How Save the Student can boost your finances on the road and beyond

With the cost of living crisis squeezing us all, everyone’s on the lookout for ways to make their money go further.

Renting out your vehicle on hiyacar is a great place to start, but what else can you do to make a bit of cash on the side? And how can you cut costs? Fortunately, Save the Student is here to help.

Who are Save the Student?

Founded in a Uni bedroom all the way back in 2007, Save the Student was born out of a need for financial content that speaks to young people on their level – particularly as the cost of attending university was spiraling upwards.

Fast forward 16 years and it’s now the UK’s #1 student money website, featuring hundreds of student discounts and deals, as well as countless guides on how to save and make money, student finance explainers, tips on personal finance and advice on coping with student life.

But student bank account and student finance guidance aside, the vast majority of advice they offer is useful to everyone, whether you’re 18 or 80. And yes, they even have some tips for making and saving money as a driver.

How to make and save money as a driver

Rent out your car for money

Chances are you’re already doing this – or, at the very least, you’re aware of it. But if not, or you just need a little nudge, renting out your car can be a great way to make money while you’re not using it.

You can earn £100s every month and, assuming your vehicle meets the eligibility criteria, it could be done entirely remotely without you even having to be around to hand over the keys.

Rent out your parking space

Whether someone’s renting your car, you don’t need your parking space in the day or simply have room for another car on your drive, renting out your parking space is a really low-effort way to make some extra cash.

This is especially lucrative if you live near a major transport hub or tourist attraction. While there are apps for listing and renting your space, you may find that local Facebook groups work too.

Fill up at the cheapest petrol stations

The most convenient place to refuel is rarely the cheapest. Although you might have to drive an extra couple of minutes to find a cheaper petrol station, you could save £100s every year by searching for the lowest price.

Apps like Petrol Prices list the cost of fuel at all the stations near you, making it easier than ever to cut the cost of refilling your car.

Challenge unfair parking tickets

Got a parking fine that you think you didn’t deserve? If it was legitimately unfair, you may be able to successfully appeal your parking ticket.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can just park anywhere and expect to get away with it. We’re talking specifically about instances where perhaps the parking signs were wrong or unclear, if you were still in the 10-minute grace period after your ticket expired, or if you had mitigating circumstances (like a medical emergency).

Make simple changes to your driving style

Tweaking a few unhealthy driving habits could save you some serious cash in the long haul. For example, accelerating gently and not over-revving will use less fuel, as will driving in the correct gear (usually the highest one without making the engine work too hard).

Making sure your tyres are at the correct pressure is an underrated tip, too. If you’ve ever tried to ride a bike with flat tyres, you’ll know just how much extra effort it takes – and the same applies to your car! So, make sure your tyres are at the correct pressure and ease the load on your engine.

Other great tips from Save the Student

But Save the Student’s advice doesn’t just extend to making and saving money as a motorist. Their website contains all kinds of information, including:

Career advice – Whether you’re looking for a part-time job, want to work abroad or even become self-employed, their website has guidance on all of this and more.
How to start your own business – As a startup itself, Save the Student’s website is full of great insight on how to launch a business of your own, including ideas on what to focus your new venture on.
Housing tips – With guidance on the best Lifetime ISAs and how to save for a home of your own, plus extensive information on your rights as a tenant, they’ve got you covered no matter where you are on the housing ladder (if at all!).
Bills comparisons – At a time when household bills are going through the roof, the guides to gas, energy and student broadband deals have never been more useful.
Personal finance explainers – Perhaps unsurprising for a money-saving website, Save the Student has everything you need to get to grips with tax, pensions, Universal Credit and more.
Shopping hacks – Save the Student details the very best freebies, the top loyalty cards, how to get cashback on your online and supermarket shopping, plus much, much more.