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Stretching your money further

As student loans runs dry Condor Properties ask some of the tightest people we know, how to make the most of the paltry sum that’s left.

There are two ways of looking at a near empty bank balance. If you’re a glass half-full kind of a person you’ll probably shrug your shoulders and conclude that poverty is a small price to pay for all the good times.

Those with a less laissez faire attitude might break out in a cold sweat, start to whimper and wonder how they can expect to survive until the next instalment.

Well, fear not. Condor Properties have spoken to the biggest skinflints we know (one is so tight he once reminded someone about the 5p they owed him), to share their ingenious techniques for making that not so hard-earned cash go further...

 

 

Charity shops

While most students could probably benefit from some charity themselves, Help The Aged and the like are great places to pick up cheap music, books and clothes.

“For the whole of my third year I didn’t buy one new item of clothing,” says Joanne McManus, a former student at Liverpool University.

“Charity shops have so much great stuff in and it’s dirt cheap. My advice is to go to posh areas; their cast offs are barely worn so you can look a million dollars for about a fiver.”

Get on yer bike

Buying a bike will save you a fortune on public transport. But a bike costs a lot of money, we hear you cry – not so, you just need to know where to look.

“I went to a police auction and picked up a vintage bike for £5; all it needed was a bit of WD40 and a new inner tube,” says Ross Taylor, a former student in Cardiff.

“I barely used the bus after that and everyone kept asking me where I got such a cool bike from. I sold it in my third year for £30.”

Police and Bailiff Auctions are held up and down the country, visit www.eempire.co.uk/policeandbailiffauctions/ for your nearest one.

Get pally with a butcher

They may seem cheap with their BOGOF deals and three for twos, but supermarkets might not be as wallet friendly as you think.

“I started going to my local butcher in the second year and saved a packet,” says John Banks, a student at Exeter University.

“Not only was the meat cheaper, but he did me deals on his off cuts and sometimes he threw in a few items that weren’t selling. You don’t get that from the big names.”

Freecycle

“The Freecycle website was a life saver while I was at university,” says Collette Harrison, now living in London.

“I picked up a fridge, a computer monitor and a printer for nothing.”

Visit www.freecycle.org for more details.