Saving your money as a student: check out these discount and reward schemes
Last week we covered how you can save money on your energy bill. Here, in revisiting part two of our popular ‘Saving your money as a student’ series, we explore some ways you can claim rewards and make your money go further via student Amber Leach’s insights.
Did you know you can save hundreds of dollars by virtue of your student status?
There’s lots of various rewards and savings programs out there – which include offers available exclusively to students – if you know where to look. See if any of the following could help you save some cash or nab other goodies!
Explore Student Edge
Student Edge is a website offering discounts, competitions, surveys, and forums to secondary and uni students. You can access all the features below by joining online for free.
- Savings and discounts. Student Edge offers access to discounts from a range of different stores and limited-time offers on specific products such as new release phones, take away food, and clothing brands.
- Competitions. Win prizes such as movie tickets, gift cards and other rewards. Entry to competitions usually involves answering a question ‘in 25 words or less’ or completing a five-question multiple-choice quiz.
- Surveys. Complete surveys to earn points which can be claimed in lots of $10 e-gift cards or, if you save these points up, you can claim $30 straight to your PayPal account.
Along with these money-saving features, Student Edge offers a range of news and forum areas where you can chat and discuss all things about studying and student life. Your profile can also be used to store your CV details and hunt for jobs.
Some Student Edge prizes are sent in the mail, so make sure the address in your profile stays up to date!
Join your Student Association
The Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) offers different levels of membership to all students and staff, with bronze, silver, gold and associate options. All these membership levels have an annual joining fee ranging from an affordable $15–$55, and each provide you different rewards for joining.
DUSA exists to advocate for all students at Deakin and to provide you a fun and productive university experience. As a member, you can receive discounts when joining Deakin social clubs, certain university events and activities, short courses, and receive discounts at local retailers and chains. The DUSA Food Pantry also aims to provide students who are doing it tough with a range of fresh fruit, veggies and pantry staples to make nutritious meals. It is also worth keeping an eye on the DUSA Instagram and Facebook social channels as they sometimes announce events and competitions here.
Shop smarter
When doing your shopping, Coles’ Flybuys and Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards cards allow you to earn points every time scan your relevant card during a transaction. You can see the points you have earned on your receipt, app or online.
When accessing the app or website, you can use the points you’ve earned by opting to either claim rewards or save money off your next shop. The apps regularly feature offers you can claim to receive extra points towards your tally. They sometimes run offers where you can receive up to double or triple the points on your next shop – these offers are particularly useful when doing a larger shop.
Other organisations also offer similar rewards cards which are free to join and convert the money you spend into points or discounts. Cotton On Group, Spotlight, Priceline and many more popular retail chains offer comparable programs.
While the points and discounts offered in these programs may seem small, you’d be surprised how quickly they can add up if you shop frequently. Make sure you also keep an eye on the social media profiles of your favourite retail groups to enter in any competitions and catch a great deal!
Claim government concessions
For those of you who hold concession cards, remember to use them to your advantage.
- Presenting your Health Care Card can help you save on the cost of medical prescriptions and even your car registration.
- Some bill and insurance companies also have special offers for students and other concession card holders. Contact your providers to find out if they have any current offers applicable to you.
- Check your bank arrangements and super funds too: just because something is labelled as a ‘student account’ it doesn’t always mean it’s the best option for every student’s circumstances. Give them a call or go in for a chat to see what’s right for you.
- A Tertiary Access Payment is one-off payment – paid in two instalments – offered to students who have to move a certain distance away from home to study. Visit the website for more information as well as full eligibility requirements.
Happy saving!
Remember it’s important to do your own research to find out what savings and rewards programs are right for you. Go ahead and share this (plus any of your own handy savings tips) with a friend!
Next up in our ‘Saving your money as a student’ series, we will look at three online tools that can save you money on various goods. See you again soon!
Edited version of a previous Deakin Life blog. Our thanks to the Office of the Dean of Students for supporting the Deakin Money Matters project team to create these resources.