Students in Melbourne:How to save?

This is a long ''overdue'' posting, I apologise for my erratic, irregular blogging timing. As promised in my previous blogpost, I am going to share my ''love'' and ''craving'' for cards is not without a reason.Why on earth would I fatten my wallet and almost break it for no apparent reason? Read on to find out more.

As students, we have ''limited allowance'' (thank god I have side incomes, otherwise how on earth would I finance my impulse shopping as well as ''donating'' to Crown once in a blue moon!). Some people are so lucky that with their ''limited allowance'', they manage to eat out almost everyday, go clubbing every week, and enjoy Melbourne's breakie cafe culture again almost every week. On the other hand, some people are barely scraping through, surviving on Macca's loose change, cheap eat at you can chinese buffet, instant noodles like Indomie or Korean brand instant noodles (note:Maggie is not so popular in Aussie)

Living in Australia is indeed not cheap,nor its crazily expensive supposingly you know how, or in Australian terms learn how to Ozbargained! Today I am going to share with you a few tips/cards that would be helpful to help you save/some of it you might not know about it! Even though, there is a Study in Australia thread in lowyat forum, there is no mention about such discount cards. Oh BTW, my friend gave me an ''additional degree'', ''Bachelor of Discounts'', LOL!

1. Student Edge card go check their official website at Student Edge
You can get discount/freebies at many places including Dell,Macca,Hoyts.
I often flashed my card at Macca's when I purchase a minimum of $3 to get a free drink. Take note though,sometimes it might not work with Loose Change menu

2. Your Student ID
your student ID can be very useful,in some places they dont publicly advertise they have student discounts. Sometime it pays to ask if they do student discounts! For example, in Macca's Clayton, if you flash your Monash ID you get 10% off.20% if you are a MSA Card member but that card costs $20/yr,so you decide whether the benefits outweights the cost!

3. Unidays
Go google em out and get registered. You would get 10% off Asos, and many other brands.Sometimes there is a student promo for 20% off Asos.Its FREE to register

4.Loyalty cards/Membership cards/Clubs
Grocery: Coles is Flybuys, which you can earn points at lots of other places like kmart,target,
not much of discounts but with 2000 points, you can redeem $10 Flybuys $ which you can use to offset your spending at Coles,etc (easily achievable if you also do the monthly Coles survey at tellcoles.com.au, make sure keep at least 1 of your Coles receipt every month to do this)

Woolies is Everyday Rewards. The points system is bad,you can only earn points when you spend min $30. However, look out for the orange tags in Woolies, as those as EDR Special discounts for members. Personally, sometimes I go ''mad'' when I saw those orange tags and bought more than I can stomach! However, sometimes even with these EDR specials/weekly specials, pricing in Woolies for some items seems to be higher than Coles!

Love IKEA meatballs? then you must have the IKEA Family card, which the most important benefit is free hot drink (think its maximum of 2 per card) Monday to Friday.In addition,sometimes there are member special for the restaurant section $4.99 instead of $7.99 for a main course. And of course IKE Family prices on selected items in IKEA store. Your birthday? IKEA gives you a free slice of cake!

Its your birthday? Happy birthday,here is a free this and that for you,assuming you take the time to register for this and that,LOL! Register for Subway Eat Fresh Club, and get a free Sub+ coke on your birthday. Not enough? As a member of Crown Signature Club, get 500 points/$5 + if you celebrate your birthday at Crown, you would get a free cake. Need a bubble tea? With Chatime card, you get a free bubble tea on your birthday! Love Esprit? As your birthday gift, they would give you an extra 100 e-points with any purchase within 4 weeks of your birthday! Would not be complete without a dessert, so register for Club31 Baskin Robbins and get a free ice-cream! Birthday is more rewarding nowadays

I know there is too many cafes around in Melbourne, with most of them having excellente coffee. However, if you need a chain store coffee, join VIP club card of Coffee club and get b1f1 deal on your drinks!

Last but not least, Melbourne is a fashion mecca so if Myer is your store?join the MYERone and shop,collect points and redeem. Err,Myer too expensive? Prefer to buy online from Asos,The Iconic or Macy's? Well introducing cashback websites cashrewards.com.au, starthere.com.au and also ebates.com
Just need to make an additional click, to get the cashback! Isnt it fun someone paying you to shop!

For more updated discounts/offers,refer to Ozbargain website

On that note, hope that bit of tips can help you to enjoy your undergraduate life in Melbourne to the fullest, and be a ''smart shopper/consumer''. Those little bits of hardwork could save you lots in the future,you never know! See you later (as aussie's like to say), any questions about these tips you can buzz me on my twitter @mingteo91!