Culture hacks: the ultimate guide to going out and staying in on the cheap

Like free stuff? Of course you do, you're reading the online version of our student guide. Whether it's opera or gaming, here are more cash-saving culture hacks

Chronic ditherer? Social butterfly? Lazy sod? You may be perpetually skint but student life at least allows room for spontaneity. Live events keen to fill up unsold seats often court student patrons with substantially discounted rates, such as London's BFI on the South Bank, where under-25s can access 3 tickets if they rock up 45 mins before the movie starts. Theatres are worth checking out, too: in Edinburgh, the Festival and King's playhouses offer 10 student tickets from 12noon on the day of performances, while the Bristol Old Vic throws up a last-minute bat signal to local students via its free Arts Ping app.