How To Make Your Weekends Exciting On A Student Budget
Looking for fun things to do when you’re not studying? We’ve got you!
For many students being in uni means living in a brand new city, which could be hours away from home and somewhere you’ve never really explored before. While student life can be hectic and super busy throughout the week, you might find yourself bored on the weekends and feel like you’ve exhausted exploring your new uni surroundings.
Not to mention, student budgets don’t always stretch that far so expensive holidays or luxury days out aren’t an option either. Expressing yourself on a student budget can be tricky but if you need some advice on how to brighten up your weekends, here are our top tips for things to try out.
1. Book coach tickets to new places with National Express
There are so many fun things to explore in the UK and you definitely don’t need to go abroad to experience beaches, historic cities and some of the best foodie spots. If you’re on a budget you’ll know that train tickets are NOT cheap nowadays and with the cost of living crisis it can be hard to find the cash, but thankfully, we’ve got an alternative that offers comfort, convenience and great value.
With National Express you can book super affordable coach tickets to get you pretty much anywhere you’d like to go in the UK! Students can get a 15% student discount when booking a trip so you can go home to visit family, visit your friends in their new uni homes or explore new cities or towns without breaking the bank.
Basically, if you’re planning on doing any travelling at all while you’re in uni, this will be a lifesaver for you.
2. Host a themed night with your friends
There’s a huge trend on TikTok currently where friends are meeting up at someone’s house and each bringing a selection of food or drinks that follow a certain theme.
If you’re looking for something different to do this Saturday, why not invite your friends over to yours and give everyone the task of bringing something for dinner, whether it’s the drinks, the starter or the main. This way everyone’s spending a small amount on something to bring over and you’ll all get to enjoy a fab dinner together. It’s a great way to save money and really test everyone’s creativity to see if you can stick to the chosen theme.
3. Admire nature
Wherever you live, the UK will have some form of great outdoors that you can explore, which will most likely be free. Whether you want to take a bike ride, enjoy a long walk or explore local parks, beaches or gardens there’s always going to be something you can enjoy for free no more than an hour from wherever you’re based.
If you really don’t live near anything too out of the ordinary you can rely on your trusty National Express student discount to book a coach to somewhere with a more exciting nature scene.
4. Explore charity shops
Want a new outfit but don’t have the money AND want to be more sustainable? Well, charity shopping will be your best friend as a student. Not only can you find some bargains for as low as about 30p sometimes, but it’s also a great way to spend a boring afternoon while also reducing your carbon footprint.
You can find some real gems in charity shops, so it’s definitely worth making a day out of it and seeing what you can find to spruce up your wardrobe.
5. Keep an eye out for student discounts
Obviously, we have to give ourselves a shoutout here. Student discounts are the best way to save money so definitely keep an eye on your emails from Student Beans to see what discounts we’re offering for the weekend. You could find cheap tickets to a theme park or discounts at your fave restaurant to help liven up your weekend plans. without having to spend a huge amount of money.
So, hopefully, we’ve given you plenty of ideas on how to express yourself on a student budget and make your weekends more exciting, even when you’re on a tight student budget. Being a student is fun and a time to explore and make memories, and no one wants to say no to plans or spend all weekend in their room alone because they don’t have the money to go out.
Don’t forget to use our National Express student discount to book coach tickets across the UK and save on all of your fun travel plans, so you’ll have more money to spend at your destination, rather than on the journey.
