the things you buy!
Firstly, you can still try and blag being a student every now and then by ‘forgetting’ your library card (or you might even be brave enough to flash your expired one!).
Beyond this, get into the habit of using voucher and cashback websites such as
Quidco.com for online shopping, and download one of the many Apps for your phone for savings on the high street and in restaurants.
Graduates can also apply for a Graduate Extra card (successor to the NUS Extra card). This will allow you to get lots of great deals and discounts in stores nationwide. These include 20% off at Pizza Express and 25% off travel on National Express coaches.
Graduate Bank Accounts
Different banks offer different deals for graduates every year, so don’t just assume that staying with your current bank is your only option.
If you have quite a big overdraft, you could save a considerable amount of money by switching it to another provider.
Shop around and find out which ones are offering 0% interest on overdrafts, or if you expect to be in credit most of time, which ones will offer you the highest interest payments on your balance.
Pensions (Sorry, What?!)
It might seem like a long way off before you’ll need to worry about your pension, but the sooner you start paying into a pension fund, the better and wealthier you’ll end up being.
Find out what your employer offers and seriously consider taking
advantage of this, as they’ll have to pay in a contribution also!
If there isn’t a workplace pension scheme in place or you’re self- employed, take out a private pension. Many flexible deals are now available that will appeal to those who have recently started their own business.
Budgeting
You’ll have more money than you did as a student, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t spend it wisely.
Careful budgeting could be the difference between being able to afford a house in a few years and having nothing to show for your first couple of years in graduate employment.
Work out how much you need to spend every month to cover living expenses, and consider setting up a savings account or a cash ISA. The latter is one of the best ways to save money, and your interest is completely tax free.
Saving Money On Your Shopping
With a little bit of wise shopping, you can save a small fortune on your shopping bills. Before heading out to do your weekly shop, check
online for any free coupons that can give you great discounts and deals.
A great website for saving on your online food shop is MySupermarket.
co.uk which compares the cost of your basket in real-time across all major supermarkets.
Getting into these habits straight after university will mean that you have a lot more disposable income, and can put your money towards the things that are most important to you.
By addressing these 10 areas, you’ll find that you’re much better placed for keeping your money in order.
How have you managed your finances since you left university? Do you think that you’ve developed some money-savvy habits, or are you still finding your feet?
Find out more at:
www.savethestudent.org
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