Tip 7 : Shops and restaurants

Now here it is  an article about places in Glasgow where  you'll make the best savings. These are restaurants, shops …  where prices are lower than competitors.

Eat well elsewhere than at home for cheap this is something we all dream about. Unfortunately it is difficult to find restaurants at very low prices  that allow us to eat very well. In Glasgow I have found some nice location with low prices and attractive menus which allow students to eat well without spending a fortune. Here are the restaurants which  I know and I have already tried:

Juan chihuahua: It is a restaurant on sauchiehall street. it is spicy Mexican meal (burritos, faritas etc). There is a less than 10 pounds meal with a starter and main course!

Word buffet: it is a restaurant serving world cuisine including Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Italian. This restaurant is in the form of a buffet for the price of 6 pound for lunch and 11 for dinner! (Warning: if you do not finish your plate will be charged 5 pound you for the waste).

Walkabout: it is first  a bar but it offers small plates  well furnished for prizes between 3 and 10 pound

Where we would also like to save money are the shops. I know some shop where you can buy clothes, or products for low prices.

First of course the inevitable Poundland: as its name suggests all products in this store are 1 pound, this can be very economical for a large number of products such as accessories or food, for example. But be careful you do not always make a saving by purchasing a product for a pound! Certain products are cheaper somewhere else such as cleaning products, for example.

 Savers: there are cleaning products, prices are not very high and there are many regular promotions!

Next we come to clothing stores, then I advise you to Forever 21  on buchanan street where the  choice is very big and the prices are acceptable!

Finally  Primark where prices are very low for all products present in the stores.

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Tip 6 : Travel tour companies

This article is especially aimed at foreign students but this could be also useful for Scottish people who wants to travel.

Studying abroad comes from our own motives these are usually professional or personal. No matter the reasons we are here, when we arrive in a new country one of the first things we want to do is to discover our host country.This experience encourages us to discover historical places, monuments, and landscapes or visit museums, cities etc. and learn more about local customs and culture, which sometimes can be very different from ours. For this you need to move, this is feasible when you want to explore the city where you live or study but when you want to go to another place it gets more complicated when you have no car. If you want, for example to explore the north of Scotland, the Highlands, you need to find transports that will take you to the desired location, it is usually expensive and it is often necessary to combine several transports to follow a determined itinerary or reach a specific location that is underserved.

I have a solution for you: Travel tours companies

These companies usually organize trips on a day or few days. There are many types of organization offering this type of service. The Itinerary is determined in advance with details of destinations and the price is up to you if you want to join the trip or not. The trip takes place in a bus or mini bus, a guide is present and gives you information about places you visit or cross.

Advantages : 

- You don’t have anything except book (online or by telephone) and pay

- This kind of company know the places which must be seen and they will bring you there 

- The guide will give you a lot of information you didn't know

- It’s cheaper than if you go by yourself

- You can meet people

I have already tried two companies: 

• Isuk tour Glasgow international: it’s big bus especially for student, they organise a trip every week end everywhere in Scotland! 

I travelled with this company the 18th of October 2014 I paid 32 £ to go to :


◆ Alnwick, Harry Potter Castle (England)
◆ Bamburgh
◆ Holy Island


If you want to book a tour with isuk tour: go on the Facebook page, all the informations are there. 

• Go Scotland tour: It’s generally mini bus you have to book in advance on the website. There is a lot of excursions, you choose your trip and your day and they check the availability. The driver is your guide, he stops at different places to take permit you to take photos or visit and he follow his itinerary telling stories.

I travelled with this company the 30th January I paid 38 £ to go to :

◆ Loch Lomond
◆ Rannoch Moor
◆ Glencoe
◆ Fort William
◆ Ben Nevis, Great Glen
◆ Urquhart Castle & Loch Ness Cruise
◆ Inverness
◆  Pitlochry


I really loved the two trips visits and landscapes was very beautiful ! 

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Tip 5 : Glasgow nightlife

When we study in Glasgow we are automatically attracted by Glasgow’s nightlife! 

The city offers many places for nightlife such as bars or nightclubs. Each night is a new experience.

So when you are young you can enjoy it right? Of course yes, but at what price? 

When we go out in Glasgow we often take bad habits that make us go out more often, that's Glasgow night life! But going out is regularly not free! It’s true with drinks nightclub and its cloakrooms and possibly transportation; we spend money when we go out! 

How to avoid this? I have a few tricks : 

Bars: 

The drinks in the bars are generally not unaffordable but the best way to save money is to order cocktails that you will share with your  friends. Some bar offers cocktails for many and it is often more profitable than taking a single drink! It is also necessary to agree on the choice of the drink ;)

Here are some addresses:

Walkabout
Vodka Wodka
Missoula

Warning: the bars close at midnight!

(Drinking alcohol in excess is dangerous for health) 

Nightclub:

Nightclub are generally open between 10.30PM and 3.00AM, Most of them are free before 11PM

• Check out upcoming events shared on social networks for each of the parties indications appear in:

Free for students

Free for girls (sorry for men) 

Free if disguised as ".... " (it depends of the party)

It may also be proposed game to win entries, you have generally to like a Facebook statute and one of the person who liked win free entries

• Generally getting on guestlist allows you to enter free before a certain time (between 11PM and midnight) and proposes to pay less than the normal price once exceeded those hours. So remember to put you on guest list for free that gives you benefits and there is no commitment! It's very simple to do, this is usually done via the website of the nightclub, you must enter your details: first name, email address, telephone number, you'll receive an email giving you the information and offers for the selected party. You have to show the email or give your name at the entrance to the nightclub! The guestlist are often valid for you and a guest (this will be specified in the email), careful not to miss too many parties where you registered on the guest they may put your name on a blacklist.Once on guest list, the nightclub and you keep your contact information and regularly send you emaisl or sms with free entries.

• In the street many students distribute flyers. It is not pubs! These are free entry for nightclub! they are usually close to the club they work for between 10 and 12 PM then instead of avoid them, listen them they may offer a nice party or give you entrance to the party you planned to go! These are the same entries that are sometimes distributed under doors if you live in student accommodation, there is a date above and you have generally to use it the same day!

In all cases it is better to go out early to be sure to not pay!

Here are some addresses:

Bamboo : Generally free before 11h30 on the guestlist, free for student on Friday. The Bamboo send a lot of message with free entries.

Kokomo : Most of the time free for student. The kokomo send a lot of message with free entries.

Kushion : Popular on Tuesday it's free before 12PM if you are on the guestlist.

Sugar cube : Free before 11h on wednesday and the other day if you are in the guest list before 11h30.

O2 ABC : 4£ instead 7 on the website for the popular jelly baby on Thursday , free entry before 12 (or 1£ after 12PM)  for the friday night available in the shop : Vans.

Garrage : Free sunday to friday if you are in Unite studend accomodation (show your keys), and saturday before 12PM. Better to be on the guestlist for the other student.

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Tip 4 : Glasgow a city connected

Today most students if not all have a smartphone. The advantage of it is to remain "permanently connected". This is useful to check emails, chat on social networks, share instant photos and videos or perform quick searches. But for that it is necessary to have an internet connection! The majority of existing packages offers limited internet connection. It is then necessary to choose the package corresponding to the usage we make on our phone. If we are constantly connected to check the news feeds of the Facebook page or in the case of foreign students, make a translation, the limited connections quickly becomes a barrier and it is preferable to choose an unlimited connection. This generally increases the price of a few pounds.

The city of Glasgow is a connected city ! Indeed it is possible to connect to a wireless network almost anywhere! This is one of the first cities in Scotland that offers free Wi-Fi in its streets. This Wi-Fi Fee result of partnership between Glasgow City Council and BT. (If you want more information about this, consult this website: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12292 ). It is therefore possible to connected in the city downtown, train or bus stations. But the Wi-Fi is also available right inside of these transports: then we can connect when we are in public transport such as bus or train! Many restaurants, bars and shops also offer free wireless connection.

So why spend money by paying an internet package on our phone while a connection is available almost everywhere where we are?

Indeed if you already pay for an Internet subscription at home (useful for performing important research, study or be entertained) internet on the phone is it really necessary? 

Look at the economy you can do by taking package without internet with the example of the cheaper mobile company in UK :

Giffgaff

Cheaper package 5£ with 20 MB internet (low use) 

10£ with 1GB (regular use) 

18£  unlimited 

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Tip 3 : Hampden Taxis

The city of Glasgow is mostly accessible by walking, but sometimes you want to travel a little farther away and you have to choose another kind of transport. If you do not have a car four possibilities are available for you:

• Train: interesting for the long journey from one city to another
• Subway: interesting to move from the city center to the west end, but the metro is closed the night
• Buses: serve the entire city for prices generally below 2 pound, do not work all night
• Taxi: Transport available anytime, relatively High Price

The bus remains the most appropriate transport, but do you think it is the cheapest?

When you are a group of friends I recommend you to use the taxi: 3 or 4 bus tickets are as expensive as a taxi divide by the number of passengers. The advantage is that it will take you wherever you want and you don’t have to walk after.The taxi is more profitable when you are a lot of person.

Here's my tip to spend less by taxi:  The free application for smartphone,  Hampden cars


This application permit you to order a taxi with your smartphone, these taxis are cheaper than the taxi you can find in the street!

How to use it?

First you have to register and give user details: First name, Surname, Telephone number and e-mail address
Once registered you can book a taxi simply and quickly.

How to order a taxi, step by step:

1. Open the application

2. Click on “Start booking “

3. Enter the pickup address: click on “Search” and write the correct address or the name of the place you are (It could be a house, a street, a restaurant, a nightclub etc.). The application will display some suggestion select the good one.

4. Enter the drop-off address (The same as the pickup address)

5. Choose your ASAP : pickup date and time

6.Book

7. Check the status of your booking :

        - Confirmed : your booking has been made you have to wait for someone to take charge of it

        - Accepted : the taxi should be on its way, you have to wait

        - Cancelled : your booking can’t be supported, you have to try again later

During this time you will receive a message on your phone and/or an e-mail, two kinds of possibility:

        -  “The car is on its way” You booking just be accepted, you will find in the message the model and colour of the car, with the license plate.

      -    “We are sorry, we have no car available …” your booking just be cancelled you have to find another solution or wait.

8.You can track your taxi and follow his route until it arrives

9.The taxi is here, the driver just check your name , and go

Advantages:

-         The application is very easy to use.

-         The booking is made very simply and quickly.

-         Taxis arrive very quickly: if you ask them to come now they generally arrive 5 minutes after your booking.

-         It’s always the same kind of taxi, they are easy to recognize.

-         The driver know already where he has to go , no need to speak with him and explain him

-         Cheaper than ordinary taxis

Disadvantages:

-         Limited availability on Friday and Saturday night

-         Sometimes the application will not work correctly so it is impossible to use

http://hampdencars.co.uk/

Tel : 332 5050

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Tip 2 : Order online

Order online is not only a solution for the most lazy of us, it also permits to save money! Yes I guarantee you!  And yes even with the delivery charges! First it's true that it greatly facilitates life, no more need to move and carry a bag bigger than us and too much heavy! This is not the only benefit!

Do shopping online allows firstly to compare prices from one brand to another and see which brand is cheaper! On shopping websites it is generally possible to display the list of products by classifying the cheapest to the most expensive! But beware it is also important to look at the quantity to check profitability. If a product is cheaper than another, but in smaller quantities it is not always profitable!

An example? A 500g pack of pasta 50p is less profitable than 1kg pack of pasta at 90p. Be careful! 

With online shopping: impossible to miss a promotion! They are everywhere and if you miss one, a notification is sure to remind you!

The advantage you have now with ordering online is that the quantity is no longer an obstacle that prevents you from taken advantage of promotions! What you buy will be delivered directly in your kitchen, no need to carry everything, so now you can afford to buy these 6 bottles of juice you are offering of price of 4! And you would have noticed than more you buy in large quantities cheaper it is! This is ideal for products that can be stored such as drinks, pasta, rice, cans or frozen product!

Here are some websites to order online I have ever tried :

http://www.asda.com/

+  Profitable : the lowest price in relation to the quantities

-  Delivery men come to the building but not to the flat

Restricted choice

 2 hours delivery slot

http://www.tesco.com/

+  1 hours delivery slots

Tesco compare your basket with other website supermarket and if It’s cheaper there they give you the difference for your next purchase!

 -        more expensive than Asda in comparaison to the quantity

Other website :

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/

http://www.morrisons.com/

Deliveries are generally made from 8AM to 11PM and enable you to save time by addition to save you money!

The good deal !

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Tip 1 : Sharing !

Hey :)  Today I will share with you my first tip to help you to save your money! This one is not feasible only in Glasgow, it could be used everywhere !

Most of you leave in flat or in student accommodation with friends or flatmates. The solution to save money is to share everyday things with other persons!

Share your meal :

When you leave alone you don’t really want to cook  just for one person or cook in large quantity and after waste.  You generally finish eating a sandwich or using the backup solution:   pasta or tin can but this become quickly wearisome. I have the solution for you to wake up the little chef in you and make you enjoy recipes that reminds you "Mom and Dad’s meals» without spending more! To be honest you will spend even less because you will waste less and you will buy less ready meals which are expensive! The solution is to share meals with others persons like roommates, friends, etc. the ideal is that everyone brings something, e.g. an ingredient and then everybody participates to cook! And you'll be able to eat a complete meal cooked, using only one of your ingredient! In this way you will be able to avoid wastage and you will spend time with friends or even better meet new people! You will notice that it is much more pleasant to cook for many people rather than yourself.

Share washing machines with your friends when you use the laundry:

It can be difficult to share your machine with your own clothes in the situation where you don’t really know the person. But sometimes make a machine for two can reduce cost by half (plus we don't have to forget that we will use less water and electricity and it helps the environment) I take the example of the white clothes that wash separately.  Usually we have very little white clothes and we can’t mix them with other colours! Instead of running a half empty machine or heaping white clothes in a corner of your room to avoid washing, you can bring yours with those of a friend to make a machine for two. In the short term you will not gain a lot, but in the long term you'll quickly see it could be are big savings!

Share shopping :

Share shopping can also be a way of saving money :  Buying large quantities is cheaper, but when you're alone you're afraid to waste. The solution is to share with a roommate or friend who lives near you!

For example, if there's a promotion: two packages of meat purchased, the third offered. Take the three will make you save money, but the expiration date does not allow you to eat them all? If you share with a friend, the problem is solved!

The only disadvantage of this tip is to do the accounts and that it may take some time and be a little complicated, but again we observe savings in the long term!

An advice:  don’t accumulate debts, make the repayment of both quickly to avoid complexity

Share delivery :

One more thing that may be useful to share: deliveries, we usually have to pay for this. Just group your purchase with a friend and share the costs of delivery! This joins the last previous trick with shopping in group when you order online for example!

I will explain the advantage of online shopping on my next article.

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