Let’s face it, as a student we might not be swimming in money and sometimes we might have to pinch a few pennies here and there. But sometimes we do want to buy nice things or eat nice food. Well, saving money while shopping might not be so difficult if you know these tips and tricks that I have gathered in my 4 years living in Finland.
UFF Tasarahapäivät
Want to dress fashionable but you’re on a budget? Don’t worry UFF’s Tasarahapäivät got you covered. For about two weeks, UFF, which is a vintage and second-hand store, will have a sale where their entire store is discounted to a flat price. The price starts at 8€ and day by day it will decrease until the price of every item in the store is 1€.
I have filled half of my wardrobe with items from this sale. My best find being a perfect condition cashmere wool coat for only 8€ and wool dress pants for 1€. A tip from me would be to go during the days where the price is 3 or 4 euros since they will still have a decent selection of quality clothes but for a bargain price. So keep a lookout for those yellow signs in front of their stores and score yourself some great finds!
ResQ
When you’re too lazy to cook but too broke to eat out, ResQ might just come to the rescue. ResQ is an app that lets you find and buy leftover food from restaurants and cafes. And don’t let the word ‘leftover’ turn you off, these are food (or baked goods) are still good and perfectly healthy to eat. They are most likely made in the morning or the night before, and are sold at a discounted price as they are not ‘fresh’ anymore. Through ResQ, I have gotten a bag of bread rolls for 3€ and a selection of sushi for only 4€, which are very good bargains.
Prisma and Smarket Discounts
After a certain hour, several goods in Prisma and Smarket will be severely discounted (after 20:00 in Smarket and 21:00 in Prisma). Goods with a red 30% sticker will turn to 60% after these specific hours. Pastries and bread in Smarket will also be half off after 20:00. Be sure to be there 30 minutes before the time if you really want to hunt for these discounted goods because they will sell out quick!
Tori
When it comes to cheap (or even free) things, Tori is the site to look. Although Tori is mainly known for its cheap second-hand furniture, you can find almost everything in Tori. From clothing, appliances, furniture, to even pets, the possibilities are endless.
You can also filter the search to Annetaan (which roughly translates to Let’s give) to find things people are giving away for free. And if you are looking to sell some unused trinkets lying around, you can also sell them on Tori.
Student discounts
Take full advantage of your status as a student and get some discounts! You can find places and establishments that offer student discounts in the Opiskelijan Tampere website. Some handy places that offer discounts are VR, Omni Bus, Cutters, etc. Also don’t be shy to ask establishments if they offer student discounts, as some places are not listed in the Opiskelijan Tampere website.
About the Author:
Hi! I’m Karen and I’m currently studying Textile and Material Engineering in TAMK. I’m originally from Indonesia but I have been living in Finland for over 4 years now. I love to cook, knit, and thrift. I’m also currently a chairperson of the student organization GLOBE.
