Find smart ways of saving money for students

Groceries 🛒

A significant part of your monthly expenses probably goes toward groceries. This means there are plenty of opportunities to save. For example, by choosing the cheapest supermarket in your area! Which supermarket is cheapest varies by region, but according to a study, Dirk, Lidl, and Aldi are among the cheapest.

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Other tips to save money on groceries include:

• 🍽️ Eat and drink what's on sale.
• 👀 Don’t just grab anything off the shelf; pay attention to prices (and choose store brands).
• Go prepared
  • 📝 Make a shopping list in advance with everything you need and stick to this list. This way, you can better resist supermarket temptations.
  • 🍫 Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. When you shop hungry, you often buy more than you need.
  • 🛍️ Don’t go to the supermarket every day; do weekly shopping. This saves not only money but also time 😉

Break 'expensive' habits ❌

Some expenses are almost automatic, out of habit. And that’s perhaps the most ‘dangerous form’ of spending money, as it often happens unconsciously and in small amounts. For example, a coffee at the station or during a break at school. Often it’s just a few euros, but if you do this twice a week, the costs can add up quickly.

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Do the math: a coffee costs between 3 and 10 euros (a fancy Starbucks coffee with oat milk is more expensive than a small espresso at the kiosk). Multiply that by the number of weeks you attend school, say 40 weeks. Those coffees can easily cost you 400 euros. With that money, you could go to a festival or even book a short vacation…

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🥪 Another example is lunch in the canteen. A sandwich for ‘only’ 4 euros, three times a week, will cost you almost 50 euros a month (and around 500 euros a year). The best solution for these kinds of things is often simple: preparation. It’s often a matter of setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier to save on such ‘unnecessary’ expenses.

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Want to motivate yourself to spend less? Calculate small amounts on an annual basis. Or compare it to your hourly wage: how long do you need to work to earn that money? Are those two days of hard work really worth spending it all on one night out?

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Other Tips

Other tips to save money on groceries include:

• 🚌 Plan your public transport trips so you rarely have to pay. Going to your parents for the weekend? Travel Friday evening and Monday morning instead of Saturday morning and Sunday evening; this way, it won’t cost you anything!
• 🍺 Are you a party animal and find yourself shocked by your balance the morning after a night out? Bring cash next time. This way, you’ll never spend more than you intended. It’s an easy rule to stick to, even after a few drinks.
• 💝 As a student, you often get discounts on all sorts of things: the cinema, theater, gym, and more! Always keep your student ID on you; it’s worth money.
• 📚 Everything new is more expensive. So buy more second-hand: it’s good for the environment and your wallet. You can often find great used items, like clothes, furniture, and textbooks for your studies. Check popular websites like Vinted, Marktplaats, and Bookmatch!
• 📉 Save on monthly payments, such as health insurance. You can often save money by switching providers. Whether it’s worth it for you can be easily checked via sites like Independer. This also applies to your phone bill, energy bill (if you have to pay for it), and internet and TV subscriptions.

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Fear of Missing Out

“You only live once,” “Money can be earned back, but experiences are irreplaceable,” and “You’re still young” are thoughts that often guide young people in their spending habits. These sentiments can sometimes lead to spending influenced more by others than by personal desire.

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Summer exemplifies this challenge, filled with vacations, outings with friends, and festivals—events where it’s easy to overshoot your budget. It's crucial to spend intentionally, prioritizing expenses that truly matter to you rather than those driven by the fear of missing out.

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🤔 Before making any financial commitment, consider whether the joy of the experience itself or the anxiety of being left out is the driving factor. Making mindful choices helps ensure that your money goes towards genuinely valued experiences.

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Sleep on it

The same goes for the latest trends. On social media, you’re constantly bombarded with ads and sponsored posts. There are plenty of temptations you face daily. It’s easy to get carried away, especially when you constantly see it and your friends are buying the same things.

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😴 Simple tip: leave items in your shopping cart overnight. If you’re still excited about them the next day, go ahead and order them. Some online shops even send you a discount code if you leave products in your cart, trying to persuade you to buy them.

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Grassfeld Helps You Save

Do you struggle to keep track of your finances? Do you want to gain more insight in your financial situation? Grassfeld’s app helps you gain and maintain control over your finances. Simply create an account, link your bank account, and the app will automatically categorize your expenses. This way, you always know what’s coming in and where your money is going.