Money doesn’t grow on trees… but coconuts do!

(THE TCT GUIDE TO BEING student thrifty)

students lifting hands

We’re sure you’ve heard your parents say money doesn’t grow on trees 🙄. Well, sorry, but they’re right. But seeing as we have universities near every one of our restaurants, we thought we’d help you out with five top money-saving tips. That way, regardless of if you’re a fresher or heading back to campus, you can live your best student life. We’ll even throw in a tasty money-saving discount of our own. So, this is worth the read…

#1 Use the skimming trick

This quick and effective money-saving tip has nothing to do with cream but it will have you racking up savings in no time. When any money hits your account, simply skim a percentage off the top. Student loan, part-time work, aid from parents, whatever it is, taking just 10% of that and putting it into a savings account will help you feel more comfortable. Even if it’s only £20 a month, that equals £240 over a year!

#2 Go to the cinema for free

The cinema is always epic. There’s nothing better than a good film… apart from being the first to see it – AND seeing it for nothing! E4 Big Screen Previews are the perfect way to see a flick for free. Just visit the site, see what’s on, pick your screening, and away you go. And, of course, you’re more than welcome to join us afterwards to discuss plot lines, goofs, and reviews over one of our famous cocotails. 

#3 Prep to be healthy and wealthy

Planning your meals, utilising current supplies, and creating dinners that will stttttttrrrrrreeeeetttttttcccccchhhhhh using ingredients you can buy in bulk will save you in the long term. Large online orders once a week could also reduce delivery costs. Iceland, for example, offers free delivery on orders over £40. We’d recommend doing this with your housemates too – you could even make an evening of it. Bulk is better. Trust us, we do it all the time (and we cook a lot of food for a lot of students). 

#4 Memorise this phrase

“Do you do a student discount?” Once more: “Do you do a student discount?” Got it? Good. Over the coming years, you might use this phrase more than any other. Get used to asking it EVERYWHERE you go. There are tonnes of discounts to be had out there! Imagine paying 10% less on nearly everything you buy in the coming years. That’s a lot of wedge saved! Also, don’t forget to seek out the card schemes offered by the likes of Unidays, Student Beans and Totum.

And before you ask, yes we do!

#5 Get a budgeting app

Finally, with all your new-found feelings of wealth and empowerment, you’ll need to stay on top of what you can have (and what you can’t). It’s easy when the loan lands every few months to go on a mad one before regretting it instantly. There are some very intuitive apps out there that you can use to allocate spends and limits for things so you don’t end up in overdraft hell. Some will even help you squirrel some wonga away. 

#6 The Coconut Tree Discount

Okay, I know we said five tips… but hey, this blog is about saving money and getting the most out of everything you can, so the more the better! And we always have more than one offer on the go for students at The Coconut Tree. Whether a Welcome To (or Welcome Back) fresher’s offer at the start of term, our ongoing 20% OFF THE WHOLE BILL Sunday-Thursday or our £10 KOTTHU & DRINK deal that’s available every single day, there’s always discounts for students at The Coconut Tree 

So, come on in – bring your I.D. card, bring your friends, or even bring your parents (and get them to pay – told you, we’ve got your back). 

See you soon,

TCT Team

The Coconut Tree is a uniquely Sri Lankan restaurant bringing laid-back beach vibes and non-stop fun to your university town. We offer ongoing student discounts & deals and with your student ID you could also get 50% off the whole bill, on Sundays-Thursdays in the first few weeks of term. For more information about our dishes, drinks & deals click here.