Fun with friends
If there’s one thing you don’t want to be worrying about when you’re heading out with friends, it’s whether you will be able to afford it. University life does come at a price, but it doesn’t have to be a high one if you are sensible with your money. This won’t mean living off lentils and drinking only water, although you might have to accept you can’t live like royalty either. Socialising is an important part of university life, and there plenty of ways you can let off steam without pushing your overdraft to its limits.
A good place to start if you’re new to university is promotional events. All kinds of businesses host special nights aimed at students to try and get a good reputation with a new year of Freshers. These include promotional retail shopping events such as Student Lock-Ins, giving you extra discount with a student card and sometimes a complimentary glass of bubbly or goodie bag. Nightclubs often have this kind of evening too – celebrating their birthday with a free entry guest list available on their Facebook page, or hosting a launch night with free drinks to attract a new clientle.
Eating on a budget
After all that shopping you’ll undoubtedly be peckish, but don’t think that fancy restaurants are beyond your budget. Keep your eyes peeled for discount codes and 2-4-1 meal offers which will arrive regularly to your email inbox if you sign up on restaurant websites. Of course there are also lots of deals regularly updated right here on Leaving School! The cinema will have similar deals, like cheap screenings during the day time and discounted student ticket prices. You might find you can collect points with a loyalty card, redeemable against tickets and snacks.
In summer the last thing you want to do is hide indoors, but if your bank balance won’t stretch to a Mediterranean getaway then you needn’t despair. Most cities have a park where you can gather some friends for a spot of sunbathing and a picnic. Ask everyone to bring something to eat and drink and you’ll have more than enough to stay under the sun all day. Check local regulations before lighting up a BBQ however, as some parks don’t allow it. Free fairs and food festivals often pop up in market squares and parks when the weather improves, and will have stalls giving away samples or fun activities to try as you pass by. There might be local bands profiling their music on a stage so you can easily relax all afternoon without spending a penny.
As you’ll see at any Fresher’s Fair there are a number of university societies you can join, many of which only charge a few pounds for membership. They will organise regular events that will keep you entertained whilst making friends and maybe even learning a new skill. Most university’s have a weekly night out that involves a fancy dress theme especially for all the societies, so don’t be surprised if you suddenly find your diary packed with social events.