Newcastle Upon Tyne plays home to more than 50,000 students every
year, between Northumbria University and Newcastle University, and it should
hardly come as a surprise, the city was ranked the top destination in the UK by
Student Hut. Thanks to its well-connected transport system, vibrant nightlife,
despite what is often, shall we say, ‘mild weather’, and incredible variety of
shops, Newcastle fought off stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool,
Manchester, and Leeds.
Asides from the evident positives regarding lifestyle, one
of the main reasons Newcastle has established itself as such a popular destination
for 18-year-olds fleeing the nest after A-Level results is an undeniable value
for money. Few cities throughout the country could boast that their taxis
services charge less than £10 to travel the lengths and breadths of the
metropolis, while rent prices often come in at half the price of that in the
capital.
Even the most affluent among us struggle to turn a good old
British bargain, and let’s be realistic, it is highly unlikely, as a student,
your bank balance will resemble that of dot com millionaires. That said,
finding the little life hacks that get you through will go along way in making
your university journey not only enjoyable, but that little bit more
comfortable. Here, with Northumbria
University, we run through the best ways to take advantage of student
discounts.
<h2 Getting the day in
As a first-year student, you’ll be glad to hear that you
aren’t in university every hour of the day. Of course, there will be intensive
periods of study throughout the year and deadlines will sometimes creep up on
you like a poorly disguised pantomime act, however, in order to enjoy the
experience of university, you need to partake in more than just reading. As the
age old saying goes, ‘a healthy body is a healthy mind’, and there is no better
way to keep yourself focused than to indulge in some exercise. Most gyms
throughout the city will offer student discounts, including Sport Central,
which, for students often throws up annual deals, helping you save the pennies
and shred the pounds.
<h2 Food and drink
Your university student card will grant you access to
discounts at a copious number of bars and eateries, including a free burger
when you buy any meal at McDonalds. However, don’t be fooled into thinking you
have to spend your days chomping down on takeaway burgers — that’s for the walk
home after a night on the town. Holy
Hobo, located on the cusp of the city centre and student area, Jesmond,
offers utterly mouthwatering cocktails at almost half the price when you’ve got
a valid student card, while scrumptious tapas dishes come served with a
significantly diminished bill — everything tastes better when it’s cheaper! A
stones throw away you will find The
Hancock, which, similarly, when presented with a proof of education, will
knock 10 per cent of your bill, just for being a student.
Eating out all the time will certainly be enough to destruct
the bank balance and wither away the student loan, so we would highly recommend
making it an occasional treat. Unfortunately, student discount isn’t offered at
the major supermarkets, however, Grainger Market, nestled deep in the city
centre, boasts a variety of butchers and fruits shops who all cut prices for
students — ensuring that your diet doesn’t have to be solely Pot Noodles and
Rustlers Burgers.
<h2 Entertainment
Spotify and Amazon Prime are just two examples of entertainment
services which offer annual discounts with a student email address. Often
coming away to university can result in you spending a lot of time with very
little to do, particularly if your flat mates are in class, or away home for
the weekend, therefore tucking into a meaty series can be a perfect way of
combatting the boredom. Likewise, you will probably never listen to more music
in your life, when exercising, revising, and walking from A to B, so a Spotify
membership for £4.99 will never be a bad idea!
<h2 Unidays
There are a whole host of apps out there that make your
student life easier, and some actually relate to studying! Unidays, however, is
much like your student card, yet it’s a digital version. From clothes to
travel, your new virtual pal has it all. Fortunately, this app is actually
available to college and sixth form students as well as undergraduates, so
prior to heading off, download the app and get to grips with everything it has
to offer. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Apple Shop deals, especially if
you are interested in investing in a new MacBook Pro, to assist in the
competition of assignments, or to watch Netflix.
From pints to pizzas, haircuts to honey roast hams, your
student status goes a long way in throwing up opportunities to save, so be sure
to keep your eyes peeled!
