When heading off to university, most people will tell you that the coming years are the best of your life. While this may be true, our data shows that for most Australians, these years will also leave you with the least amount of money.
Don't get me wrong, being broke isn't all bad. Some of my fondest memories from university came from figuring out how to have a good time with no money. While I'm not recommending that you sneak into gigs and risk a stoush with security - there are other easier ways to save yourself some serious dollars if you know what to look out for.
Finder analysis shows the average student could save up to $2,505 over the year thanks to university perks – equivalent to roughly 12 shifts at the local pub.
These savings could not come at a better time. As the soaring cost of living is being felt all around the country, our data shows young Australians are struggling the most.
Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker shows the average student has $4,332 in savings. Meanwhile, the average Australian working full-time has 9 times that amount with $39,095 in the bank. Full-time students have the least ($2,012) saved while working students have considerably more ($6,653) saved.
When I was at uni, someone told me I should put money aside into a savings account. I wish I'd taken their advice. Using our savings data above, a working student would earn an extra $302 in interest over the year by moving their money from a transaction account to a high-interest savings. I'm not sure I'd have been wise enough to keep hold of 300 bucks when I was at uni but it would have been nice to have the option.— Gary Ross Hunter insurance senior writer
The difference of a few thousand dollars might not sound like a lot. You might justify it to yourself by saying that once you land a high-paying grad role you'll save up the difference in a few months. While this may be true, compounding interest doesn't make it so simple. Assuming the two groups of students add to their balances at a proportional rate to their current savings ($100 per month for full-time students and $330 per month for working students) an original gap of $4,641 in savings balloons into $20,915 after 5 years in a savings account paying 4% interest per year.
Regardless, these lower savings balances of students when compared to the average full-time worker are translating into higher stress levels. The vast majority of students (93%) are somewhat, if not very, stressed about their finances. This is compared to 78% of the total Australian population. So how can students spend less and save more? Below are the most significant student discounts from transport to new tech.
For students in New South Wales, an Opal concession card offers the best discount by far. Weekly fares are capped at $25 for students with a concession card, which is half the $50 cap for adults. For students who hit the max each week, having a concession card saves them $1,300 over the year.
Here's a rundown of discounts and savings in other states:
If you're starting uni or are mid-way through a degree, you might be looking to upgrade your tech. The good news is there are a number of tech companies that offer discounts. Students can also sign up to UNiDAYS to receive exclusive discounts across tech products as well as fashion, beauty, fitness and more.
Some of these are permanent offers, such as Apple's education discounts, while others are time-limited:
Most students can afford to work out at low-fee chain gyms. However, if you're looking for more features to keep you fit, Virgin Active gives students about $15 off their weekly membership fees. This adds up to a saving of $780 over the year. Of course, the student price of $35 is still higher than some budget options.
Here are some gym chains that offer student discounts:
There are plenty of food stores that offer discounts including large chains such as Domino's, Grill'd, Maccas and KFC. Sites such as Student Beans pull together discounts from several places that can be accessed by students.
An extra tip: if you finish up a lecture in the afternoon, look out for takeaway shops doing end-of-day deals. Plenty of eateries and bars close to uni campuses also tend to do student specials, so just ask the staff.
Both Hoyts and Event Cinemas offer student tickets; this seems to be the standard across most cinemas. If you're a big movie buff, the $4 saving on tickets can add up to almost $50 annually if you see a movie each month.
Here are a few of the places you can flash your student card and have fun after your lectures:
Optus only charges students $39 each month compared to $59 for its 100GB SIM-only plan. This saves students a whopping $240 over the first 12 months, after which it converts back to the standard price. Other providers such as Vodafone also offer student-exclusive plans and offers.
You can find our top picks of mobile plans for students here.
A guide for money transfers and sending money to and from overseas, for international students living and studying in Australia.
There are more than 100 banks in Australia and new ones pop up all the time. So how do you know what one to pick when you come from overseas? Finder has pooled all the information together to help you compare.
Find new ways to save during your studies with our top 10 savings tips for students.
Besides assisting with your tuition fees, the Australian Government also offers other incentives.