How to Save on University Essentials

Stock up on university essentials for less with the best student discounts on textbooks, laptops, homeware, and more.

A happy student with a backpack and holding books.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jump to category:
Layla Al-Ani's avatar
By
published
in How-to

University Essentials List for Students

Academic Essentials

  • Laptop or tablet ▢
  • Extension lead ▢
  • Desk organiser ▢
  • Stationery ▢
  • Notebooks ▢
  • Course books ▢
  • Bag pack ▢
  • Flashcards  ▢
  • Planner  ▢
  • Railcard  ▢

Homeware & Organisation

  • Underbed storage ▢
  • Over the door organiser ▢
  • Bedding ▢
  • Pillow and duvet ▢
  • Clothes hangers ▢
  • Fairy lights ▢
  • Photoclips ▢
  • Command strips ▢
  • Blanket ▢

Kitchen & Bathroom

  • Plates and bowls ▢
  • Cutlery  ▢
  • Mugs and glasses ▢
  • Saucepans ▢
  • Frying pan ▢
  • Cutting board ▢
  • Knives ▢ 
  • Tupperware ▢
  • Reusable shopping bags ▢
  • Shower caddy ▢
  • Cleaning supplies ▢
  • Towels ▢
  • Bathroom bin ▢

How can students save on laptops?

Purchasing a laptop is an investment, so choose the one that will work best for you. Before you buy, do your research. Look at reviews, ask friends and family, and go into the store so you can try before you buy. 

Check price comparison websites, consider purchasing refurbished tech, and time your purchases when tech is the most affordable. 

Two university students talking between a laptop.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Related articles: 

The best student discounts for laptops

Disclaimer

All Student Beans, UNiDAYS, and TOTUM discounts are correct as of the date of writing, however, offers may change at the discretion of retailers. Please note, you will need to verify your student status with a valid student ID card to access any student discounts. 

How can students save on stationery?

When it comes to notebooks, pens and pencils, and flashcards, it’s best to buy your stationery and university essentials in bulk. Don’t miss our article on the Best Budget Stationery. 

But before you buy, raid the stationery you already have - if you’re anything like me, you’ll have an embarrassing amount of empty notebooks you bought because they look nice. And someone’s got to be the one to say it - writing in them won’t ruin them. 

Consider if you’ll need stationery - a lot of courses are online, so unless you prefer to handwrite your notes, you’ll be able to utilise your laptop or tablet for all of your academic needs. 

The best student discounts for stationery

A student with her bagpack over one shoulder.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How can students save on course books?

Some universities have exchange programs for coursebooks where students can swap coursebooks. This can be a lifesaver when it comes to saving money because course books don’t come cheap but are a necessity. 

Alternatively, try purchasing your course books second-hand, and if you’re not a first-year student, sell your old course books too. 

The best student discounts for course books

How can students save on commuting?

If you’re a regular commuter, it’s definitely worth getting a railcard to give you discounted train prices. Depending on your age, you can get a 16-25 Railcard for £30 a year, or £70 for three years. Alternatively, the 26-30 Railcard is £30 a year for mature students. 

You might also like:

The best student discounts for travel

How can students save on homeware?

While it’s nice to treat yourself to new homeware bits and pieces, if you’re on a student budget, make the most of the decorations you already own. Nothing is stopping you from borrowing them from your bedroom at home to spruce up your uni room. 

If you’re super excited to purchase some new items for your space, worry not. We’ve got an entire article dedicated to decorating on a student budget, to give you some inspiration and point you towards some affordable places to get it from.  

Two university students decorating their uni home.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The best student discounts for homeware

How can students save on kitchen appliances?

Before you buy anything, get in touch with your university housemates and find out what they are buying. You don’t all need a kettle each, and you’ll save a significant amount of money splitting the cost between all of you. 

The best student discounts for kitchen supplies

How can students save on food?

Meal Planning & Batch Cooking

Plan your meals weekly to ensure you don’t overspend on your food shops. Batch cook meals and freeze leftovers to save time and money cooking multiple meals. Check out our handy article on how meal planning saves time and money on groceries. 

Supermarket Reward Schemes

Pay attention to supermarket reward schemes and sign up to them for handy discounts on groceries. If you’re unsure which supermarket reward scheme is the best, we’ve got you covered with our collection of articles below: 

Big Weekly Shops

Buy your food in bulk during weekly food shops. Instead of buying 500g of basmati rice every month, opt for a large bag so you can have more, for less. It’ll not only save you money, but it will last longer too meaning you won’t have to do food shops as often. 

Takeaway Reward Schemes

For those days when you don’t feel like cooking, make sure you’re making the most of takeaway reward schemes and deals.  Whether you’re looking for ways to save on takeaway food, tips to get cheap Domino’s pizza, or you’re wondering what’s the cheapest fast food restaurant, we’ve got your back. 

A student working in a cafe while enjoying a coffee.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Avoid Food Waste

Meal planning and batch cooking will help you avoid food waste and get your money’s worth. But if you’re still struggling with wasted food, check out our useful article on some of the top apps that save you money and reduce food waste. 

Where can I find the best student discounts?

There are several places you can find the best student discounts online. These include websites like UNiDAYS, StudentBeans, and TOTUM. There, you can find student discounts on all things ranging from fashion, health, beauty, food & drink, tech, and more. 

Check out our article on essential apps for saving money where we go into more detail about the UNiDAYS app, the StudentBeans app, the TOTUM app, and more.  

MyVoucherCodes

Here at MyVoucherCodes, we have a page dedicated to student discounts to help you find some of the best ones. 

Some of our top discount pages where you can find student discounts include River Island discount codes, Nike discount codes, Under Armour discount codes, Shark discount codes, Ted Baker discount codes, and more. 

In the past, we’ve also had exclusive student discounts such as 20% off at Routledge, 10% off desktops at Dell, an extra 15% off items in the sale at Converse, and 20% off at Lovehoney, to name a few. 

Two university students walking out of class together.

(Image credit: Getty Images)
Disclaimer

When you click through any of our student discount code pages we may make a small commission if you go on to purchase from their websites. Learn more about how we make money. 

We also have a range of handy articles if you’re interested in more ways you can save as a student: 

Layla Al-Ani
Layla Al-Ani
Home & Garden Writer

I’m Layla, the home and garden editor, and I started working at MyVoucherCodes in November 2022. I have always loved to write, especially after getting my degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and since getting my own place, I’ve gotten stuck into all things home and garden.

When I’m not writing about saving money on homely purchases, I’m either sitting with my head in a new book, painting a piece of art for my walls, or binge-watching an interior design programme on Netflix. I love to get inspiration and transform my space, usually with the help of a few Pinterest boards and a couple of tins of paint.