According to recent data, the average UK household spends £641 per year on takeaways. Yes, you read that right, over 600 hard earned great British pounds. Since the pandemic, we have become a nation of Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats aficionados, but these ‘little treats’ once a week, alongside the rising cost of *literally everything else* is truly beginning to blow our student budgets. If you are in the same situation we are, we have the perfect solution.
We have delved into the data to discover the UK’s most popular takeaways, from creamy-dreamy Chicken Tikka Masala to the humble chip butty, and are here to reveal how to re-create them in your own home, with nothing more than your weekly food shop.
So, lets start with the UK’s most popular takeaway…
Yes, the votes are in! Chinese cuisine is officially the British favorite. We’re talking salt and pepper chicken, chow mein, roast duck pancakes… *mmmmmmm*
Sorry, we got distracted. Unsurprisingly, this delicious delicacy is the favorite for over a quarter of the nation, so, to achieve those delicious oriental flavours in your own home, why not have a stir fry night? Most supermarkets offer a bundle deal with soft egg noodles, bean sprouts and veggies, and a stir fry sauce, which only tends to come to a few pounds. In fact, we saw one at Tesco for £5, but if you use your Clubcard, the entire meal costs just £2.50! It is worth shopping around to find the perfect combination for you – and you could even include some chicken or beef in to your recipe to add that extra little je nais sais quoi.
In the words of the great Smithy – we’ll be having chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, and nine poppadoms… if we had just won the lottery, of course.
Realistically, if you find yourself fancying some Indian cuisine on a budget, just like 17% of the rest of the UK, Iceland is the place to go. No, not the country, the supermarket that mums love. They actually offer an Indian ‘fakeaway’ deal, with three mains for just £10. Did somebody say ‘fakeaway’ night? Grab a few bags of microwave rice and add some bakeable naan breads to the list, and you’re onto a winner.
Previously, the repayment threshold was £27,295. Now, on the new plan-5 loans, it is £25,000 – meaning that you will start to repay your loan earlier than your predecessors. Plus, you will also pay it for longer – the maximum repayment term used to be 30 years, but for you, it is 40. Now, this doesn’t mean that your overall loan is more expensive than previous years, but it does mean that you are more likely to pay it off in full, rather than it getting wiped off.
Dominos, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut – which one is your favorite? We love them all, but we don’t love the prices! 12% of the nation claim that this delicious Italian delicacy is their favorite takeaway, and we have some great options to re-create it at home.
If you are looking for personalisation, Asda supermarkets have their very own pizza counter where you can create your own masterpiece to oven cook at home - selecting everything from the base, to the sauce, to the toppings, to the oil. Plus, these are super affordable (with prices starting at just £3.50) and delicious. Sounds like a no brainer.
Another option is taking advantage of M&S’s ‘Pizza dine in’ meal deal offer, with two artisan pizzas and two tasty sides or desserts for just £12. With mac and cheese bites, loaded potato skins, and cookie traybakes on the menu, we don’t think we’ll be able to resist this one…
So, there you have it, four easy and cost effective ‘fakeaways’ to recreate at home. Which one will you be trying first?
We have taken a research deep-dive to find some of the most inspirational women for university students to look up to, based on the UK’s most popular chosen course subjects. From revolutionary scientists to code cracking engineers – these wise, witty, and wonderful women are sure to spark inspiring thoughts and share important messages.
One thing we do recommend whilst you are personalising your student digs is investing in a houseplant. 21% of Gen Z individuals class themselves as ‘plant parents’ , the largest percentage in this study of age groups. This is believed to stem from the desire to care for a living thing – nurturing something other than ourselves. Deep.
Studying is, of course, part and parcel with attending university. But, it’s no big secret that some students take it more seriously than others. From finding a quiet secluded area, to creating your very own study playlist – it’s actually been proven that your study space can play a huge role in how effectively you learn. So, what does your chosen study space say about you?
Studying abroad has many benefits, from personal development, to improving your job prospects. But, it can also be a huge leap to take, especially if you’ve not travelled much before. If you’re still deciding whether studying overseas could be for you, here are five reasons why we think it could be life changing.
One of those decisions is choosing where to live. Many people think their only option is to live on-campus in halls of residence. But, a growing number of students are choosing to live in purpose-built student accommodation off-campus. If you’re still a little unsure which accommodation could be right for you, don’t worry – we’ve got you. We’ve compared the benefits of living off-campus VS on-campus to help you decide.
So, how do you make your ‘home away from home’ a place you are proud to present? Yugo has tirelessly trawled through TikTok to discover and reveal its top five must-have Amazon finds to update your space for 2023 – so you can create the ultimate destination to return to after a long day of lectures… or a longer evening on the dance floor.
We’re here to reveal its top tips to reduce your carbon footprint and increase your sustainability – without putting a huge dent in your maintenance loan. Check out our handy hacks here...
Moving away from home can be challenging in many ways, but being in charge of your own money can be one of the trickiest ones. In fact, in our recent survey, 37% of UK students found it difficult to manage their finances and budget effectively when living away from home.
We've compiled a handy list of things to establish with your flat mates from the get go, so your shared accommodation journey is smooth and straightforward. Let’s go…
Whether you’re looking to do a Masters, Doctorate, Postgraduate certificate or Postgraduate diploma, the experts here at Yugo have the lowdown on what it’s like to carry on your studies.
