Budgeting tips for students

mamalu

Hey people - I'm trying to write helpful article for freshers looking to cut costs this year. Any tips on cutting bills for food, utilities, booze, accommodation, books etc? Ta

spaceylou

Okay some of these are (I think) fairly obvious but if you are just living away from parents for the first time maybe not.....

1. If you are getting lots of buses, check and see if a student weekly bus ticket will work out cheaper then just paying cash each time but be warned you do need to have a travelcard for it to be valid and the inspectors are often to be seen on buses going to/coming from UCD/DCU around September time.

2. Cheaper again, invest in a bike, and a good lock.

3. Make sure your mobile is on the best price plan for you.

4. Use the free text messages you get online.

5. Don't rush out and buy books straight away, wait a week or two and see how essential it is - ie are you using it constantly for the subject or are you more likely to be dipping in and out of it in which case if there are a few copies in the library you may not need to buy the book.

6. Return your books to the library on time, especially short term loans - the fines really add up!

7. If you are buying a book check out the second hand shop on campus, UCD students union also have a forum for books on their boards, keep an eye out for notices on notice boards in the department or try websites like bookswap.ie, jumbletown.ie, apebooks.com, ebay and amazon - you'd be amazed at the savings

8. If you are going to buy some new books, hodges figus on dawson street have a loyalty card so for every €80 you spend you get €10 off your next book. Comes in handy if you are doing a subject with expensive text books like economics, law or medicine.

9. Bring your lunch to college with you, if not everyday then at least a few days a week. It'll be better quality in many cases and if you are like me and a bit of a fussy eater it will make food much more interesting - I don't eat meat so lived on egg mayo sambos (only veg option) for much of first year!

10. DO NOT do your groceries in Spar or Centra - go to lidl or aldi or tesco, buy shop own brand, if you are living with people you get on with consider having a kitty for things like tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, milk, salt, pepper, bread and butter - often cheaper to buy larger amounts AND things like a bag of sugar or big thing of salt will last a fair while so no point in everyone getting a bag and maybe throwing it out when they move out at the end of the year.

11. Look out for special offers, coupons etc but don't buy something you wouldn't normally buy just because it is reduced!

12. If you are going out it is far cheaper to have drinks at home first. Not saying you need to drink yourself stupid but few people can buy bunch of frozen pizzas (or whatever), drinks of choice and have dinner and drinks for a fraction of the price you'd pay if you went out, and then just get bus into town for dancing....

13. You don't need to be a brilliant chef to be able to cook decent cheap food for yourself so try and cook for yourself as much as possible rather than buying ready meals. If you find cooking for one boring, try getting together with housemates or friends few evenings a week to cook up a big pot of something. Or cook enough for two or three days, especially good if you have a freezer.

14. Remember freebies and samples are your friend. Yes the company's produce them to introduce a new product and make you want to have it but if you stay strong you don't actually have to purchase the product once your sample is gone.

15. Cut down on your electricity bill by making sure there is a lagging jacket on your hot water tank - if there isn't, ask your landlord to get one. And also if there is a timer on the emersion, use it rather then leaving it on all the time - chances are no-one will need hot water at 3am!!!

16. If you are one of those students with a car....consider leaving the car at home some days....petrol prices are rising, and if you are in college in dublin the traffic jams are getting longer so if it's not raining why not get the bus, cycle or walk to college.

17. Use your student discount - most shops advertise them but don't be afraid to ask if you don't see a sign!! Discounts in some places are as much as 20% and Topshop even give you the discount on sale items which many other shops don't!!

Okay, that is all I can think of for now.....

donmeister

all noted for next september,cheers!:D;)

experiMental

More pointers.

1. Drink booze ONLY at parties.

2. Quit smoking.

KTRIC

eat less

experiMental

KTRIC wrote: »

eat less

Wrong.

You should eat food that is packed with as much energy as possible. But don't eat too much.

KTRIC

experiMental wrote: »

Wrong.

You should eat food that is packed with as much energy as possible. But don't eat too much.

Or don't eat

KTRIC

KTRIC wrote: »

Or don't eat

Stop being an asshat on an otherwise good thread. Last warning.

KTRIC

Myth wrote: »

Stop being an asshat on an otherwise good thread. Last warning.

I didn't receive a first warning and as far as I remember personal abuse is not tolerated anywhere on this site.

mamalu

Hey thanks everyone for the tips - especially you, spaceylou. Don't spose you'd let me quote you in the paper? If so email me at lholden@irish-times.ie. And I LOVE asshat as a term of abuse. I shall hurl it as everyone I meet today.

KTRIC

mamalu wrote: »

asshat as a term of abuse. I shall hurl it as everyone I meet today.

I'm sure everyone in the playground will think you're really cool. :rolleyes:

Paddy-Megans-Lo

• I think it is VERY important to take advantage of the student travel card/ discount card from studenttravelcard.ie ...

It gives you various bus and rail discounts and money off in places like heatons, HMV, Topshop/man and some dublin pubs

the important thing HOWEVER is ... the 2008 student travel does cost money (€12 i think) and the card runs out on december 31st, so choices are :
- buy one card for the winter and then another for all of next year.
..Or...
- wait till January to avail of all the offers all year long.

• During college people's birthdays and parties can be really expensive so it can help to get your closest friends together and to all agree not to buy each other birthday or christmas presents. It's a fair way to save everyone money during the college year and people cannot feel upset if they don't get presents off close friends because they too don't have the burden of buying presents for 3 birthdays a month!

• It may sound a bit silly but, use everything you have learned to your advantage!

- Know how to play an instrument? Give lessons to other people!

- Got an A in a few leaving cert subjects? Keep your notes and give grinds all year! Better yet if you have good study skills tips or great quick notes on those little a6 cards.

- Can you get rid of computer spyware or viruses? Create a service! Put up some leaflets around college, bebo, word of mouth, every little extra bit of money really does help!

• In relation to college living, take quick showers, turn off lights and most importantly, if its cold, put on a jumper or hoody, not the heating.

• When you want to buy something, ask yourself “Do I need it?” If you think you do, then wait. Don’t buy on impulse. Write the object of your desire on a piece of paper and pin it to the wall. Look at it every day for a week. If, at the end of the week, you still think you need it, then consider purchasing it.

• If finding socialising too expensive try less expensive alternatives:

- Instead of going to the pub and then a nightclub, have a few people over to yours for a party with cheaper alcohol if possible.

- Instead of going out to dinner or on a date, try cooking for someone/friends, its way more impressive (or romantic) and friends can even help chipping in in the kitchen. Rent out a movie for after instead of going to the cinema.

- College can be really hard on the pocket, and liver! So take one week out of every month to resist alcohol (or even alcohol and cigarettes) and allow your body (and wallet) to detox. Don't give into peer pressure.



Hope they help :):D;)

Rozabeez

Find the pharmacy/doctors with the best discount, locate your nearest Lidl or Aldi, stock up on pasta, walk places, use Dunnes/Tescos clubcards, free vouchers ftw!

Stickied. Keep 'em coming!

TheInvisibleFie

Don't have the windows wide open if you have the radiators on. And don't have the radiator on to full blast in the sitting room when everyone has gone out for the night.

gramhar

wow, you guys sure make college sound really exciting!!! Thanks!!:D

allybabe84

Paddy-Megans-Lo wrote: »

the important thing HOWEVER is ... the 2008 student travel does cost money (€12 i think) and the card runs out on december 31st

Just had a look at the student travel card website, here's an exact quote in the FAQs area:

"21. When does the Student Travelcard expire?

The card is valid from September 2008 until December 31st 2009."

Seems worth having it if it does last all next year too

Elle Victorine

If any of you are in cork go to the English market because they have great deals on meat. Saved me a bundle last year because I could buy in bulk and freeze stuff. There's a butcher there who even does student package deals that were a lifesaver.

Then go to tesco/lidl/aldi for all other things. Trust me you'll save heaps on food and don't be afraid to buy tesco brand stuff. Most of it really does taste the exact same. Just avoid their rice

Mygsy

Borrow/(rob??) Toilet paper from the campus bathrooms...commuters will hate you but just think of how many pints ya can get 4 the amount of money you'd spend all year on bogroll??!!
Stock up on food from mammy's fridge and cupboard every sun evening

Every time ya go abroad take advantage of cheap alcohol and bring it back to Ripoff Ireland...e.g €12 for 3L vodka in andorra...SCORE!!!

quirkster

in the last few months since the leaving cert, ive learned it takes a copious amount of alcohol to get me drunk. ive been spending 50 /60 euro on drinks alone every night out, and have gone home sober. but woken up with a hangover??

i plan to buy piss cheap aldi beer, and beer bong 6 or 7 cans of it before everynight out

jscan1

jeez, just happened upon this thread as a person who is returning to college part time - some great advice - which can for the most part be applied to the non-student also - Thanks a mill

Vegeta

One of my friends used to go into argos and take about 4 of the free catalogues and use them in the fire place for heat.

Lots of places have free leaflets, brochures. Some burn better than others

In UL they used to recycle cardboard and give it away for free as firelogs.

you need a fireplace for all of the above of course.

sheroo_05

Vegeta wrote: »

One of my friends used to go into argos and take about 4 of the free catalogues and use them in the fire place for heat.

:D

There is plenty of argos catalogues in Superquinnne across from the Kilmury

sunnyside

Student houses can have a lot of bills, gas, esb, sky, internet. Most companies want bills paid by direct debit from a bank account. I would avoid being the person who takes responsibility for this. If it's your bank account the bills are being returned unpaid from this could affect your credit rating when applying for loans in the future. If at all possible have the landlord in charge of bills.

Effluo

sunnyside wrote: »

Student houses can have a lot of bills, gas, esb, sky, internet. Most companies want bills paid by direct debit from a bank account. I would avoid being the person who takes responsibility for this. If it's your bank account the bills are being returned unpaid from this could affect your credit rating when applying for loans in the future. If at all possible have the landlord in charge of bills.

great post!!!

--LOS--

if you really really have to put the heating on, switch off the radiators in the rooms youre not using, saves tons.

dont even bother putting the heating on timer, theres guaranteed to be loads of times when the heating is on for no reason.

never use a dryer, you shouldnt need to put on a wash more than once a week, you could always hand wash some stuff.

give up meat, its too dear.

Actually on the heating thing - check for drafts on windows.

Meat is dear but it's quite cheap if you buy it in bulk, separate it and freeze the rest of it. Plus if you're sharing with others buying large quantities sorts out grand.

Tzetze

When taking notes, use both sides of the foolscap page. This is good for both the environment and your pocket.

Making tea? Only boil what you are going to use. Really bugs me to see a full kettle being boiled for one cup of tea.

Drink plenty of water. Take 'home made water' to college. Keep that 1L ballygowan bottle. Boil a litre of water, let it cool some, pour into empty bottle and stick it in the fridge (keep the cap off until transporting the bottle). That's the guts of €2/day saved. (Consider buying a water filter to keep kettle usage down.)

As someone already said, take a packed lunch to college.

Completely give up/Drastically reduce your intake of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and marijuana. You will save your money and your health.

Join your college gym, go in early and have a swim before your lectures (if your college has a pool). Use their hot water for showers, not your own.

agentyumi

Myth wrote: »

Meat is dear but it's quite cheap if you buy it in bulk, separate it and freeze the rest of it. Plus if you're sharing with others buying large quantities sorts out grand.

I also tried this with my friends but everytime we see that there is lot of stocks inside the ref, the tendency is always cooking and it exceed our budget. For me it’s better to stock a right amount within your budget. It’s like this: when you buy in bulk the tendency is big consumption but when you buy in a right amount, you have to budget it.

Tzetze wrote: »

As someone already said, take a packed lunch to college.

I'm doing this and it’s really helpful! I can save more. Avoid over spending, think twice if you really need the stuffs you are buying. All we need to do is buy our needs and let us ignore the thing which is unnecessary. Better also to make a checklist of the necessary things to buy.

gags89

rob toilet roll from college,

bring crouching tiger hidden naggin/ fox moulder hidden shoulder into clubs to avoid payin ridiculous amounts for booze and still get the same result

befriend people in high places such as superquinn checkouts

leftover cans at gaf parties enforce a 12hr rule - uncollected - yours

lil bro stays with me at weekend so i charge him food rent and he gets dad to hed out and get some basics!

buy gadgets,games,toys online -save a fortune.

gamble your taxi fare home in a casino and put it all on black

create team weed where everyone pitches in or do it in rounds

destroy all dryers becuase your just lazy if your not willing to wait for the clotheshorse to dry your clothes.

punch in face snobby students who havnt copped onto the fact when they leave **** turned on there wasting everyones money for beer

always ask the nerdy students who have pencil cases to borrow a pen and see if you can get away with robbing it for those most stingey try a calculator

never buy books for college - library has them or ones with the same topics covered

never pay full busfare ie always pay 1.50 the bus driver will forget about you by the time its your stop!

snappieT

Charge laptop, iPod, phone, digital camera etc. in lecture theatres: saves on your electricity bill.

Throw all your *dry* litter away in college: saves on bin stickers

There's a college event serving free booze on every night. Take advantage.

Ulster bank offer a free overdraft. Take the €650 out, invest it into a year-long high interest, zero risk, deposit account. End of the year, pay back Ulster Bank, keep the interest yourself.
Example: Anglo Irish Bank will earn you a free €39 at current rates.

Furthermore, Ulster give you more each year you're in college. If you re-invest and do this for 4 years in college, you can come out with Two Hundred And Sixty One Free Euros

Beat that!

Cindy2106

WORD OF WARNING!! DON'T RELY ON ULSTER BANK "INTEREST FREE" OVERDRAFT!! I got that in 2nd year, am in a four year course and they dropped it off my account with no warning and demanding I pay it back immediately, I mean the whole shebang, threatening phone calls coupled with letters, and me in the middle of final year exams! They also charged me an "interest charge" because my account was overdrawn(duh you dropped it off!!)
They can be very unpleasant to explain that you're still in college and its v stressful trying to come home to the bank to tell them that you're still in college.Think before you get the overdraft, for the hassle it caused to put it back on I wished I thought twice!

Sweeno

1. only eat spaghetti

2. drink as much tuborg as you can before you go out

3. Rob toilet roll from college

donmeister

Sweeno wrote: »

1. only eat spaghetti

2. drink as much tuborg as you can before you go out

3. Rob toilet roll from college

Wow,its like you read my mind!

*leaves room to make spaghetti,whilst drinking tuborg,then uses the TP for you know what*

Hamiltonion

Find out what nights soc meetings are on, get one for mon to fri. Now you've free before club drinks for any nite u go out!!!

Crash at somebodies house or take it in turns to play host to save on taxis.

Learn to roll ur own cigarettes

Get friends/relatives going on holiday to supply ur alcohol/nicotine addictions with cheap products

Scab cigarettes off people outside pubs. Repeat x10 or until next day is covered

Black_Venom

Vegeta wrote: »

One of my friends used to go into argos and take about 4 of the free catalogues and use them in the fire place for heat.

Lots of places have free leaflets, brochures. Some burn better than others

In UL they used to recycle cardboard and give it away for free as firelogs.

you need a fireplace for all of the above of course.

Rofl Good idea, must remember that for september

g-whizz

gags89 wrote: »

leftover cans at gaf parties enforce a 12hr rule - uncollected - yours

i like to employ the unattended rule.
leftover cans at gaf parties enforce a unattended rule - unattended - ymine

annie19

i have to agree with everthing in the thread. starting 2nd yr in sept and its so easy to eat in the canteen 5 days a week and shop in the nearest spar or centra "coz they are nearer & it's raining".
tight budget 4 us all this yr! :D

annie19

snappieT wrote: »

Charge laptop, iPod, phone, digital camera etc. in lecture theatres: saves on your electricity bill.

Throw all your *dry* litter away in college: saves on bin stickers

There's a college event serving free booze on every night. Take advantage.

Ulster bank offer a free overdraft. Take the €650 out, invest it into a year-long high interest, zero risk, deposit account. End of the year, pay back Ulster Bank, keep the interest yourself.
Example: Anglo Irish Bank will earn you a free €39 at current rates.

Furthermore, Ulster give you more each year you're in college. If you re-invest and do this for 4 years in college, you can come out with Two Hundred And Sixty One Free Euros

Beat that!

i think using the esb of the col 2 recharge small things will make buck all difference. thats just petty. noone can be strapt for a couple of cents!

Hamiltonion

After a yr in Dublin I can honestly say whatever you think you'll spend a wk, add E20, and whatever you think you'll spend on a night out add E15 too it. O Donovans, Centra and chips in the pav should really supply all your budget dining needs

itsallaboutheL

1..Theres NO such thing as free money........ remember that before you go for the overdraft

2. Parents have no idea how many books you need... so don't tell em!! any time you're really really short of cash you can use the "hi dad i need a book" card

3. Pick one night early in the week to get obliterated on tesco vodka, 20 bucks gets you to a different level and you'll be too sick to drink for the rest of the week!!

4.Use the damn gym, its free and beats spending a tenner on a pack of dutch.

5.Buy REAL FOOD, 10 chicken breasts for 11 yoyos?? buy twently

6. Stop eating Domino's ye fat bastards!!

7.Walking costs nothing

8.Dont Empty ashtrays!!! untill you've emtied the butts!!

9.DVDs are expensive... use the net

10. When at home rape the cupboards

11. Clothes are worth money/...... sell em

12. Condoms are free in STI clinics..... besides its 2009 if she wants it she can provide her own bloody condoms!!

13. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO BRING ANY FORM OF CARD ON A NIGHT OUT, i don't care who's birthday it is

etc

croker1

best comment yet above:D:D:D
especially about da condems:D

curious guy

utorrent/isohunt download download download music,dvds ebooks all free and dont forget 2 share

dragonfly!

use your free webtexts i get 300 free a month = €39 euro worth of free credit for messages:D

get a tesco/dunnes clubcard and when buying phone credit get it here as well rather than in a spar or somewhere like that avoid surcharges and get clubcard points

some places that have a deli counter sell cooked chickens and things at half price later in the evenings buy them then & have them for dinner the next day/sandwichs for lunch

all i can think of for now that havent already being mentioned!

The Big Red Button

If you see a good deal for a basic essential like pasta, tuna, loo roll, shower gel, refill pads, buy as much as it as you can possibly afford. This only applies to actual essentials that you will be buying eventually anyways.

Go shopping with your mammy at weekends and throw as much as you can get away with into the trolley.

Never bring rent money/ATM cards/etc with you on a night out. That's just silly!

Agree with what others have said above about buying college books - leave it at least a month or so to see how much you really need them, and check what's in the library first.

Do a good clear-out of your room before you head off to college, and see what you can e-Bay.

See if you can negotiate the rent with your landlord at all. Even if they only bring it down by a fiver a week, it really adds up in the long term. If they don't bring it down, they might agree to compromise on something else, such as buying new furniture or TV etc.

Try not to be snobby when it comes to brandnames. You just can't afford to be! It's a case of buy cheaper, or buy less.

ancientdog

turn off lights and other electrical appliances after youre finished using them....dont waste electricity..i say if you turn the lughts off after youreself, youll have more to spend on fun things. aswell just steal money off homeless people, whatever you like. .........if you wanna!:P

allandanyways

For the commuters among us (and others, as my post went on it got a bit more general):

In first year (when I had a job :rolleyes:) I spent nearly 25 euro everyday, more if I was buying smokes. Bus fare was 3euro every day (15euro in the week) and if I was in 9-5 that meant a snack from the shop in the morning to go with my cup of tea around 11, about 10euro on lunch, various drinks/bottles of water during the day and crisps/sweets/the occasional pint of fosters just because I fancied one with my lunch. That meant spending over 125euro in college before I'd even thought about going out/buying books etc

Now, having no job during the academic year and in these recessionary times, I'd recommend the following:

• Bring your own lunch/snacks: Parents won't care if you're throwing boxes of Alpen Bars or fancy wraps into the trolley if it means you won't be badgering them for money during the week for a lunch in college. Although since our cafeteria burnt down in NUIM, we haven't had much choice in the matter.
• Refill your bottle of water AND if like myself, you're a fizzy drinks fiend, buy in dunnes or tesco. WHY would you pay 1.20 for a can of coke in the shop in college when you could get the same one for 69c?
• Make friends with people on campus- my boyfriend lives on campus therefore I get dinner in his the odd time and I can stay there after nights out, plus I've somewhere to drink beforehand
• Lower your alcohol standards, Kinsey WILL get you as hammered as Smirnoff, and Cocobay IS just the same as Malibu... I'd only advise 4.99wine if you don't mind puking for about 4 hours straight though.
• Smuggle naggins as somebody else said
• Don't smoke, or smoke considerably less. I used to get through about 100 in a week, now I can make a 20box stretch for 10 days if I don't go out. Don't be generous. It's a recession, people will understand.
• Buy a smartcard for the bus/train
• Don't buy your stationary in easons, they are a rip off, look at the college bookshop's stuff or shop around, places like Reads on Nassau St, and tesco do cheapy stationary that's not bad quality.
• If you're in Dublin, check out Chapters for your books, they have loads of the classics new and second hand and a good few law and other college books second hand aswell (just be wary of editions)
• When it comes to exam time, don't print off every single note, seriously, learn to revise off your laptop/computer, it's gonna cost more money than you think to print off 20 pages of notes.
• Make friends with taxi drivers- then you can negociate a solid fare, and then you get to a stage where all the drivers know you and the people on base know you so if some new chancer tries to charge you more than you should be charged, say you know X on base, and it's Xeuro all the time. It's 15euro out to where I live, but I've had bastards charging me 28euro... until they ring base :cool:
• USE YOUR STUDENT DISCOUNT EVERYWHERE YOU GO. I've gotten it in places that don't advertise student discount, just ask everywhere.
• Colour your own hair.
• Go to the college doctor

Can't think of anymore, this is what I've learned in 2 years so far.

allandanyways

allandanyways wrote: »

[*]Lower your alcohol standards, Kinsey WILL get you as hammered as Smirnoff, and Cocobay IS just the same as Malibu... I'd only advise 4.99wine if you don't mind puking for about 4 hours straight though

On this, Aldi's Liebfraumilch is €4.50 or so (used to be €3.99) and is really nice white wine. I haven't been a full-time student for years but it's still sweet. So check out Aldi and Lidl for some sweet alcohol offers.

maria gstones

1. Join pigsback.com and spend a few minutes each day collecting free points by clicking on ads and entering compititions. You can get free phone credit with pigsback points. if you are going to get a credit card for booking flights etc but plan to pay it in full every time, then get one with pigsback to get more points and more free phone credit.

2. Go to your lectures.... this saves on photocopying costs at the end of the year!

3. Invest in a cheap printer (€30) and Tesco paper, its cheaper than printing in UCD anyway.

4. Learn how to renew libary loans online... no point paying avoidable fees.

5. callcosts.ie Make sure you have the right phone plan for you

6. Learn how to make spagetti bolognase with a tin of tomates and not a Ragu/Dolmeo sauce, save you €1.50 every time. And bulk it up with veg (carrots peppers mushrooms) makes the meat go further. Freeze it in seperate portions.

7. Learn how to make pasta sauces using tins of campbells soup (see the side of the tin for the receipes.... no extra effort and saves money every time.

8. buy own brand and in bulk rice, pasta, beans, tomatos... all the cupboard staples!

9. Switch ESB bill to Airtricity and save 13%

10. Check everyone in the house knows how to work the storage heating efficiently. Does everyone know how to work the immersion, including how to turn it off! jumpers before heating! Study in college and not in your bedroom if its only electric heaters...

11. Walk more, cycle often.

12. shop around for petrol.

13. give grinds if you can, handy money!

Thats all I can think of for now... Basicly learn how to cook and cook on a budget, make sure when you are renting you have a freezer in the house, and don't sign a year lease if you aren't going to stick to it.

And Don't forget to Study, Repeat exams cost money... for each exam, and repeating a year costs even more!

lala stone

if there are books you really need, get a few mates to rent it out in turns and designate ppl chapters to photocopy.. this saves so much money.. espec for law books...

Slipping in the naggin, always good,,, or get water as a mixer for a short..its really nice!!

+1 on the not registering you name in any bills, ppl can totally screw u over this way,, even unintentionally by moving out at the end of year etc.. it just might get weird..

Go home any wkend u can, u will spend nothing and its much nicer

Also DONT scab fags,, dont be that GUY.. get some duty-free or cut back..

electrogrimey

i) Find pubs that are cool with/don't notice people drinking cans, such as the Bernard Shaw etc. Then go there, you get the cheapness of drinking at home, with the atmosphere of going out.
ii) If you're buying weed, go in with a few guys and by an ounce, then sell most of it off to friends, that way you can usually end up with a few free grams.
iii) Befriend someone working in a pizza place. Soon before their shift ends, order whatever you want but give a fake address. All prank pizzas are just returned to the shop for the workers to take home, so your friend can bring you your order for free.
iv) If you smoke definitely switch to rollies. Amber Leaf if you're super budget.
v) Just don't bring any money out with you on a night out, save bus-fare in, then (If it's under an hour) walk home. It saves on taxi money, and sobers you up by the time you get home, helping the next days' hangover.
vi) Remove all takeaway menus from your house...€15 for a dinner that gives you the shíts is ridiculous.
vii) If you don't need to buy anything that day, don't bring any cash
viii) Use a credit union for savings, not your current account. They're good for getting loans from, and you won't be tempted by your ATM card.