Cheap things for Non-Uni Students!

Written by REBECCA LAWSON

As someone who is finishing uni at the end of the year, I was discussing what life might be like with a friend, who suddenly reminded me of the fact that no longer being a student means I will no longer be eligible for discounts and cheap things.

This idea horrified me (and still does a little). I went straight from Year 12 to Uni, so I have always been a student of some kind and always eligible for discounts. So faced with this prospect, I decided to compile a list of cheap things to do in Adelaide for non-students, so we can keep living on the cheap (at least a little) and living some of the uni lifestyle for a while longer.

1 – Movies

Although most cinemas have their discount days on Tuesdays, Palace Nova has their cheap day on Mondays. If you see a movie before 4pm it’s only $7 a ticket, after then it’s $8.

Palace also have a movie club where you pay an annual membership fee of $19 you can get tickets for $13 for yourself and a friend all year round (that’s cheaper than student prices). Membership also comes with a free movie ticket upon joining and a free ticket for your birthday.

2 – Concerts/Theatre/Events

Fringe Benefits is your friend. Going since 2006, FB has partnered with the State Theatre Company, Palace Nova, the Gov, the Future Music Festival and Adelaide Comedy to ensure that young people still get cheap tickets to all the goings on around town. They also have a special partnership with the Fringe Festival and almost every event during the Fringe offers cheaper tickets to FB members. Sign up once and your membership will last until your 31^st birthday. Oh, and best of all, membership is FREE!

The State Theatre Company (and several other shows at the Festival Centre) also offer cheap tickets to under 30’s and these are often cheaper than the concession prices.

YHA also offers discounts to its members, and memberships can be paired with International Student and Youth cards from STA Travel. Member discounts include child priced entry to both zoos, concession price tickets to WOMAD, 2 for 1 entry to the Ice Arena, as well as deals at Sumo Salad, the Duke, Trims, car servicing, bookshops, gyms and heaps more.

3 – Alcohol

Not a specific discount, but pay attention to the happy hours at your local watering hole. It’s amazing how much you can save when pints are only $5 and spirits are $4. A lot of clubs in the city also offer memberships for regulars and have a range of offers such as happy hour prices all day or buy one get one free. Hunt around and see what you can find.

4 – Foursquare

It probably sounds a little ridiculous, but so many places have jumped on the bandwagon and offer patrons specials upon “check-in”. 1^stChoice has weekly discounts for people that check in, the Coopers Ale House offers discounted jugs and the Crown and Sceptre offers free plates of food, just to name a few.

5 – Student Card

Ok, this one may be cheating just a little bit, but I say you should make the most of your student card while you still can. Most places offer their memberships for a whole year (like the YHA and Palace Nova) and if you join up before your student card expires at the end of February, then you can have student-priced offers on lots of things for a whole extra year.