15 thrifty life hacks for students

Here's how to maximise your penny pinching as a student with some brilliantly thrifty life hacks.

Buy old versions of textbooks

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via wikimedia.org
You can save cash on textbooks by buying older versions. Usually little has changed other than the page order.

Cook on the cheap

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Learn how to cook cheap student recipes and cut your grocery bill.

TRY THESE: > 12 super cheap meals for almost broke students

Get free food

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Grab free food from supermarket samples, bushes or even just pinch leftovers from pals.

Don't waste food

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Avoid getting rid of food: > 13 ways to make the most out of your food

DIY workout armband

diy phone armband
via cnet.com
Turn an old sock into a DIY workout armband that's sure to fit your phone and body perfectly.

Toilet roll tubes keep draws tidy

bog roll cable storage
via instructables.com
Use toilet roll tubes to keep your cables perfectly organised

Store plastic bags in a tissue box

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Fill an empty tissue box with leftover plastic bags. Truly ingenious.

Make a cheap iPhone speaker

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A bowl or glass can make for a surprisingly good improv speaker system.

Make gifts

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Make all of your gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Check out Pinterest for great inspiration. You could also bake something!

Pringles cans make for great spaghetti storage

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via thriftysue.com
Store your spaghetti in an empty pringles can, it makes the perfect fit.

Keep takeaway containers

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Keep takeaway containers and clean them out for future use.

A homemade ice pack

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Create an impromptu ice pack by freezing a wet sponge.

Cut your landline

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Ditch your landline and use skype instead for calls. Move to a cable internet provider (where available) to avoid line rental charges too!

Use hangers for more than clothes

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Use cheap wire hangers to hang more than just clothes, such as shoes and scarves.

Get all the juice from your fruit

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Get the most out of fruits by microwaving them before squeezing, then use a pair of tongs to get more juice out.

About the author: Thomas Brella

Thomas Brella is the founder of Student Hacks, starting the website in 2013 while studying at the University of Brighton to share tips and tricks on life as a cash-strapped student. He's now spent over 10 years scoping out the best ways to live on a budget

More on: Living
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