Survival Tips for the Frugal Student – Part 4 Entertainment

Do you wake up in the morning feeling like P-Diddy or have the urge to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack? As students, we might feel like rockstars from time to time, but many of us don’t have the millionaire status to maintain the lifestyle. If you’re like me and enjoy a good shopping spree or a night on the town with your mates, here are some tips on how you can lead a celebrity lifestyle on a student budget!

Wake up feeling like P-Diddy?

Being a material girl (or boy)

Deals and discounts:

Group buying sites like Scoopon, Catch Of The Day and Groupon offer many great deals for students. For example, 15% off Ralph Lauren, $358 for an ASUS notebook, and a $345 massage reduced to $79 are just some of the amazing deals you can get your hands on. You can also sign up to Student Edge for great discounts and deals orientated for students, such as 10% off at the Apple education store, 25% off at CityBeach and 2 games and shoe hire for $15 a person at AMF bowling!

While these sites will keep you entertained for hours, it’s important to be mindful of how much you’re spending. If you’re finding that your spending habits are going overboard, make sure you set up a budget and track your spending accordingly.

Get a VIP pass:

Your student card is your gold pass to bargain madness at a student friendly price! Not only will your student ID get you discounts on trains and buses, but it can also shave dollars off at stores like Apple, Dick Smith and Subway. So don’t be afraid to whip it out at any opportunity! By pairing your student card with a Student Edge card, you can open the discount doors and enjoy bargains like 20% off JeansWest clothing, $50 off STA Travel flights, a free drink at McDonalds and much more.

Viva la Vida Loca! (Living the crazy life)

Happy Hour

Happy hour:

There are two cardinal rules when going out at night:

1. Always eat before you go out, to line the stomach and so you’re not tempted to splurge on take out food. Your waistline will thank you for it too.

2. Take advantage of the two sweetest words in history……happy hour! Not all bars and

clubs have happy hour at the same time. Be savvy and save tonnes of money on a night

out by following the Mexican wave of happy hour for cheap drinks all night long! Do your

research before hand, so you know where to be at what time, it’s a homework task you

won’t regret!

Cheap clubbing:

If you’re planning a night out at the “it” clubs, get stamped during their free entry times and put

your money to better use at the bar. Plan your night according to free entry times and never pay cover charge again!

Midweek Madness:

Week nights are a goldmine for the savvy student! Make the most of cheap nights with ‘Tapas Tuesdays,’ or ‘Thai Thursdays,’ and save your hard earned money for another night. Maintain your saving spree by escaping to the movies and taking advantage of student friendly nights. With cheap movie tickets, you can now enjoy that popcorn combo meal without asking yourself if you really can afford it.

BYO nights:

If you’re looking to have a night in, perhaps a DVD or BYO dinner night is on the menu. Raid your friends’ DVD collection and get everyone to bring a plate for a pot luck meal. You get an enjoyable night out with your friends without a hefty dent to your piggy bank.

The key to living like a rockstar or pop princess lies in your ability to be smart with your money. Living like a celebrity doesn’t require a millionaire status, you just gotta be savvy about it. Spend a couple of hours on the net before you go out or commit to a purchase, to make sure you’re getting it at the best price possible. When in doubt, whip out that student card with pride!

Byline:

About Jodi Geller

Mozo’s student money guru Jodi Geller loves nothing more than to help out a fellow

student in need of some money tips or financial advice. Head to the Mozo Student Room

for more information about student finance and money deals.