The Student Freebie Guide: Without Being Scammed

 

 

Hey guys!

 

 

Today I am going to share some ways of getting freebies as a student. I'm sure many of you would like to find out more about freebie apps and websites that are genuine and won't scam or rip you off. Below is some tips about finding freebies in the UK, and a list of places to get them from.

 

 

Read the Small Print

Some freebies come with a catch. For some offers, you may need to buy something, which means it’s not free at all. Make sure you read the small print to see the terms and conditions to see what you’re getting.

Look for Reviews

Before you sign up, do research into the company or website. Check online comments and reviews. Don’t get hung up on one or two bad reports, however, if people don’t have anything good to say, there may be a good reason for it.

Don’t Give Payment Information

Be careful when giving out your credit card details to websites and apps. Make sure to check reviews first before signing up to any freebie websites and apps, and don't hand any money over. Genuine freebie sites will not charge you. The thing to remember is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It is possible to get some freebies, but receiving hundreds of pounds with minimum effort is very unlikely.

 

The Top Places For Free Stuff

Freebie Websites

Ilovefreegle.org and Freecycle.org – These sites allow people to offer free stuff they no longer want to people in their local area. This is great for larger items like furniture.

BzzAgent – This site offers free products in return for a mention on Twitter, Facebook, and other social network pages.

GumTree (Freebies section) – You can get anything you want on Gumtree which includes free stuff, from fire extinguishers, sofas, and TVs to concrete, soil, and scrap wood.

WOWFreeStuff – This site offers a mix of free samples, printable vouchers, and freebies, that are used in stores across the country. Currently, they offer free stuff from coffee to student freebies and free stuff.

Freebie Apps

O2 Priority – This app is available on the Android and iOS app store. It offers awesome offers and deals. These include random freebies, like chocolate bars and cinema tickets. You can also get O2 Priority on other networks, so you can enjoy their freebies.

WeQ4U – This freebie app is a bit specific. You can skip phone queues and reach companies using their direct number, instead of the standard 0800 number. This will let you make a somewhat expensive call for free through your mobile device.

AppGratis – This app offers you all types of new paid/premium apps for the Android and iPhone. And you can get these apps free every day using this app.

Do you have any good freebie apps and websites that you use to get free offers, samples and deals? If so, let me know in the comments!

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena

 

 

Dislaimer: This post was contributed by Sami at Wow Free Stuff.

10 Ways to Make Money As a Student

 
Hey guys!

  

Being short on change is unavoidable as a student. Government loans barely cover accommodation, let alone food and going out, and most parents don't have enough money to spend on their children's education. Fortunately, the Internet has made it easier to make money in your spare time, without having to go through the lengthy process of finding a job. These range from selling old things to appearing on TV.

 

 

1. Surveys

 

Filling out online surveys may be tedious, but it can often be rewarding. Surveys are a great way of earning a few pounds whenever you have a spare moment. There are plenty of website that give you points for completing surveys, and you can exchange these for vouchers or cash. I personally like Inbox Pounds and Swagbucks. Doing lots of surveys is time-consuming and repetitive, so both websites offer other ways of earning money, including playing games, searching the web, and watching videos.

 

 

2. Trading

 

Trading requires a lot of patience and determination, but you can earn hundreds if you keep at it - just like my friend. It's also much quicker than things like doing surveys and writing articles. However, trading can be risky, so don't invest any money into it that you can't afford to lose. Check out Plus500 or eToro.

 

 

3. Blogging

 

Fancy being the next Victoria Magrath or Anna Gardner? Why not set up your own blog? (I'm sure that if you're reading my post, you probably have a blog already!) You can write about pretty much anything, not just fashion and make-up, and make a bit of cash too. If you have a reasonable number of readers, you can sign up to Google AdSense, which pays you when people click on the ads on your blog. Occasionally, you might be offered a sponsored post, but these are rare and sometimes only available to the owners of self-hosted blogs. Hannah Gale and Amy have written handy guides on how to make money as a blogger.

 

 

4. Freelancing

 

Assuming you're already a blogger, you must have some writing skills. So why not put these skills into use and write articles for clients on websites such as Freelancer and Upwork? It's great practice for anyone wanting to go into journalism or full-time blogging. As a freelancer, you pretty much have the freedom to change whatever you want - within reason, of course! When you've got enough articles under your belt, you can pitch ideas to magazines and newspapers (I'm not quite at that stage yet, although I do have a few ideas).

 

 

5. Be an extra

 

If you appear in the background of a TV show or film, you can earn around £80-100, which is roughly the same as what you would get if you did a day's work in a shop or restaurant. While there is a lot of waiting around involved in being an extra, you don't need any acting experience. Try casting agencies such as Be On Screen and Universal Extras, which has been set up specifically for students.

 

 

6. Sell things online

 

Got a load of clothes, books and DVDs you no longer want? It's worth selling them on eBay or Amazon. An alternative is Depop, which is a useful app for selling old clothes, and it doesn't take long to sign up to.

 

 

7. Become a tutor

 

By the time you reach university level you must be knowledgeable in at least a few subjects, so it might be a good idea to teach one - or two - to younger students. Some tutors are paid around £10 an hour, although this varies depending on experience. Sign up to Keystone Tutors or Bright Young Things to get started.

 

 

8. Take part in psychology experiments

 

This may seem scary at first, but it's actually quite enjoyable. Many university psychology departments need students to take part in experiments. These typically involve completing surveys and doing other tasks, and they last from 15 minutes to 2 hours. At my university, you get paid £6 per hour to do experiments, and you can do a few each week.

 

 

9. Become a brand ambassador

 

Companies such as Innocent Smoothies, Spotify and Smirnoff give students the opportunity to enhance their CV and earn an extra income by promoting their products. It's the perfect job for anyone who is really sociable and good at networking. You also need to be passionate about the brand you are working for Brand ambassadors tend to go on to work in PR, events or marketing.

 

 

10. Listening to music

 

Believe it or not, you can actually earn money by listening to music! I recently signed up to SlicethePie, which is a brilliant website for discovering new songs. SlicethePie has also recently introduced a fashion section. You get paid to review these songs and items of clothing, although it is only a few pennies per review, so don't expect to get rich quickly. You are able to receive a payment once you reach £10.

My referral code is U1B454E1.

 

 

Some other ways of making money as a student include setting up an Etsy store, cashback, helping people with chores and taking dogs for walks.

 

 

Do you make money in your spare time? Do you use any of the methods I have mentioned?

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena  

 

 

A Busy Student's Guide to the Best Microwave Meals

Hey guys!

 

Uni has been really busy recently, but I've finally finished my dissertation and can start blogging regularly again! Yay! Today's post is about the wonders of microwaves!

 

With a hectic schedule, it is often difficult to find the time to prepare meals from scratch. However, having a microwave can come in handy as you will be able to whizz up a meal in just a few minutes. Another great thing about microwaves is that you won't need to do much washing up afterwards. Here are some of the things you can make in a microwave:

 

1. Chips
 

Wikimedia Commons

Believe it or not, chips can be made in a microwave. It saves a lot of time, and it's fairly simple too. All you need to do is chop up a couple of large raw potatoes into thin strips, place on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave for a couple of minutes on each side. Make sure that the microwave is on a high setting. You will then need to cook the chips for a further 15-20 minutes in an oven.

2. Mac & cheese

Wikimedia Commons

Mac & cheese is the perfect comfort food - ideal for when it's cold outside or you've had a rough week. To make mac & cheese in a microwave, you will need to combine macaroni pasta and water in a bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes, then stir. Repeat this step until the pasta is completely soft. Stir in a little milk and grated cheese. Cook until the cheese is melted and serve immediately.

3. Omelette

Pixabay

Omelettes are a delicious staple that you can eat at any time of the day. You'll need 2 eggs, 1 tbs milk, a pinch of salt, and a range of toppings - I personally like to add grated cheese and ham. First, crack the eggs into a mug. Add the salt, then beat with a fork. Microwave for a minute. Add your chosen toppings and cook for about 45 seconds. Enjoy!

4. Chocolate Mug Cake

Pixabay

Mug cakes make an easy and delicious alternative to traditional cakes. This chocolate mug cake is great for when you're craving cake but don't want to go through all the hassle of preparing a proper cake. Simple crack an egg in a mug and add 3 tbs milk, 4  tsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 2 tbs cocoa powder. Stir in a handful of chocolate chips. Microwave for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the cake with icing sugar or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Panasonic microwave oven. All opinions are my own.

 

Hopefully this post has given you some ideas of what you can make in a microwave! What do you usually use a microwave for? Do you have a favourite mug cake? Let me know in the comments!

 

Hasta luego!

Serena