• Don't forget to use your Student Card for discounts in shops, cinemas, restaurants, pubs, music stores, hairdressers and clubs.
• Get your Student Travel Card so that you can avail of discounted travel in Dublin and all over Ireland (available from your local SU office).
• Cut costs on your shopping bill by finding the best deals at www.shoppingbill.com
• Check out www.dublinwaste.ie/free_trade.php for a range of items offered and wanted that you can trade.
• Make sure you're getting the best deal on your mobile phone - check out www.callcosts.ie to compare the cost of different service providers.
• If you have broadband, then Skype is a great way to keep in touch with people for free. Download it at www.skype.ie
• DITSU tries to find as many freebies and cheapies for you as we can, so keep an eye on www.ditsu.ie for our latest giveaways. Our events department organise some great nights out during the year that are a fraction of the cost of your usual music or comedy gigs. We also advertise free or discounted services on the noticeboards in the SU common rooms, so keep your eyes peeled. You'll often get a free haircut from a local trainee hairdresser (don't worry – they're always supervised!).

You might think you're only the poor student, but banks really are competing for your business, as they know that college students turn into graduates, who turn into high-fliers! So make sure you're getting a good deal before you sign up with any of them. Which bank charges the fewest fees and offers the best interest rates? It's not just about the money, though - which bank has the best customer service, and will help you out if there's a problem? Try to see beyond the special offer that's designed to lure you in - make sure you'll get a good deal now, and years down the line. When you open an account, or take out a loan, always remember to keep your details safe, and shred any old documents before you bin them - identity theft is a growing crime.

Sometimes the unexpected can happen, and your money just doesn't look like it's going to last the distance. What can you do to help you through?

• Borrowing Money... This can help you spread your costs over time, and give you a quick cash injection, but it can work out very expensive in the long run. If there's something big you want to purchase, then work out the interest you'd be paying on a loan, and work out whether you'd be better off waiting for what you want and saving. Evaluate how much you can afford to repay, how long the loan will last and what happens if your situation changes. www.itsyourmoney.ie service offers an excellent comparison of costs and benefits. Knowledge is power, so do your homework before you sign up for anything.
• Overdrafts... An overdraft is a loan on your current account. An amount is agreed with your bank, and you can then withdraw up to that amount, even if you don't have the money in the bank. The interest rate is usually a bit higher than you'd pay on a loan, but you only pay on the amount you are currently overdrawn, so it's a bit more flexible. It's best used for short-term borrowing - you should always pay back an overdraft as quickly as you can.
• Credit Cards... These are not really recommended for students, as it's all too easy to slip into a habit of not paying the card off each month, and with the steep interest rates attached to credit cards, the amount you owe can build very quickly. If you think you'll be able to pay it off monthly, then find the best deal at www.itsyourmoney.ie And if you do see something you want to pay for with your card, then wait three days before you shop - just to make sure it's something you can't live without.

Keep in mind that if you struggle to repay loans or miss payments, your credit rating can be affected. This sounds like something that you don't have to worry about until you start earning but it may bite you in the ass when you're looking to borrow for that trip round the world when you graduate.

All credit history information (borrowing and repaying loans etc. from any bank you deal with) is documented in a credit record. The Irish Credit Bureau (ICB) holds this for 5 years after a loan is closed. (Think ahead and remember that lenders analyse this to ensure that you can/are likely to repay a loan.) Bear all this in mind if you intend to borrow and carefully consider repayment implications.

Ultimately any form of credit puts you in debt. But if you are unable to keep up with repayments, debt becomes a real problem. But there is help available - MABS (Money and Budgeting Service) www.mabs.ie is a free and confidential advisory service. MABS can help and guide you through making a budget and any financial decisions, so contact them if you're worried about debt at all.

• www.studentfinance.ie Information on financial support for further and higher education.
• www.ifsra.ie / www.itsyourmoney.ie FREE independent information on financial products available. Check out the 'Starting college' section for practical advice on managing your budget more effectively.
• DIT Student Services 143-149, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. Tel: 01 4023394/ 7513/ 3353 E: student.services@dit.ie
• DIT Disability Service 143-149, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. Tel: 01 4057681/ 7656 E: disability.services@dit.ie Web: www.dit.ie/DIT/disability
• DIT Sports Office Aungier Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 4023042 Web: www.dit.ie/DIT/sport/
• Department of Social & Family Affairs Tel: 1890 202325 Web: www.welfare.ie
• MyGrant.ie Web: www.mygrant.ie
• Money Advice Budgeting Service (MABS) Tel: 1890 283438 E: helpline@mabs.ie Web: www.mabs.ie
• IFSRA- Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority Consumer Information Department, IFSRA, P.O. BOX 9138, College Green, Dublin 2. Tel: 1890 777777 Web: www.ifsra.ie E: consumerinfo@ifsra.ie