1. Flash your student ID
Your student card is more than just campus identification. It can also help you save.
Many businesses offer student discounts, so before paying full price, get into the habit of asking if there’s a student rate. Near the campus, students can currently get 10% off at Metro on Rideau Street and 10% back in PC Optimum points at Loblaws on Rideau with a valid student ID and PC Optimum account. Bulk Barn also offers students 15% off on Wednesdays at participating locations.
And don’t stop at groceries. Museums, entertainment venues, retailers and other businesses often have student or youth rates.
Check Reddit threads to find the latest intel on grocery store discounts for students. You may need to travel further to get the best deals.
Pro tip: Always keep your student card with you. Asking “Do you have a student discount?” takes two seconds and could save you a few dollars.
Pro tip #2: The National Arts Centre has $15 Under30 tickets.
Pro tip #3: Admission to the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
2. Budget, budget, budget!
Budgeting may not be the most exciting part of student life, but knowing where your money’s going makes it much easier.
Make a monthly budget of what you need for your essentials, including rent, groceries, transportation, phone and school expenses. Then, decide how much you can realistically spend on everything else.
You don’t need anything complicated. A spreadsheet, budgeting app or even your banking app can help you keep track.
“Having a spreadsheet for every month of the year and categorizing my purchases helps me visualize my expenses and see where most of my money is going.”
Marcela González
— Fourth-year communication student
3. Get a part-time job on campus
There are lots of part-time jobs for students at the University of Ottawa. The work-study program will start hiring for the Winter term December 1.
4. Stretch without stretching your budget
Before paying for another gym membership, check what’s already included in your student fees.
Students have access to uOttawa fitness facilities, including the Montpetit Fitness Centre and the Health and Lifestyle Centre at Minto. Drop-in fitness classes, sports and swimming are also available through student recreation.
You can also check your student club list to find sports and fitness clubs that match your interests. It’s another great way to stay active, try something new and meet other students without paying for activities elsewhere.
So before spending money on an outside gym or fitness activity, see what’s already available on campus.
5. Clear your closet, fill your wallet
Before getting rid of clothes, textbooks, decorations or other items you no longer need, see if you can make some money from them. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Depop, consignment stores such as Plato’s Closet or even a good old-fashioned garage sale can help you clear out your space while putting a little money back in your pocket.
“Before buying something new, I always try to work with what I already have. Swapping clothes or supplies with friends, buying second hand and reselling things I don’t use anymore has saved me more than I expected. I think twice before spending.”
Iman Olivia Louré
— Fourth-year student in political science with a minor in law
6. Get free stuff
Whenever you need something, your first stop should be the University of Ottawa’s Free Store. Who can say no to free stuff? This is your go-to place for free clothes, office supplies, kitchenware and many other items. Just be sure to take your uOttawa student card with you. Follow @uofreegratuit for updates.
Pro tip: Pick up a quirky birthday gift for a loved one. It’s the thought that counts, right?
7. Think about thrifting
Thrifting is a lifestyle for anti-fast-fashionistas. But who doesn’t love a bargain? Some clothing thrift shops have discounted food, cleaning products and other items. Try the Shop Smart Thrift Store on Dalhousie or the Community Thrift Shop on Elgin. If vintage is your thing, Ottawa has loads of great places: Bee You Creative Styles, Darling Vintage and Lainey’s Luck, to name just a few. It costs nothing to browse! You may even spot a rare find you can re-sell for a higher price!
8. Shop smart
Time to lose that old cliché of surviving on instant Ramen noodles. Here are a few resources:
- Price matching: Use the Flipp app to compare prices and find the best deals at Superstore, No Frills, Giant Tiger and Freshco. A little research can save you a big chunk on your weekly grocery haul.
- PC Optimum: Accumulate PC Optimum points on your purchases, which can be redeemed for free products. It’s like getting paid to go grocery shopping.
- Scene+ points: Love movies? Accumulate Scene+ points on purchases for free movie tickets.
- FlashFood app: Snag products nearing their expiry date at a discount of 50% to 75%. A real boon for savvy students.
- Too Good To Go: Join the anti-waste movement with the Too Good To Go app, offering surprise baskets from retailers at small prices.
- Circulaires.com and RedFlagDeals: Don’t underestimate the power of flyers. They’re available online and can help you plan your shopping around promotions.
Pro tip: Never shop when you’re hungry!
Pro tip #2: Use a small cart or basket as large carts encourage you to add more when grocery shopping!
Pro tip #3: Even if it is only once a month, find that friend who has access to a car and go together to bulk buy at cheaper stores like Walmart or Costco.
9. Meal prep like a pro
Cooking at home is usually cheaper than relying on takeout, but saving money in the kitchen is also about making the most of what you already have.
Check out Fuel Finder’s cost saving recipes (slides 12–16) for affordable meal ideas with a student budget in mind. You can also plan a few meals that use similar ingredients, cook larger portions for leftovers and freeze what you won’t eat right away.
Before grocery shopping, take a quick look through your fridge and pantry. Building your meals around ingredients you already have can help you buy only what you need and reduce food waste at the same time.
Pro tip: Affordable staples such as rice, pasta, lentils, beans and frozen vegetables can work for several meals, so a small grocery haul can go further than you think.
10. Think before you tap
Impulse purchases can quickly throw you off your budget.
When you’re tempted by something you don’t actually need, wait 24 hours before buying it. Leave it in your online cart or walk away from the store, and see whether you still want it the next day.
You can also make spending less tempting by unsubscribing from promotional emails and turning off shopping app notifications.
That “LAST CHANCE!” sale probably won’t be your last chance.
11. Get creative on dates
Instead of shelling out for a movie or a dinner, get creative by taking your special someone to a free event in between classes.
For example, check out an amazing visual arts 2026 student showcase in Simard Hall, attend a lecture or go to events and activities on campus.
Here are just a few examples of shows featuring performances by students and professors (some are free and some are a bargain!) and interesting lectures:
- November 8 – Music at Tabaret: Violin Masterpieces, The Golden Age of Violins. Join internationally acclaimed violinist and University of Ottawa Professor Timothy Chooi for an extraordinary afternoon exploring the expressive possibilities of the violin through masterpieces by Bach, Mozart, Bartók, and Shostakovich.
- November 11 – Breaking Barriers: Stories of Canadian Women in Military Service During the First World War. As part of its annual Remembrance Day event, the Department of History welcomes alumna Dr. Mélanie Morin-Pelletier, historian at the Canadian War Museum. Drawing on her research, Dr. Morin-Pelletier uncovers little-known stories of Canadian women during the First World War and explores how their experiences challenged traditional gender roles.
- November 14 – Per Umbram ad Lucem – uOttawa Voice Section. Per Umbram ad Lucem is a staged production featuring seven scenes from opera and musical theatre. Singers from the School of Music Voice Sector explore the paths that lead from doubt to revelation and from darkness to light.
- November 19 – Scenes of Winter’s Eve. As the days grow shorter and winter prepares to settle in, Scenes of Winter’s Eve explores music that brings warmth and light to the season with lively dances and rich orchestral melodies. Featuring music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rebikov, Bizet, Peter Martin, Howard Shore, Ed Huckeby, and Josef Strauss.
- November 19 – uoDance competition. Support student dance teams as they take the stage. Enjoy free popcorn while watching their performances. There’s no cost to attend.
- November 22 – Music at Tabaret: Brass Extravaganza. Join acclaimed trumpeter and University of Ottawa alum Michael Fedyshyn for an extraordinary afternoon. Michael Fedyshyn holds the position of Principal Trumpet of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. He can also be heard regularly in concerts with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Or, go for a walk in one of Ottawa’s great parks or along the canal (or skate in the winter). You won’t look like a cheapskate — you’ll spark a great conversation. The best things in life are free!
12. Use the library
Instead of buying books or paying for entertainment, you can borrow books, films and magazines for free from the University of Ottawa Library, or your local municipal library.
Looking for a place to relax, study, or have fun? Library Lounge Nights have something for everyone!
13. Scrutinize your monthly subscriptions
Cancel or reduce apps and streaming platforms for things you’re no longer using regularly. It’s surprising how some things seemed like a good idea at the time but then month after month goes by…Stick to one TV streaming platform at a time, binge it all, then cancel and move on to the next one.
14. Ride a bicycle, walk or use public transit
Resist the temptation to call that Uber or borrow the car, and save money on gas and parking. Use the U-Pass on your student card to get around via public transit in Ottawa and Gatineau. After all, you’ve paid for it via your student fees! Make the most of it!
Cycling is one of the best ways to commute to and from the University of Ottawa, and with nifty bike parking spots sprinkled all around, you can be sure you’ll never miss that sunrise lecture. For your convenience, here’s a handy map of where you can lock up your bike to help you plan your journey (even if it is next spring).
Walking is also great exercise. With the right playlist, 45 minutes will fly right by.
15. Try carpool apps or cheap bus deals
Heading home for the weekend or planning a trip to another city? Transportation can get expensive quickly, especially when you book at the last minute.
Compare bus fares, look into carpooling through services like Poparide and check whether friends or classmates are travelling in the same direction. Planning your trip early can also give you more options before the cheapest seats disappear.
It’s worth planning ahead and looking for the best deals on BusBud, Flixbus or CheckMyBus.
“Planning ahead is one of the easiest ways to avoid overspending. I compare my options before paying for transportation and co-ordinate with friends when we’re going in the same direction. Even saving a little on each trip adds up.”
Kadra Ali Aden
— Third year business administration and management student
Bonus: Don’t pay for something available for free on campus
Before reaching for your wallet, check whether there’s a free campus alternative.
For example, the Period Project provides free menstrual products at locations across campus. You can also find free workshops, activities and other resources throughout the year.
And don’t forget Free Food Alert. By signing up, you can receive notifications when leftover food from participating campus events is available for pickup.
The individual savings might seem small, but over an entire term, free really does add up.
When saving isn’t enough
Money saving hacks can help you stretch your budget, but sometimes cutting expenses just isn’t enough.
If you’re struggling to afford groceries, start with the uOttawa Food Support Hub. It brings together food resources available to students on and off campus, including grocery discounts, free food opportunities, food banks and other supports.
The UOSU Food Bank provides emergency food support for undergraduate students experiencing food insecurity. You can visit during opening hours with your student card and reusable bags or boxes. A visit provides approximately one week’s worth of food.
You should also look out for Fed Up free food events and sign up for Free Food Alert to find out when surplus food from participating campus events is available.
Lastly, if you’re facing an unexpected financial emergency, you can apply for timely and confidential support from the uOttawa Students’ Union Emergency Hardship Fund.
Saving money is about more than finding the best deal. It’s also about knowing what resources are available and using them when you need them.
There you have it! With these tricks up your sleeve, you’re ready to face the adulting world with a well-managed wallet. After all, every penny saved is a step closer to that coveted financial freedom. And remember, the key is to be ingenious and stay on the lookout for good deals!