New to University life? Large Manchester offers some handy tips on how to save money without hindering your social life.

Sticking to student nights and looking out for drinks deals helps you save some cash. One of Manchester’s popular bars is Baa Bar in Fallowfield or on Deansgate Locks in the city centre. With shots for only £1 it’s always a good place to start the night. It’s rare but sometimes the student’s union put on free buses to take you to and from venues, so always check in the SU to see if there are any set student nights or organised events going on.

If Manchester’s bars are beginning to bore you then head to one of Manchester’s lovely theatres - it’s not as expensive as you think! You can cut the price of theatre tickets in half just by going to the afternoon matinees instead of the evening show.

There are also many of Manchester’s attractions to visit, such as the Museum of Science and Industry and the Manchester Art Galleries are free, so soak up some culture without having to spend a penny.

If you fancy a bite to eat, try one of Manchester’s delicious cafes to tickle your taste-buds. For offers log on to Student Beans or Martin Lewis ‘Money Saving Expert’ have great deals on eating out. You can always find a ‘two for one’ offer on there. However if there are no vouchers that appeal to you, find a restaurant with an early bird menu that is often a lot cheaper.

Supermarket’s are likely to be a common area as many of the bars for most students, so for your weekly food shop look out for offers and group up with a few friends to take advantage of the two for one deals so you share the price. Remember to stick to the bigger supermarkets as the same items are more expensive in express or metro shops. Markets are also good like the Manchester Arndale Market where you can buy fruit and vegetables very cheaply.

If you can’t handle walking to and from uni every day, make sure you invest in a monthly or yearly bus pass. This will save you some serious cash by the end of the year. Not only useful for the daytime, you can also get night buses home after a night out – no money for taxis needed!

Last but not least, remember not to get to carried away in the Manchester retail scene. Look out for offers and sales and girls remember to share your wardrobes. If you live with four girls that’s access to four more sets of clothes that you didn’t have before. So mix it up. Share outfits but add belts and accessories to put your own unique twist to it. Nobody will ever know.