Students: Top tips for making the most of your finances

From saving on shopping to cheaper travel and lower bills, there are ways to cut costs. Rupert Jones and Hilary Osborne report

- Rupert Jones and Hilary Osborne report

The new university year is about to start, and if you are heading off for the first time, finances might be a big concern. Student loans only stretch so far, and this could be the first time you have to deal with real budgeting, to cover accommodation, food and other bills.

To help you on your way, here is our last-minute guide to managing your money while you study.

Everyday spending
• Sign up for supermarket loyalty cards. These used to just give you points which you could collect and eventually use to get money off, but now they unlock discounts straight away. You don't have to be loyal, and you can own one for every supermarket - you just have to be 18 or over to apply - and you don't need a card; the big schemes are all available via apps. Most, including Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar, are free to join, although Co-op does charge £1 - its card can't be used in all of its franchises, so check your local branch is included before you sign up. A lot of the offers are on branded products, so price-check the supermarket's own-brand items before you assume the loyalty deal is the best.

• Make sure that when you check grocery prices you are comparing like with like. All but the smallest retailers have to put a unit price on the shelf label - so for pasta, as well as the pack price, there will usually be a price for 100g. This makes it easier to choose between packs of different sizes. From October, supermarkets will have to be more consistent in the units they choose, and to include unit prices for things that are on offer, so it should get even easier to spot the bargains.