10 ways to survive life on a student budget.

Most students knew 2009 would be hard on their finances, but nobody thought it would be this tough. No sooner had 50,000 students just got used to the fact they'd have to start their courses without all their loan money; then The Confederation of British Industry recommended students should pay more for their loans.

Just over 16% of the 1millions students who applied for a loan this year, didn't get their money on time. So the economic outlook for those studying at the English Universities seems bleak - or does it? Many streetwise students are making sure they rise to and beat the challenges of the increased cost of higher education. They're employing a whole range of tactics to ensure they make their money go further and graduate university with less debt. Of the hundreds of tactics students are using to make uni-life easier on their pocket, here are the 10 most popular in no particular order:

Look for part-time work.
Okay, this is an obvious one, but you'll be shocked at just how many students don't get a part-time job to support their living expenses. We're sure no-one need to tell you about the boost working in a bar or shop can bring to your social life! However, it can also bring benefits to your pocket because your wages will pay for all those uni-nights out, takeaways and parties. Getting a part-time job is also a great way to meet local people outside of the traditional uni-scene.

Get your kicks for free.
Enjoying yourself at university doesn't have to cost and an arm and a leg. There are countless companies and organisations willing to give you bucket-loads of free stuff. All you have to do is look for them online.

Live large but spend small.
If you love to party, then there are loads of ways to have more fun for less money. There are several websites that provide discount vouchers for bars, pubs and clubs such as Jongluers.

Reduce your restaurant bills.
A treat on the taste buds it may be, but eating out can leave a you feeling sick when the bill arrives. So, don't pay the full amount? From Pizza Hut to your local Indian restaurants, there are hundreds of money-off deals out there on the internet.

Sell books and buy cheaper ones second-hand.
Gathering dust; that's what happens to you old text books once you've read them. Earn yourself a few extra quid by selling them to other students. Or save yourself money by buying them second-hand. You can do both by following one of the links at the bottom of this article..

Get your electricity, gas and water cheaper.
Shopping around for good deals on essentials such as utilities and car insurance can save you hundreds of pounds each year. There are plenty of price comparison websites out there to help you switch to a cheaper utility supplier, but here's the only one exclusively for students.

Smell and look great the cheaper way.
The economic times are tough And from ski wear deals to free fake tans, fashion and health & beauty retailers are offering all sorts of incentives for your business. You can find loads of discounts on health & beauty and fashion by searching for voucher codes online..

Spend less on food & drink.
The price of a basket of food & drink has never been so high? It doesn't have to be this way; try using money-off vouchers issued by different supermarkets to reduce how much you spend without having to make cutbacks. The major stores are always competing with one another. So before you go shopping, shop around online for some great deals.

Get your high-tech stuff at low prices.
You can save yourself a small fortune on electrical goodies such as mobile phones, laptops and iPods. That's because broadband providers, PC makers and mobile phone networks operate in a highly competitive market. To get your business, they've got shed-loads of promotions. Check out their very latest electrical deals online.

Blow less cash on entertainment.
Overspending on the stuff that's the most fun; it's easily done. You can snap up great nights out and in deals at a snip of the price by looking online.

These are just 10 ways to live large and spend small at university. Now it's over to you to make the most of them and find more ways to stretch your student budget - so you graduate with less debt. There are literally thousands to discover out there. Happy hunting. Here's a website that'll get you off to a great start.

http://www.unitown.co.uk