Get free or reduced price groceries on campus

One of your regular expenses at university will be buying food and personal items. Whether you’re buying snacks, ready meals, or raw ingredients, or sticking to the lower-priced ranges, the costs can soon add up. Here are some ways to make buying food and personal items more affordable, and how to access for free on our campus.

Affordable food shopping

• Consider buying food in bulk where you can – a larger bag of rice or pasta often works out cheaper than a smaller bag when you consider price per weight. These staples will last a long time, or can be easily split with others to help bring the cost down.
• Plan your meals – this could include things like making enough dinner to do a couple of meals, or being able to have leftovers for lunch. This might help you avoid eating on the go, which can be costly.
• Go food shopping with a list and budget in mind – overbuying or adding impulse buys to your basket can increase your costs rapidly.

Taking advantage of offers

• Most supermarkets offer points and rewards if you use an app or loyalty card when you shop. Some may give you an immediate discount, while others offer benefits over time as you collect points. Look out for the Tesco Clubcard, Sainsbury’s Nectar scheme, and the Lidl app which you can use at supermarkets close to the University’s City campus.
• Multibuys – like buy one, get one free – could help bring your costs down, but consider if you will use these before their expiry date. These can be helpful for making non-perishable items, such as cleaning supplies more affordable. For food, you might consider splitting a multibuy with friends to avoid wasting the products.

Accessing free items on campus

• Free Tea & Coffee: Available at the Global Room during service hours and the Enquiry Centre (Monday to Friday, 11:00 – 16:00). The Global Room also has a small kitchen area for heating food, while the Library provides hot water taps and microwaves for students to warm their meals.
• Hygiene & Period Products: Available in almost all bathrooms on campus and from the Student Funding Office (Level 2, Support Hub, Old Technical Institute, City Campus) Monday to Friday, 10:00 – 13:00 & 14:00 – 16:00.
• Free Campus Pantry: Open twice a week from 16:30 – 18:30. Students can access the pantry once per month by booking a slot via the registration link, which is emailed every 4th Thursday at 7.30, Social media from 7.30, and it is on the DUSA website from the day before registration opens. If you missed out and need support, please submit a Referral Request form to speak with Advice & Support.