Anyone have any money-saving tips at uni to prevent the debt from getting too much?

I never spent too much on drink and I didn't buy the most expensive brands when I went to the supermarket. I would also buy used books off those in the year above that were selling them as you can get them for knockdown prices. That way you can always afford to treat yourself every now and then because you don't feel like you have blown all your money!

Taking on a part-time job although you need to make sure this doesn't interfere with your studies - you're there to do the degree, after all!

Don't eat out all the time and bring a packed lunch to the campus with you rather than buying the expensive campus sandwiches (although on my campus there was a great, very cheap café which did some good food - so keep an eye out for those gems).

Sometimes you're able to avoid buying books and instead get them out of your university library - good for English students with many novels to read, for example, you can take them out week by week, and then return them afterwards until you decide which one you want to write about for your essay.

Join Freecycle - can make your student pad look lush on people's freebie give aways.  Not just a tip for students, but for life in general!

Don't think that eating healthily means eating expensively. When you go to buy your groceries, take a list and stick to it. It is actually the extra items that tempt you in the supermarket that add the pounds to your weekly shopping bill. Take aways can be a lovely treat but every night of the week is a big no no. Cook for yourself, lots of budget cooking websites are online and there are some great student cook books out there.

My best tips as given to me by lovely Mum are:

1) When making shepherd's pie or other such dishes using mince meat, add soya mince (to the normal) to make it cheaper and make the meat go further. You can't taste any difference and you can make a healthy but cheap meal and free sections so it last longer.

2) Buy cheaper shop's own cereals - they generally taste the same but cost less. The same can be said for breads, but some of the supermarket own brand breads are luxury products and so priced accordingly, so be careful.

3) Visit the supermarket at closing time as then the baked and fresh goods are reduced - post 9pm is always a good time.

4) Buy reduced fruit and veg at the upermarket and either use immediately or make a soup or fruit salad with them. Hope these help you as much as they did me. :)

I am glad we are talking cooking, have some amazing but cheap to make meals for you:

1) Mushroom Blintzes:

Slice then dice the mushroom (or whatever other vegetable you wish to use), same with the onion. Crush your garlic glove. Place in some oil in a plan and stir. Add in your herbs and a splash of soy sauce. When cooked turn off the heat. Take your mixture and place a medium sized amount in each of the wraps. fold these wraps to make a rectangular parcel. place in a pre oiled casserole dish. then you have two options:

 pour double cream over and grate cheese. place in over and bake for about 10 minutes on gas mark 6.

or pour a passata over the top and grate cheese on if wish and bake for 10 minutes on gas mark 6.

2) Tzimmus

1 large onion, finely sliced, 2 tbsp sunflower oil 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped, 2 teasp ground coriander, 1 1/2 lb (675 g) carrots, finely chopped, 8 oz (225g) potatoes, peeled and finely chopped, 2 1/2 pints vegetable stock, peeled zest of 1/2 large orange, 1/2 teasp salt, 1/4 teasp white pepper

saute the onion in the oil in a covered pan until soft and golden - about 10 mins. add the garlic and coriander and cook, stirring, for a further 2 mins. then add the carrots and potatoes and stir thoroughly to mix them with the onion. add the stock, orange zest, salt and pepper, then cover and simmer for 20-30 mins. until the veg are tender puree the soup until smooth. leave overnight to mature the flavour.

3) Creamy Vegetable Pasta

Pasta of choice, A suitable amount of mushrooms, green beans, sweetcorn, asparagus and pepper, 1-2 Onions A clove of garlic, Single cream, Black Pepper, Italian Herbs, Soy Sauce, Olive Oil

Heat the oil and crush the garlic into the pan, add a chopped onion and fry till golding. Add your other vegetables (cbhopped and diced as you wish) and cook for a few minutes. Meanwhile start boiling your pasta. Add in a splash of soy sauce and a sprinkle of italian herbs to the veg and keep stirring. Eventually pour the pot of cream in and sprinkle black pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds, your sauce is ready. Once pasta ready mix with the sauce and you have your dish.

Enjoy!  Let me know if have any good recipes too!