As the new academic year begins and we return to our college routines, we are yet again tasked with the ever-fickle practice of budgeting for university life. For many students, the start of a new term comes with the daunting challenge of balancing a myriad of expenses that quickly turn checking your BOI or AIB account into a stress-inducing experience. However, with some smart planning and these insider tips, you can stretch your budget without sacrificing your lifestyle. If you want to reduce your financial worry and save money while still indulging in your well-deserved retail therapy, this guide for the cheapest shopping around Dublin is for you.
Groceries
Grocery shopping accounts for a large portion of the average student’s budget, but luckily, there are plenty of ways to save some cash on food shopping while in school. The first decision you have to make is where you shop. Lidl and Aldi are by far the most budget-friendly options of the grocery store pickings in Dublin and would be my top recommendation if you want to see significant savings in your food shopping budget. Because of their attractively low prices, Lidl and Aldi locations in city centre frequently sell out of various items by the end of the day, but if you try and get your visit in during daylight hours this isn’t typically a problem you’ll encounter. If I can’t squeeze in a visit earlier in the day, a method I frequently employ is to swing by Lidl first, see what I can get there, and buy everything else at Dunnes or a similarly reliable shop where items selling out isn’t typically an issue. Buying just a few of your groceries at a more wallet-friendly spot makes a huge difference as expenses pile up throughout the year. For those who don’t live within a reasonable distance from a Lidl or Aldi, Club Cards are another excellent method for saving money on food shopping. Most of the major chains in Dublin have their own form of membership card, and getting your hands on one is often as simple as downloading their respective app and making an account on your phone. Tesco, Dunnes, and M&S are all examples of shops that offer discounts to members. At Dunnes’ Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and Point Square locations, special offers of €5 off any €25 purchase or €10 off any €50 purchase are available for all members.
Clothes
Following a student budget shouldn’t mean having to sacrifice nonessential purchases because you might think it’s a waste of money. While it’s important to prioritise the necessities, following a well-rounded budget means allocating some of your funds toward things that make you happy. My number one tip is to take advantage of the numerous student discounts available to you as a Trinity student, namely by using UNiDAYS or similar discount-finding services designed specifically for college students. UNiDAYS offers permanent discounts on brands like Nike, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, and Adidas, as well as limited-time offers on additional brands that come and go periodically. All it requires is an online sign-up to their service using your Trinity email address. Even without UNiDAYS, many brands offer a range of student discounts that can be easily found on their website or in-store advertisements. Dundrum Town Centre lists limited-time offers for students on their website which is updated frequently with new deals. Doing a little research before heading out on your shopping spree is usually quite rewarding and extremely helpful for saving a bit of cash.
Pharmaceuticals
Getting sick while at school is no new experience to any of us, so it’s quite useful to know where you can score a few discounts when the inevitable freshers’ flu hits. Several pharmacies around Trinity’s campus offer student discounts, including the Lombard Pharmacy, Trinity Pharmacy, and Prices Medical Hall, all located on the streets around the East end of campus, as well as Hickey’s Pharmacy on Grafton Street. Boots similarly offers a 10% discount for students with a Boots Advantage card and valid student ID. Although this offer does not extend to prescription medications, it still allows you to pick up discounted cold medicine, vitamins and other over-the-counter cures when you’re under the weather. Make sure to ask a cashier for an Advantage card next time you visit a Boots location, and download their app for easy access to your student discounts at any time. For pharmacies further outside the city centre, Rathmines Pharmacy in Rathmines and Leonards Corner Pharmacy in Portobello also offer 10% discounts for students.
Self Care
Maintaining a healthy balance of school work and leisurely activities is important to stay energised and motivated throughout the school year. To begin with, Cineworld Cinemas offers discounted student tickets for all movies regardless of day or time, while Omniplex Cinemas offers a 50% discount on Tuesdays for tickets booked online. Next, students who want to explore Dublin’s multitude of fitness class offerings can check out ClassPass, a useful resource for finding gyms, yoga studios, and more – what’s even better is that your first month using ClassPass is completely free. This trial month allows you to explore a variety of gyms and find a place that works best for you. Once your free trial ends, you can cancel or renew as you’d like. As mentioned earlier, the Boots discount is fully applicable to their inventory of beauty, hair, and personal care products. For music lovers, both Apple Music and Spotify have great discounted subscription plans for students – 3 months of free Spotify Premium followed by a monthly rate of €5.99 or with your UNiDAYS account, a month of free Apple Music with a 50% discounted monthly rate thereafter. Finally, to keep yourself up to date with current events, The Irish Times offers a student subscription rate of only €5 per month or €50 per year.
In recent years Dublin’s cost of living has introduced itself as an increasingly pressing issue in the public eye, topping the Irish Times/Ipsos 2024 B&A poll as the single most important priority of voters ahead of the publication of Budget 2025 (Irish Times, 2024). Students are certainly not immune to these financial pressures, and as costs add up throughout the academic year, our spending habits can become a serious source of stress. Hopefully, this short guide to saving money in various areas of your budget can do something to help placate these worries.
