Perhaps you’re not surprised to hear that Sweden is an expensive country. Actually, the country of IKEA and ABBA is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. But wait a second because it is not true at all. With some tricks you can save money, not so much but you can take some kroner at the of the month to spend in some beers with your friends in a nations.
Going to weekly Bruised Food Club Market
Every Friday at 15:30 in Ungdomens Hug, Bruised Food Club organize this market that has the aim to give completely free food to the people instead of throwing in the trash. This food is mainly a leftover of some supermarkets or farmers, so is still good and tasty. There you can find vegetables, bread, fruit or milk and pick them up to your place completely “free”. I mean free in quotation marks because you can leave tips and money to Bruised Food Club and help with their mission to give this second live to that food and reduce the food waste in Uppsala.
This is their Facebook profile if you want to catch up with their latest activities
Second hand shop and marketplace
If you will live in Flogsta you will be really lucky if your room has the basic items. So, if you want to fill your room without exceeding there are two solutions: Second hand shop and Facebook marketplace. In the first you can go to Erikshjälpen or Myrorna and an impressive variety of second hand things. From small items such as screens, TVs, routers or lamps to big stuff like couches, small wardrobes, heaters, etc. Also, if you cannot bring with you, they can bring to your place for 200-300 kr. So, you can order with a group of friends a divide the 300 kr because you pay the trip, not the item.
The Facebook marketplace is no rocket science and it works as a normal marketplace in your country. You see an item and ask to the seller. If it still available you can take and reach an agreement with the seller to take it. If you are lucky, some of them can deliver the item to your place for free. In addition, you can find good bikes for 600-700 kr or temporally rooms (for a couple of months).
Finally there is a cheap option but you have to wait a pair of months. At the end of each semester (around November and December) some students leave their items in the bottom floor of Flogsta and you can take them free. You can surprise yourself of the treasures that you can see. For instance, some friends have found disco speakers, grills and small barbecue or freezer.
Dollar Shop and NetOnNet
As its name said is a shop where most of the thing cost 10 kr or 1 euro. In the Dollar Shop you can find a huge variety of things, from cleaning products to chocolate and candies, without forgetting the house or university stuff that also is really cheap if we compare with some supermarket brands or specialized shops. I usually buy detergents, shampoos, day-to-day things and candies there. Although looks like so far from Flogsta, it just 7-8 minutes by bike and less than half an hour by walk.
Also, if you had time and space in your bag, I would recommend going to NetOnNet. They sell electronic things to an affordable price. The routers (a good one if you will spend the whole year) cost around 200kr, the adapters and extension cables cost between 20-60 kr and the TV and screen are affordable. However, the heaters are at the same price to other shops but if you buy in October or September it will be cheaper than in November or December.
Ica Offers
Also, for Flogsta inhabitants, the ICA downhill Flogsta will help you to save money. At the beginning of the shop there is a small area with good offers and prices. They usually have cereals, coffee, sweets or chips. Also, if you go to the fridge behind the bakery stand you can find precooked food and meat with a price reduced more than a 50% in much of the items. That´s because it will expire in a few days so they reduce the price in order to enhance the customer to buy it.
Another advice is to buy with the head and no using your stomach or not guiding by the offers. Buy if you need to eat something.
Going before 22:00 to the Nations
If you are member of a nation you can go to the club whenever you can. However, if you meet with some friends in your nation or if you go to your friend´s nation you have to pay, normally, 60 kr. So, in order to save that money you can go before 22:00, go inside and the guard can seal you. Now, you have two options: going to the club if you want of going to the bar and enjoy some beers with your friends. Personally I usually take the second option and have some beers before enjoying in the pub.
I hope that this post was useful for you and help to save a bit of money for your stay in Uppsala
See you around
/Bernie!
Good place ?