Top ways I saved (and still save) money as a medical student and doctor
- Jessica
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Medicine is a long game.And financially? It can feel like you’re constantly playing catch-up.
Between exams, placements, relocation, and just trying to have a life… it’s very easy to overspend without even realising it. But over the years, from medical student to doctor, I’ve built a system that’s helped me save thousands, travel for less, and even invest early.
Use discounts like it’s your job (because it kind of is)
If you’re not using discounts consistently, you’re literally leaving money on the table.
As a student (and even now as a doctor), I rarely pay full price for:
Clothes
Food
Travel
Subscriptions
My go-to platforms:
UNiDAYS and Student Beans → discounts on everything from Apple to ASOS and YES, you can get Grad accounts on either of these platforms to keep the discounts going. Also if you have an institutional email address from your hospital you can use this to continue student discounts.
Bluelight card - A must have for NHS staff with £60 off Virgin Atlantic flights to unlimited Chai at Dishoom.
Too Good To Go - One of the easiest ways I save money on food after long shifts (as you often need to pick up the food at late hours) without compromising on quality. It lets you buy “surprise bags” of unsold food from cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets at a heavily discounted price, often saving you 50–70%. It’s perfect if you’re flexible and don’t mind a bit of spontaneity, and it’s also a more sustainable way to reduce food waste. I’ve used it for everything from pastries to full meals, and it’s such a simple win, especially on busy hospital days!
First Table - An app that gives you 50% off your food bill but only if you book the first (or sometimes last) table. Limited time slots → less flexibility, but GREAT discounts off your favourite restaurants.
Dusk - DUSK is a great app for discounted drinks, giving you access to free drinks at selected bars, exclusive happy hour deals and 2-for-1 offers at bars and restaurants, perfect for socialising without overspending. Join DUSK using my code (JOLO1) and we both get 500 points.
💡 Key mindset shift: Before you buy anything, search “[brand] student discount” or check your apps first. Always. I also have no shame in asking the cashier if they do NHS discount - you'll be surprised. From Rituals to Hotel Chocolat to Blank Street! Most places do.
Specific medical school Q bank discount codes:
Teach me Anatomy: JESS15 for 15% off Pro subscriptions 🫀
UWorld: JESSICA10 for 💰 off any 180-day, 360-day or 730-day Medical Library subscription both standalone and bundled with QBank
Pastest: JESS10 for money off subscriptions for the following Q banks: Med Students, MRCP Part 1, MRCS A, MSRA, USMLE Step 1
Cashback and credits
This is where you shift from just saving money… to actually earning from your spending.
Most people either use discounts or cashback or a credit card. But the real advantage? Understanding how they all work together.
💰 Cashback
Cashback is the simplest win. You get money back on purchases you were going to make anyway.
Whether it’s through platforms like TopCashback or card-based offers, it’s essentially free money for being intentional. It might seem small at first, but over time it adds up quickly (especially when you’re spending on bigger things like travel, tech, or work-related costs). I have earned over £150 on TopCashback.
Get £10 when you sign up and install the browser extension to get money back on lots of your purchases: https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/jessolo
🎁 Credits
Credits are underrated. These are things like:
Monthly Deliveroo credits
Cashback offers within your card
App-based rewards
They reduce your actual out-of-pocket spend without you needing to do anything extra.
For example, sign up to Classpass to get 20 free credits to attend classes and get your friends to sign up so you can go to classes together!
Strategic credit cards
Used properly, credit cards are not debt traps, they’re tools.
What I focus on:
Sign-up bonuses (these are HUGE)
Pairing points with offers + sales
Refer a friend
For example:
I’ve built up Avios points through everyday spending
Used points for flights I would never pay cash for
Planning long-haul travel (👀 wedding era) using points + companion vouchers
💡 Rule: Only spend what you already have. Pay it off in full. Every time.
👉 I’ve linked the cards + strategies I use here:
Simple, beginner-friendly option for earning Avios directly on your everyday spending.
You earn Avios on every purchase, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and travel rewards with British Airways and its partners. I have even linked it to my Uber account to get even more Avios points!
While it doesn’t have as many perks as premium cards, its main appeal is that it has no annual fee, making it an easy way to start collecting points without commitment.
Over time, consistent spending can build up enough Avios for meaningful travel savings, especially when paired with reward flights, as long as you always pay off the balance in full.
Strong entry-level option for earning travel rewards through everyday spending.
It offers a generous welcome bonus (when you meet the minimum spend), ongoing Membership Rewards points that can be converted into Avios and other travel partners, and perks like Priority Pass lounge access at airports and Deliveroo credits.
With no annual fee in the first year, it’s a low-risk way to start building points for flights and upgrades (Note it costs ~£195 a year after the first year but you can cancel prior to that).
When used strategically and always paid off in full it can turn your normal spending into meaningful travel savings.
High-yield savings accounts (stop letting your money sit idle)
Most people keep their money in accounts earning… basically nothing.
Meanwhile, inflation is quietly eating it.
What I use:
Monzo → great for budgeting, saving “pots”, and visibility
Current savings pots typically offer around ~3.85% AER (variable)
Chase UK → simple, competitive interest + cashback
Easy-access saver currently offers around ~4.1% AER (variable)
My system:
Emergency fund → high-interest savings
Short-term goals → separate pots
Spending → controlled via budgeting apps
💡 Even a few % interest makes a difference over time especially when you’re consistent.
👉 I’ve linked the exact accounts I use (with referral bonuses 👀):
Chase UK referral (we both get £50):
Copy either of the codes: 3REMLY or 8BFU5B
Download the Chase app + open an account: https://chase.co.uk/raf
Activate the code
Pay in £1,000 within 30 days
Sign up for Monzo and make your first card payment in the next 30 days. When you do, you and I will both get a mystery reward of £10, £20 or £50.
Start investing earlier than you think 📈
I started investing as a student, not because I had loads of money, but because I understood time in the market matters more than timing the market.
Platforms I’ve used:
The links above will get you a free share to get started!
Why this matters:
Tax-free growth via ISAs
Compounding over years
Building wealth alongside your career
💡 You don’t need thousands to start. Consistency > amount.
(Capital at risk but not starting at all is also a risk)
Final thoughts 💡
You don’t need to earn more to feel financially secure, you need to be more intentional with what you already have. Everything I’ve shared here isn’t about cutting back or living restrictively. It’s about using systems that work in the background so your everyday spending starts working for you.
As a medical student and now a doctor, these small habits have compounded into:
Thousands saved
Travel I wouldn’t have otherwise afforded
Investments I’m grateful I started early
And the best part? None of this required a drastic lifestyle change.
Start small. Pick one or two things from this post and implement them this week.
Because in a career as long as medicine, the earlier you get this right…the more freedom you give your future self.
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