Apps every student needs to save money (and the environment)

Making sustainable choices whilst on a student budget can feel tricky, but it doesn’t have to be! From cutting food waste to smarter travel, we’ve rounded up some of the best apps that make it easy to save money and reduce your environmental impact, all while fitting into your busy uni life.

Cut food waste

Food waste is eating into your student budget. Research* has shown that UK uni students waste about £5.25 a week on food, adding up to approximately £273 per year (that’s about 86 Caffe Nero coffees!). To help you avoid wasting food, there’s some simple changes you can make. Creating a meal plan and using this to write your weekly shopping list stops you buying food you won’t get round to eating (and also saves you money). You could also try batch cooking your meals for the week – the freezer is your friend!

One person’s waste is another person’s treasure. Apps like Too Good To Go allows you to grab surplus meals from local cafes and restaurants at a fraction of the price, all while helping businesses cut down on their food waste. Perfect for late night snacks on a budget!

Or why not try Olio? This app lets you share or claim free food and household items from your community. It’s great for those in student accommodation or shared housing.

Top tip: set alerts for your favourite places so you never miss a bargain!

Sustainable shopping on a student budget

January is Buy Nothing New Month, so it’s a great chance to rethink your wardrobe and see what you really need. Fast fashion can be costly to both your bank account and the environment.

Vinted and Depop are perfect for buying and selling clothes at student-friendly prices, so you can make money on your old pieces, while picking up some new ones, it’s a win-win!

If you want to delve deeper into where your clothes really come from, Good On You, rates fashion brands by how sustainable they are. You can even score a discount sometimes by using the app.

Track your impact

Knowing just how big your carbon footprint is can help you make smarter choices and save money too.

Apps like WWF’s My Footprint allows you to track your footprint and discover low-cost ways to reduce it. You can help offset your carbon footprint without even trying, by using Ecosia, an search engine alternative, that plants trees every time you use it, allowing you to track your positive impact.

Did you know? Leaving devices plugged in doesn’t just contribute to your carbon footprint, but can cost you extra every year. These apps help you spot habits like that.

Travel smarter

Transport costs can add up quickly for students. Greater Manchester’s Bee Network makes public transport straightforward and cost effective.

Use the Bee Network app to plan your journey and find the cheapest public transport routes, plus check out student discounts. Or use a Starling Bike to get around – there are some right by our Main Campus!

If you catch the cycling bug, you can pick yourself up a second-hand bike at places like the Renew Hub.

Sustainability doesn’t have to be expensive, these apps help you save money all whilst making a positive impact on the planet.

You can find more advice, from freshers discounts to beating the winter blues, on our Student Blog.

*Cat Acheson, Zero Waste Scotland