Budgeting on a student loan is really hard, and will in no doubt set you up for a large amount of debt if you let yourself. Here are some outrageous legal ways to save or even make some money.

26 Downright crazy money making/saving tips for students:

• At the start of each year, get yourself along to the Freshers Fairs and bag some free pens, notepads, and other great stationary items, often given away free.
• Go to the toilet at University, or at work, saving on vital toilet paper and water bill (if not all-inclusive).
• Spend evenings at the warm library, you will find it easy to study and save on the bills too.
• Get yourself an NUS extra card and make savings everywhere you go.
• Attend any talks, lectures or open days that have free food, help yourself.
• Go shopping later and snap up all the discounted food
• Collect vouchers together with your housemates
• Buy takeaways together with housemates to save on delivery fees, or get extra freebies with your orders
• Charge your phone at university
• If holidays are coming soon, save all your washing for your mum, she expects it.
• If you have a pat of butter, or sugar sachets served with your meal, save them
• Take tea bags with you and just ask for hot water in cafes.
• Shop at http://www.approvedfood.co.uk/
• Check everything you buy for flaws and talk down the price
• At the end of any contract, for example, your mobile phone, threaten to change phone/internet/tv providers and negotiate a discount
• Pack a lunch and flask to save on buying lunch when at Uni.
• Be a model at the Hairdressing college, get your hair cut cheaper or even free
• Go busking, great if you have talent! (Do check local laws, we want you to stay legal)
• Go ‘Wombling’, that is, scour supermarket carparks for vouchers on receipts that people have discarded
• Volunteer for anything that rewards you, such as learning first aid by volunteering for Red Cross, St John Ambulance.
• Sign up for drug trials that will pay you.
• Make friends, someone always has a birthday party!
• Get a job, where you get free food and make sure your shifts always go over mealtimes.
• Answer surveys online for cash or money off vouchers, use a fake email and pseudonym
•  Get a free festival, by offering to work, either litter picking or stewarding.
• See what there is on https://www.freecycle.org/

Please let us know if you know of anymore outrageous legal ways to make money or save it whilst at University.