Tips for cutting down travel costs
Studying at St. Andrews means you may find yourself regularly travelling around town or to or from places like Leuchars and Dundee. This doesn’t have to be expensive! Here are some ideas to help you save money when travelling.
Travelling by bus:
As a student you can get 75% off stagecoach bus travel across St. Andrews, Northeast Fife and East Scotland. This is currently in the middle of a 6-month trial period which started at the beginning of November 2022, so make sure to use it while you can, before the 21st of May, to make the most of the scheme!
If you are under 22, you are also entitled to a Young Scot card, which gives you free bus travel.
Cycling:
Cycling is such a great way to save money but also to have a better impact on the environment. Even the amount of money you might spend on repairs and upkeep comes to nowhere near the amount spent on servicing your car or getting a taxi. If you don’t want to invest in a bike straight away, or you want to try this out as an option for yourself, you could try renting a bike through Bike Pool. They run some great sessions to help you learn how to repair your bike and keep it in a safe condition.
If you are thinking about cycling, make sure to have a white light on the front, and a red light on the back of your bike, because a fine for not having these will be considerably more than the price of replacing your lights.
Car:
If you do still want to travel by car, try and lift share where possible. Consider journeys or days where you might use your free bus pass instead, to save money on petrol.
Train:
If you enjoy travelling elsewhere in the U.K., or perhaps visiting family often, then a railcard can save lots. If you are eligible for the 16-25, the 26-30 or the senior railcard, you can save 1/3 on ticket prices.
Although not always feasible for all of your journeys, don’t underestimate the benefit that walking can have on your mental health as well as your bank account!