Are you a student trying to live on a tight budget? Are you looking to find ways to save and manage your money effectively? Being in charge of your own money for the first time can seem daunting, however it can be very doable with these simple tips:

1. Make a budget. The easiest way to do this is on Excel or using a free template online. You only need two columns: one for money coming in, and one for money that will be going out of your account. Start with the things you need (rent, food, travel, internet) then add in an allowance for social activities and fun purchases.

2. Don’t keep all of your money in one account, as you’ll be tempted to spend it all! Set up another account for savings. This will ensure that you don’t go over your monthly budget.

3. Pay for all your essentials items (rent, travel, food phone etc) upfront. If you pay these off faster, there’ll be less chance of you accidentally spending money that you don’t have.

4. Take a shopping list to the supermarket. This will prevent you from ending up with a bunch of items that you don’t need, or having to waste petrol doing multiple trips to the shops. It also makes budgeting easier as you know exactly what you’re going to buy.

5. Look into student discounts. It’s always worth checking, particularly when doing social activities. Many theatres and cinemas offer concessions, and public transport is usually cheaper.

6. Check your community noticeboard or social media account for free events and check out books, movies and audiobooks from the library. You may be surprised at how much money this saves you!