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Living on a student budget might mean navigating tight budgets. Food is an essential spend, but the amount you spend can vary based on your planning and choices. 

Understanding your budget and planning your spend around your income can help you to ensure you can afford nutritious food throughout the academic year. Think about your income streams including student loans, help from family or part-time work, and allocate some of this to a regular food spend. Be realistic about how much this will be – budgeting under the amount you spend will quickly add up after a few shopping trips. Keep an active track of your food spend for a few weeks to understand how much you are spending and what is realistic for your situation.

Budget basics

 

  • Bring your own drinks to campus in a bottle or reusable cup.  

  • Look at sharing items (and the cost!) with housemates, such as salt, sugar, squash and spices. 

  • Meal kits and ready meals are often more expensive than buying ingredients and cooking yourself. Instead of a fajita meal kit, could you buy the wraps, spices, vegetables, and protein separately to make more batches of the meal for cheaper? 

  • Keep takeaways and meals out as an occasional treat and factor them into your budget. 

  • Plan your meals around your schedule. You may find it useful to batch cook some meals ahead of exam periods for easy access to nutritious meals or save some of your budget for takeaways or treats around this time.  

 
Shop smart

  • Create a meal plan and stick to it! 

  • Use a shopping list based on your meal plan. 

  • Try the downshifting challenge, swapping out premium brands for cheaper alternatives which can be just as tasty. 

  • Check the reduced-price section for bargains, especially items that can be frozen.  

  • Keep an eye out for discounts and promotions, checking the price per weight to work out the best value for money. 

  • Check dates on items for maximum shelf life once purchased. 

  • Compare supermarket prices and distance to your home to work out the best option for you. Don’t forget to consider local shops such as butchers and greengrocers. 

  • Supermarket loyalty cards can offer discounts on items or points which can be redeemed against future spend.  

 
 
Master your meals

  • Plan your meals to minimise food wastage and save money. 

  • Batch cook meals and keep some in the fridge or freezer. You could always bring these to campus and heat up for a delicious meal on the go. 

  • Explore budget friendly meals from websites such as

  • Consider cooking with friends or housemates to save money and socialise in a budget-friendly way. 

  • Invest in a few kitchen basics to make meal preparation easier, such as a chopping board, vegetable peeler and frying pan.  

 
Supermarkets

There are a variety of supermarkets across Nottingham, and the cost of food will vary between them. Cost is one factor in buying groceries, alongside other considerations such as quality, distance from your home and online delivery costs. Which publish monthly breakdowns of the cheapest supermarket:

 
 
Need more help? 

If you’re struggling to afford food essentials, you may be able to access support. Please find a list of resources below, these are correct as of September 2026 but are subject to change at any time.  

Projects
Name Location Opening times Project information Contact details  
FareShare

University Park, Malone Atrium, C Floor, Portland Building

Jubilee Campus, Global Exchange Lounge, Exchange Building

Sutton Bonington, The Bandstand

Fridays, 12.00-12.45pm weekly from 9th October 2026.

Thursdays, 12.00-12.45pm weekly from 8th October 2026.

 Wednesdays, 12.15-1.15pm weekly from 14th October 2026.

A weekly sustainable food pop-up. Surplus food is offered on a weekly basis, including fresh fruit and veg, cupboard staples and chilled and frozen food. Simply register fore free and pay £5 in cash or by card on the day. Come along with your own bag and choice some delicious food to make your grocery shop much more affordable. New selections each week. 

 Kate Duncan  
UoNSU Foodbank University Park

Tuesday 3-5pm and Thursday 1-3pm open to all students. 

The Food Bank is open during term time only.

UoNSU Food Bank is there to provide students with food support on a one off or occasional basis. On each visit you can pick what you want - after your first visit you will be signposted to SU Advice for help with managing your money, to ensure you’re getting the support you need. The food bank can be found in the Student Union (C Floor, Portland Building). You are also able to volunteer at the Food Bank. Volunteering will cover collecting donations, date checking, stock take and most importantly, supporting students! Volunteer hours can contribute towards your Nottingham Advantage Award and earn you 10% off at Mooch. To keep up to date and find out more about volunteering, vist the Students' Union webpage:

 Students' Union        
ResX Support ResX supported accommodation at University Park, Jubilee and Sutton Bonnington Please contact ResX for details, exclusively for students living in ResX supported accommodation. 

The Residential Experience Team provides advice and practical support for students living in ResX supported accommodation who are facing financial challenges. We can signpost to cost-effective services across the University and city, provide basic living supplies for students in need, and host a range of free food and social events for residents. Take a look at the Residential Experience webpage for more information.

 Residential Experience Team    
The Cupboard QMC Medical School Monday-Friday 8am-5pm for Health Sciences students. The Cupboard’ is located on B Floor in the Medical School next to the School of Health Sciences Welcome Desk. Inside The Cupboard are basic supplies of food, toiletries, and essentials. These are free to take for any student who finds themselves in immediate or unexpected hardship, to tide them over while they seek further advice or support. There is no need to ask or sign anything to use The Cupboard – if you need it in an emergency, take it, with no questions asked. Health Sciences welcome desk
  
Community Pantry The Barn, Sutton Bonnington Campus Open 24/7, all year around to Sutton Bonnington based Biosciences and Vet students.  The Sutton Bonington Community Pantry is here for students facing food insecurity, offering a safe space to grab essentials and recipe inspiration. Think of us as your secret weapon against a rumbling stomach. We're stocked with pantry staples – canned goods, pasta, cereal, the whole crew – to help you whip up delicious meals that won't drain your wallet. But wait, there’s more! Every visit comes with recipe cards featuring creative and budget-friendly dishes you can make with your new ingredients. Think one-pot wonders, student-approved meals, and healthy hacks to keep you fuelled for those all-nighters. Where: The Nest, Kitchen. Hours: Any time, any day (when the Nest is open) Who: Students facing food insecurity. This is a confidential resource, so come grab what you need, no questions asked. We understand that sometimes things get tight, and you shouldn't have to worry about where your next meal comes from. The SB Community Pantry is here to support you. Swing by, stock up, and unleash your inner chef!  Sutton Bonnington hub    
Faculty of Arts Faculty of Arts, University Park Events at different times over the year. The Faculty of Arts Education and Student Experience (ESE) team offer food and refreshments at many of our events, and we always aim to be inclusive. Find out what’s happening in your weekly bulletin.  Faculty of Arts Eduction and Student Experience team   
Too Good To Go Online Online, available to collect at various times Save good food from going to waste. The Too Good To Go app allows cafes, restaurants and supermarkets to put together mystery bags of food which they are unable to sell for you to collect at the end of the day. Prices are typically between £3-£5 for a bag of food with an RRP of £12-£15. Download the app to discover food outlets taking part across Nottingham and beyond.  
 
Student funding
Manage your money
Student services