Your guide to budgeting at university

Money-saving hacks

Shop second-hand
Before you start university, check out places like Facebook Marketplace and charity shops. Discover second-hand home furnishings and kitchenware for a fraction of the original sales price.
New love for old clothes
Apps like Vinted and Depop are great for buying brand new and second-hand clothes for discounted prices. If you want to make cash whilst you're here, you can also easily sell clothes on the apps.
Student discount
Don't forget, one of the great perks of being a student is having access to amazing student discounts. Before you buy anything research into whether the retailer offers student discount as many places do.
Discounted food
If you're food shopping late at night, check out the reduced food aisle for bargains. If you can't eat it that day, it may be suitable for freezing and will help you save money on future meals.

A city experience without city prices

Preston is one of the most affordable cities in the North West to live and work in. When it comes to affordable rent, public transport, socialising and entertainment, it can’t be beaten.

Check out these stats below from Numbeo.com which show the average prices for everyday things. The stats show that Preston is consistently more affordable than the nearby student cities of Liverpool and Manchester:

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Average cost of eating out in cities in the North West
Item	Preston	Liverpool	Manchester
Meal out (inexpensive restaurant)	£10	£15	£15
Meal for two (three courses, mid-range)	£40	£65	£60
Beer (domestic, 500ml)	£3.85	£4.58	£4.50
Cappuccino (regular)	£3.02	£2.93	£3.19

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Average cost of shopping in cities in the North West
Item	Preston	Liverpool	Manchester
Milk (1 litre)	£1.02	88p	£1.09
Loaf of bread (white, 500g)	98p	£1.01	£1.12
Chicken fillets (1kg)	£4.96	£5.63	£5.78
Potatoes (1kg)	£1.13	£1.05	£1.24

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Average cost of transport in cities in the North West
Item	Preston	Liverpool	Manchester
One-way ticket (local transport)	£2.05	£2.40	£2.25
Monthly pass (regular price)	£49.09	£69.57	£70
Petrol (1 litre)	£1.58	£1.56	£1.65

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Average living costs in cities in the North West
Item	Preston	Liverpool	Manchester
Basic utilities (electricity, heating and water for 85m2 apartment)	£155.40	£174.38	£212.20
Childcare (pre-school, full-day, private for one child)	£500	£955.71	£1,054.90
Rent per month (city centre apartment)	£566.67	£764.67	£917.59
Average monthly net salary (after tax)	£2,666.67	£1,912.41	£2,245.51