Saving Money

We asked the likes of Electric Soft Parade, Air Traffic, The Concretes, and Dragonette for their advice on saving money and making your student loan last...

Air Traffic
"Don't just guess - you'll run out of money. Work out how much you have and just do a quick rough 'budget' (I know, I hate that word too) to make sure you don't overspend on piss and can't afford to buy bread."

Big Arm
"That’s not my area - I’m really unmanageable around money. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping."

Chicane
"Post date a cheque to yourself at the beginning of term."

Dragonette
"Don’t get a credit card."

Electric Soft Parade
"Drink pulse cider. It's cheap as fuck, but you'll end up with a fuck-off dentist bill, so maybe not."

Four Year Strong
"Don't go to college, it starts your life off in debt."

Helen J Hicks
"Eat bananas. High energy, low cost - you can use the money saved for travelling."

Husky Rescue
"Stop the studies and go hunting."

Kharma 45
"Buy all your food first, then you know exactly how much you can spend on stuff you don't need, like hangovers."

Kyte
"I reckon figuring out for yourself about money and budgeting is one of the most important lessons when you go to university. Probably more important than any modules or lectures..."

Last Man Standing
"Turn to a life of petty crime or racketeering - why wait until you become an adult to turn corrupt?"

Love Ends Disaster!
Rob: "Spend all your money on beer and hopefully you'll forget about your budget. Alternatively trade in your budget for a badger, the most rewarding of pets on so many levels."
Oakes: "Use your overdraft. That’s what it’s there for."

Lowgold
"Saving money is for twats. Always spend your way out of trouble."

My American Heart
Jesse: "Cut down on the fast food, go to the grocery store."
Larry: "Ask mom and dad!"

My Federation
"Don’t try and properly customise your car like a Bat-Mobile while at university (this is the truth). That’s what I did and it got me in a whole load of financial trouble. I still can’t believe I had to sell it... broke my heart!"

Passenger
"Move to India."

Pepe Deluxe
"A true gentleman lets men pay for the women. So if you’re a woman, hang out with gentlemen. If you’re man, don’t... just be one."

Post War Years
"Get drunk before you leave the house. If at all possible, don’t leave the house."

Rogue Wave
Zach: "Always drink cheap beer. Beer snobbery is for people with real jobs. If you've already read some of that book, why are you buying rolling papers? Toilet paper is two-sided. Always buy in bulk."

Shakes
"Date your land lady!"

Stateless
Chris: "Take drugs, they are much cheaper then drinking and get you much more off your head. Actually, hang on a second. This is where Brian Harvey from East 17 got himself into trouble. Actually, do NOT take any drugs because they are bad for you and your arms will fall off... If you wanna save money as a student just have a massive party every week, get some decks set up, get a DJ, away you go."
Levin: "Volunteer your services to your student radio station or newspaper. If you’re clever, young Jedi, you’ll use your media power to get yourself on guestlists instead of paying entry fees and get sent cool free shit! You’ll save loads of cash and you’ll probably have a good laugh. It makes it easier to get laid too."

The Answer
"Live off bread, cheese and Pot Noodles. Buy cheap booze, two-for-one deals, and don’t smoke. It's also good to keep check your bank account regularly. Avoid credit, store and switch cards as they can get you into debt very easily as a student, especially if you like your nights out and shopping. Only get overdrafts if completely necessary. Make use of the 10% off your student card allows at every opportunity. Do most of your socialising at the Union as the best drinks and entertainment offers are usually available there and there aren’t as many posers as you will find in the other bars/clubs."

The Blood Arm
"The best way to save money is to skip meals. I would often just take a nap when I felt hungry. Typically, you can put your body in shock, and avoid hunger pains, if you wake up and immediately drink at least two cups of coffee. However, I would suggest only using this technique twice a week in order to lessen any subsequent medical risks."

The Chiara L's
Emma: "Sorry, I'm a financial black-hole on legs. Got any tips for me?"
Chiara: "Walk places and eat less... it's also very good for your health they say."
JLH: "Shop at the bargain supermarkets, collect their leaflets, always buy the offers - that way you get a varied and cost effective shop and dont become too gaunt. Do flyering for clubnights as you will usually get guestlists for a venue's other events as a result, as well as making a nice earner for 2/3 hours work which basically covers your night out and travel expenses."

The Concretes
"I'm completely useless with money, but I think it's a good idea to make big batches of food as it saves both time and money. And I would suggest eating something slightly more interesting than noodles in a cup every day for four years. I'm pretty sure you end up paying the price for that in the end anyhow."

The Decemberists
Nate: "Don't get a credit card! And make your own coffee - it tastes better anyway."

The Earlies
John Mark: "I'm a bad one to ask... I say: go crazy, you only live once (though you may be a student a few times...)"

The Envy Corps
"Import everything from America, I believe it's around 27 dollars to the pound by now."

The Hussy's
Fili: "I’ve never been a student but am always skint, so don’t ask me how to save money!"
Steph: "Go to the supermarket about half an hour before they close and you’ll get meat and stuff very cheaply that’s due to go out of date the next day which they need to sell off. Other than that don’t buy any course materials or books and you’ll be able to go to more gigs."
James: "Avoid owning a car. Travel by bicycle. Or walk. Or run if you are in a hurry."

The King Blues
"Squatting is still a legal and legitimate way to live, and although it often conjures up images of skinny hippies in a dark, damp, leaking room, it really is what you make of it. There are risks involved and you may find you don’t to stay in one place for more than say, four months at a time. But you may strike it lucky and you definitely won’t pay any rent! Much more satisfying to do up a run down house then to stress about late rent payments."

The Shakes
Paul: "If the money’s there, it just gets spent. You always end up spending whatever you have."
John: "You could never wash your clothes."
Ed: "Or eat."
Tim: "And fund low-level drug use by dealing to your mates."

The Violets
"Don't pay for public transport. And sneak your own booze into clubs!"

Tom Baxter
"Never eat out – it’s too expensive. Take your own drinks out, fill a flask with vodka, but you need to be careful with it."

Winona
"Eat cereal, Threshers does 3-for-2. Learn how to cook, it’s cheaper."

Yoav
"Subsist on Pot Noodles. Don’t live in London."