-living-in-the-uk-ultimate-guide/
What to eat?
One of the best ways to save money on food as an international student while studying in London is by cooking at home. Although it may be tempting and saves time, eating out or ordering in can be quite costly over time if done regularly. Spending some time learning how to cook delicious dishes can be a great investment, as well as an opportunity to learn an important life skill.
If Asian dishes are your preference, stores such as SeeWoo offer ingredients that Chinese students and other international students around the world are familiar with, at a reasonable price as well as a wide variety. Other popular stores such as Aldi, Lidl or Iceland offer food shopping at a budget level that is ideal for every type of student.
Bonus tip: Group buying food items such as Rice and splitting the cost can save significant amounts of money over time and ensures you have a regular supply of essentials.
Bonus tip: Apps like Too Good to Go can help save you money as well as reduce food wastage, so it is definitely worth checking out!
Transport – How to get around as an International students
Applying for an 18+ Oyster card can be a great way to to make the most of student discounted travel fares. Even better yet, a 16-25 railcard can save you more when traveling by train, which is ideal for trips in and outside London.
Another option is to rent bikes such as Lime or Santander bikes (£1.65 per day). Aside from the financial advantage, it can be healthy way of navigating the city. If your essentials are nearby, it may be worth even walking around proving the same benefits as above.
Entertainment
London has many attractions, although they can be costly, there are also plenty of cost effective ways of enjoying your time in London. For information on places to visit in London at a low cost, please have a look our blog post: https://glidesdotonline.wordpress.com/2024/10/29/international-student-guide-to-free-london-culture/
Finding discounts intended specifically for students such as UNIDAYS and TOTUM can give you opportunities to enjoy dining, shopping and other activities at a lower cost. One advantage of a being a student is asking if a discount is available before every purchase!
Attending or hosting potluck meals with friends can be fun and lower cost alternative to dining out and a way to socialize with other international students as well as expand your cultural experience of different foods.
Education
One way to avoid paying the high price that comes with educational books for your studies is buying second hand books from other students or making full use of your University library. In some cases, a few universities will have book exchange programs you can take advantage of.
Shopping for International students
As previously mentioned, student discounts can save a lot of money when studying abroad as an international student. For when you require items are not as urgent and essential, it may be worth sales such Boxing day, Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day and other special occasions that may be worth making a note on your calendar ahead of time, to ensure you buy the products you actually WANT to buy.
Online sites such as Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace can be useful for finding items are a much lowrr cost due to being second hand, especially for furniture, electronics, kitchen and other supplies.
Additional tip: if you are an student living in Newcastle you may want to check out this guide to shopping: https://www.truestudent.com/blog/the-newcastle-student-guide-to-the-sales
Health and Fitness
As with shopping, gyms also offer student discounts so you can focus on losing calories without losing too much money in the process. Additionally, some Universities include their own gyms that may be a good opportunity to meet other students.
Free workouts are also another alternative that you can make the most of that has gained popularity over the recent years. Joining free fitness classes or following workout videos only require your mobile phone and space, and for outdoor workouts, many parks in London have free workout areas.
Conclusion, International students in London
Handling your finances is an important lifelong skill. One of the best times to learn how to will be during your independent years in University. Whether it is for your essentials or the items you want, learning how to plan, stay disciplined and be creative will greatly be beneficial. Enjoy your time in London!
Bonus tip: For information on the student essentials have a look at our blog post: https://glidesdotonline.wordpress.com/2024/09/23/chinese-students-top-items-you-need-before-studying/