Spend like a student with NUS

NUS Card

But just because the art of affording food and course books has become difficult, it doesn’t mean there isn’t room for indulgence on a student budget. Saving money doesn’t have to mean endless nights in with DVDs; it’s time to make the most of that student card.

Arriving at uni and seeing NUS plastered on flyers, YUSU promotions and in all sorts of other publications, is a bit baffling if you never received one at college or sixth form. After being persuaded to part with £10 of your own money, it’s quite natural to wonder what you’re really gaining from it. First of all, NUS is the official student ID which allows specific access to promotions and offers which are not necessarily available with a University of York card alone. So here are the top five ways to save money armed with a nifty NUS Extra:

Course Books

One of the essentials sure to leave a dent in an already stretched budget is actually getting the books you need to study. With library books often in high demand it’s an unavoidable cost but one that can be reduced if you know where to look. High-street stores Borders and Waterstone’s are the most popular bookstores who also offer NUS discounts periodically. Be sure to check online or instore before you arrive at the till, as neither of these stores has yet brought in a year round saving. Borders promotions tend to only last two or three days but you can sometimes get up to 20% off which is well worth looking out for. Amazon.co.uk however offers a year round discount of 5% on its already lowered prices, all you need to do is find the code under ‘Amazon’ on the NUS Extra site and type this into the promotional code box as you checkout. Although it doesn’t sound an impressive amount, over the course of the year it could really help you out.

The High Street

With Christmas coming up it’s much harder to avoid the enticing draw of the shops. With NUS Extra you can obtain discounts of 10% in all Arcadia stores, this includes the likes of Topshop and Topman, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Burton. Topshop in York is also especially well known for its special fresher discount shopping nights at the start of each academic year where it offers 20% discount and the bonus of a goody bag, so if there wasn’t chance to make the most of that this year, make sure you look out for it next year. Shoe shops also offer good discounts, notably Office offer a 10% discount and Faith one of 15%. Gift essential shops HMV and Zavvi have discount systems, although in Zavvi specifically, you may need to sign up for a Zavvi student discount card before this is available.

Cheap Eats

50% student discount on Mondays

After cooking for yourself all week, or just being caught short without a packed lunch in town, grabbing a bite to eat should by no means break the bank. For fast food, Burger King have a 20% student discount in place while Macdonalds offers discount meals and a free cheeseburger or McFlurry with each full-price main meal. Although not technically a student saving, no one can ignore the treasure that is Mr Sandwich, situated on the Shambles, this made-to-order sandwich shop offers high quality sandwiches for just £1. If restaurant luxury is what you’re looking for then the best offer you’ll find is at Bella Italia, where students enjoy 20% off during the week and an amazing 50% off on Mondays, which excludes drinks but does include starters and desserts so you can really indulge. For a range of other international cuisine at cheaper prices there’s also Fiesta Mehicana (next to gallery) as well as Akbar’s and Jumbo on Micklegate. Jumbo is the perfect all you can eat Chinese buffet on a budget, especially if you get there before the prices go up at 6.30pm.

Days Out

In a city as cultural as York there’s plenty of museums to visit if you’re not shopping or eating. York Dungeons offers a concessionary student entry fee and it’s also possible to get cheaper advance prices if you book online, so if you’re planning a visit, check out www.thedungeons.com for more entry price information. Discounts are also available at the Jorvik Viking Centre where entry fees are just over 15% less for students. If you’re planning on going further afield, there are many vouchers available on the NUS Extra website to gain discounts at major theme parks across the country including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures.

Nights Out

York Theatre Royal: a low price slice of culture

Quieter evenings at the cinema or the theatre are good options for students. York Theatre Royal has especially student orientated prices, making it possible to see plays throughout the week and during the weekend for only £5 with a valid student ID. The York Picturehouse, just next to Vodka Revolution, offers discounted cinema tickets during the week but be wary at weekends as it’s full price. Of course if you’re planning a drink and a dance there’s the obvious student nights at Tru, Ziggy’s, Gallery and Club Salvation. However Your:shop offer queue jumper tickets for Tru and Gallery which are cheaper than on the door prices and stop you having to wait out in the cold. Look out for student offers in bars as well, for example Dusk and Montey’s offer 2 for 1 cocktails Sunday to Thursday.

So when you’re next taking a trip into town, whatever it might be for, don’t forget to keep your NUS card with you, and if you’re unsure whether it’s accepted, don’t be afraid to ask; it could just save you a few precious pounds. Remember, most people are only university students once, so don't find yourself, in later years, regretting that you didn't take advantage of those tempting deals on offer.

For more information on getting the most out of your NUS Extra card, visit www.yusu.org or www.nusextra.co.uk.

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