When you’re off the couch and back at uni, the temptation to spend is everywhere – from newsagents to coffee shops to that computer you carry around in your pocket.

But if you’re determined to do the whole money thing right this time, check out the below tips to keep your savings where they should be – stacking up in your bank account.

Take Advantage Of Student Discounts

This is one of the few breaks afforded to students in Australia, so you need to be ruthless.

Whether it’s an indulgence or a necessity, always do a search for discounts before buying something new. Make sure you take advantage of concession cards for public transport to make your commute more manageable. And don’t be the student who needlessly throws their money away on a full-price movie ticket.

Also, check your university’s website to see if they have a student union or equivalent program. Signing up (usually for a small annual fee) can save you tonnes of money on books, stationery, and even food around campus.

Avoid Procrasti-Shopping

With an endless variety of commodities and entertainment a mere click, tap or swipe away, procrastination in the 21st Century can be very expensive. One minute you’re mindlessly trawling eBay to avoid an essay, the next you’ve blown 50 bucks on a sweater you don’t need.

The key to avoiding this kind of behaviour is to delay the purchase as much as possible, so you have time to catch yourself before hitting that “confirm purchase” icon. To this end, set yourself a “cool down period” during which you can reflect on your purchase – a week should do. Chances are, the urge to splurge will have faded by the time that week is up. Also, if you have any autofill or credit card information stored in your browser, delete it – convenience is not your friend in this case.

The next step is to find different ways to procrastinate because – let’s face it– you will procrastinate at some point. The next time you find yourself putting something off, resist the impulse to pick up your phone and instead read a book, cook a meal or tidy your room. You might still be killing time, but at least you’ll be doing something beneficial.

Be Savvy About Your Uni Necessities

The saying you’ve gotta spend money to make money has never been truer than in the realm of university: to get to that point of graduation and a kickass career, you’ve got to invest in things like textbooks.

Instead of heading straight to the uni bookshop at the beginning of semester to stock up on brand new textbooks, check out online textbook exchanges for second-hand books, available at steep discounts. And once semester is over, hop back on those websites to list your textbooks for sale so you can make some of your money back.

Use Those Research Skills To Get Better Deals

Despite the stereotype, prices on eBay aren’t always the cheapest. Private e-tailers and even brick-and-mortar shops sometimes offer better prices than the old Eebs, so do a little more hunting with Google before settling. And if you don’t mind pre-loved merchandise, some of the goods on Gumtree can be had for ridiculously small amounts of cash.

With groceries, running the numbers on your regular purchases can really drive your costs down. Switching to home brands and planning your meals around sales catalogues will help you save big.

If you really want to drill down, take a look at the nutrition labels on your food, and see how much protein you’re getting per dollar spent (also keep in mind things like vitamins, fibre, and complex carbohydrates). Looked at this way, fast food meals and sugary snacks are incredibly expensive, while things like home-brand beans and tuna are nutritional bargains.

Take Advantage Of Free Activities

When you sit down and look at where your money goes, you may realise that a big chunk of your change goes towards socialising. But while hanging out with your squad is all-important, it doesn’t have to break the bank.

With the sheer magnitude of man-made entertainment available, it’s all too easy to forget about the simpler activities provided by nature.

Going to the beach with friends, hiking, meditating, playing a game of ultimate frisbee – there are heaps of free outdoor activities you can do with your mates. So next time you want to catch up with friends, head outdoors. Your bank balance will thank you for it.

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of Joel Svensson and do not reflect the views of NAB. The content has been prepared without taking account of individual financial objectives, needs or financial situation. It does not constitute formal advice.

Take the first step towards being more savvy with your money with a little help from NAB’s Classic Banking Account. You can access your money when you want, where you want, with $0 monthly account fees. Find out more here.

Please consider if this product is right for you by reading the personal transaction and savings products terms and conditions document available from the issuer NAB, before making any decisions regarding this product. This product is issued by National Australia Bank Ltd ABN 12 004 044 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686

(Lead image: The Wolf Of Wall Street/ Warner Bros.)