August 2026 deals
Hand-picked deals and money tips for graduates, updated weekly.
Week of 29th August 2026
Prices/codes below were live on 2026-08-29 and re-verified 2026-08-30, and change fast — re-check each before sending.
It's the late-August bank holiday weekend, so this GradIRL email is a shortlist of the stuff that makes the jump after uni cheaper — pulled from this week's live deals across tech, your first flat, food, workwear, gyms, travel and freebies. No fluff, just the bits that actually apply to graduate life.
A few house rules so you can trust what you read:
- 🎓 = student / graduate / age-verified — needs a StudentBeans, UNiDAYS or card check (free to set up, takes a minute).
- ✅ = anyone can use it — no verification needed.
- Every link goes straight to the shop, never through a tracking middleman. If a code is involved, we've told you plainly where to find it.
- Codes and prices move fast — give each one a quick check before you rely on it.
Right, here's the good stuff.
📱 Tech & your first phone
Samsung Student & Youth
10% off a Galaxy S26 Ultra, 15% off Galaxy Book6 / Watches & Buds, up to 20% off The Frame TVs, up to 15% off monitors (+code BTS26) 🎓 — Samsung. Back-to-School runs to 6 Oct 2026; verify with UNiDAYS, Student Beans or a Samsung/ac.uk account.
Lebara SIM-only
50% off for the first 3 months (30GB £5→£10, 50GB £7.50→£15, 100GB £10→£20, Unlimited £12.50→£25) ✅ — Lebara. Runs on Vodafone (5G, 98% cover), EU roaming included, 30-day rolling with no contract and no credit check — ideal if you're out of contract and want a cheap, commitment-free stop-gap. (A 35GB ~£3.49/mo 8-month promo is also available if you want the longer cheap stretch.)
Apple education pricing
up to 10% off MacBook/iPad 🎓 — Apple education. Often comes with a free gift card in term time.
Currys
£100 off student laptops over £799, £150 off over £1,299 🎓 — Currys. Plus £30 off the iPad 11th Gen and 10% off Chromebooks and Samsung tablets. Worth it if you're buying a study-and-work machine.
Amazon Prime
6-month trial, then £4.49/mo (students & 18–24s) 🎓 — Prime for Students & 18–24. Also open to 18–24-year-olds, so useful beyond uni.
Our take: grab the Lebara SIM now if you're out of contract — that's a "do it" win. The student tech discounts (Apple, Currys) are "try it" once you've set up UNiDAYS.
🏠 Setting up the first flat
Argos
Big Red Event, up to 50% off 1,000s of lines ✅ — Argos. The cheapest way to fill a bedsit with the basics.
Argos
up to 50% off with code RED50 / SAVE50 at checkout (selected lines) ✅ — Argos voucher codes.
Dunelm
up to 50% off 3,400+ home & garden (from 50p) ✅ — Dunelm. Their Cook starter pack is a solid first-kitchen buy.
Matalan
20% off almost everything (online only) ✅ — Matalan.
Matalan
student 10% off 🎓 — Matalan student discount.
John Lewis
£10 gift card on orders over £125 ✅ — John Lewis.
John Lewis
student discount (home, tech & Apple) 🎓 — John Lewis student (£50 off MacBook Neo, up to 15% off laptops; Student Beans verify).
John Lewis
My John Lewis (free membership) ✅ — My John Lewis benefits (Home Design savings, free eye test + 20% off frames, up to 10% off sleep).
IKEA
Hej Students coupon (£10 off £75 / £20 off £150) 🎓 — IKEA Hej Students (Student Beans verify; to 25 Oct).
Dunelm
student 10% off 🎓 — Dunelm student discount.
Our take: the Argos and Dunelm sales are easy "do it" wins. The student home discounts (IKEA, Dunelm) are "try it" once your UNiDAYS is set up.
🍽️ Food shop & takeaways
Iceland
10 for £10 mix & match (Fresh) ✅ — Iceland offers. Stock a first fridge/kitchen cheaply — no code needed.
Uber Eats
local restaurant deals (set your address) ✅ — Uber Eats. Offers are location-based, so check your own postcode; the one national constant is Uber One's £0 delivery fee.
Deliveroo
50% off the weekly shop every Monday (Sainsbury's, Co-op & more), or feed the family for £25 ✅ — Deliveroo.
M&S Food
student 25% off food on the move 🎓 — M&S Food on UNiDAYS (verify with UNiDAYS; in-store at M&S Food only). Handy for lunch at the new office.
Greggs
student in-store offers 🎓 — Greggs.
Greggs
The Big Deal meal deal (from £5.25, main + side + drink) ✅ — Greggs Big Deal (Greggs App / in-store).
Greggs
app-exclusive free item with any purchase ✅ — Greggs app offers (free bake/roll, coffee, sweet treat or breakfast roll via the Greggs App).
Starbucks
£2 hot / £2.50 iced tall, every Tuesday (student) 🎓 — Starbucks. In-store only, one per week.
Our take: Iceland's 10 for £10 mix & match is a zero-effort "do it" saving. Uber Eats and Deliveroo run location-based deals rather than a confirmed national first-order code, so check your postcode; the student food discounts (M&S, Greggs, Starbucks) are "try it" for your regular runs.
🧢 Workwear & wardrobe on a budget
Charles Tyrwhitt
15% off shirts (students, graduates & 16–26) 🎓 — Charles Tyrwhitt student discount (Student Beans for student/graduate; Youth Discount for 16–26). Perfect for a proper interview shirt.
boohoo
up to 70% off + extra 20% off (student) 🎓 — boohoo. The 70% sale is open to everyone; the extra 20% is the UNiDAYS student part.
New Look
10% off Womenswear, 15% off Menswear (student) 🎓 — New Look. Code via UNiDAYS, Student Beans or TOTUM, or student ID in store.
ASOS
student 10% off full price & sale 🎓 — ASOS.
JD Sports
student 10% off full price 🎓 — JD Sports.
The North Face
student 10% off 🎓 — The North Face. Verify with UNiDAYS; the bigger %-off is a separate general sale.
Moss
10% graduate discount 🎓 — Moss. Formalwear and early-career workwear, with in-store styling — a genuinely graduate-specific perk (not just student).
Our take: Charles Tyrwhitt's 15% off shirts is a student/graduate win (Student Beans or Youth Discount) — perfect for interview shirts. New Look's 10%/15% is student-only, and Moss is worth a look once you've graduated; the rest are "try it" once UNiDAYS is sorted.
💪 Health & gym
The Gym Group
student membership 20% off (code SAVE) 🎓 — The Gym Group. 24/7 access to two gyms, unlimited classes; the 50%-off-first-month promo is a separate general new-member offer.
PureGym
up to 30% off + £0 joining fee (student) 🎓 — PureGym.
Boots
10% off almost everything (student) 🎓 — Boots. Link your Advantage Card with student ID / UNiDAYS / Student Beans / TOTUM; runs the academic year.
Boots Opticians
10% off eyewear (students) 🎓 — Boots Opticians. On a complete pair of glasses, prescription sunglasses or contact lenses.
LOOKFANTASTIC
student up to 40% off (partner-dependent) 🎓 — LOOKFANTASTIC. UNiDAYS Extra 12%, Student Beans 40%, Youth Discount 20% selected; a general 22% code is open to everyone. The % rotates, so re-check on send day.
GHD
25% + extra 5% off (student) 🎓 — ghd.
Rituals gift set (worth £95.70)
£34.45 ✅ — LOOKFANTASTIC. A lovely first-flat or self-care treat.
Our take: pick one gym and use it — the student rate makes either a "do it" if you'll actually go. Skincare at Boots/LOOKFANTASTIC is "try it" for the brands you already use.
✈️ Trips & getting away
Parkdean Resorts
UK staycations from £99, up to 25% off ✅ — Parkdean. Breaks across 13 UK regions; re-check the exact break/date price on send day.
hoppa
up to 30% off airport transfers & rides worldwide ✅ — hoppa. Extra 5% with code RIDE5; a 20% Payday promo runs time-limited — re-check the live % on send day.
Trip.com
6% off hotel bookings ✅ — Trip.com.
National Express Young Persons Coachcard
a third off coach fares 🎓 — National Express. For ages 16–26 and full-time students; buy the card, apply it when you book.
16–25 Railcard
a third off train fares 🎓 — Railcard. £35/yr or £80/3yr; also for mature full-time students.
26–30 Railcard
a third off train fares 🎓 — Railcard. Digital-only, £35/yr — handy once you've aged out of the 16–25. (Weekday morning minimum fare applies.)
TfL 18+ Student Oyster
30% off London travel 🎓 — TfL. For students living in a London borough in term time; link it with a Railcard for extra off-peak savings.
FlixBus
20% off in the app (student) 🎓 — FlixBus.
Wizz Air
50% off an Infinity subscription (student) 🎓 — Wizz Air.
Our take: if you travel home by coach or train, the National Express Coachcard and a Railcard (16–25 now, or 26–30 once you've aged out) are quiet "do it" saves for regular trips. The rest are "try it" for a planned getaway.
🎁 Freebies & easy wins
Free LEGO Harry Potter set
(limited stock, this bank-holiday weekend) ✅ — LEGO.
Free Lancôme Foundation
✅ — Lancôme.
Grand Designs Live
15,000 free tickets, Birmingham NEC 2–4 Oct ✅ — Grand Designs Live.
Spotify
3 months free Premium (new customers) ✅ — Spotify.
Uber
£5 off your first ride ✅ — Uber.
Our take: the free LEGO weekend and the Grand Designs Live tickets are lovely "do it" freebies if they're near you. The Spotify and Uber offers are "try it" for new accounts.
💷 Money worth knowing (no codes, just the tip)
A few money moves doing the rounds this week. These are general tips, not advice, and none of them are GradIRL affiliate links — we've linked only to the provider's own page where one was given.
Savings rates have ticked up.
The top easy-access saver now pays 4.55% AER (NatWest's First Active, or Tembo at 4.55% with a lower cap); the top easy-access cash ISA is Chip at 4.6%. If your savings pay under ~4.5%, it's worth moving — eligibility and limits vary, so read the provider's own page first: NatWest · Chip.
Santander Edge Student & Graduate:
the Santander Edge Student gives a 0% overdraft and a free 4-year Railcard (handy as a grad), plus Santander Boosts deals and budget tools. After graduating it rolls into the Edge Graduate account with an interest-free overdraft of up to £2,000 in year 1, dropping to £1,000 in year 2: Santander Edge Student.
Lloyds student & grad accounts worth knowing:
the Lloyds Student account is the only one here with a cash sweetener — £100 cash (open or switch, then pay in £500 by 30 Oct 2026) plus up to £120 in Deliveroo vouchers (£20/mo for 20+ debit-card transactions, Nov–Apr) — and an interest-free overdraft of up to £1,500 (years 1–3) rising to £2,000 (years 4–6), with up to 15% cashback at selected retailers and no debit-card fees abroad. After graduating it converts to the Lloyds Graduate account with an interest-free overdraft of £2,000 (Yr 1) → £1,500 (Yr 2) → £1,000 (Yr 3), then 39.9% EAR above: Lloyds Student.
Nationwide FlexStudent & FlexGraduate:
the FlexStudent account is the biggest cash sweetener here — £100 cash + £120 in Just Eat vouchers (£10/mo for 12 months, £220 total) if you pay in £500 and make 5 debit-card payments by 11 Dec 2026 — plus an interest-free, fee-free overdraft of up to £1,000 (Yr 1) → £2,000 (Yr 2) → £3,000 (Yr 3) and no Nationwide fees abroad. After graduating it moves you to FlexGraduate, an interest-free, fee-free arranged overdraft that steps down over up to 3 years (exclusive to FlexStudent customers): Nationwide FlexStudent.
NatWest student & grad accounts worth knowing:
the NatWest Student account gives £100 cash + a 4-year free tastecard (2-for-1 meals, 50% off food, 25% off barista drinks) and an interest-free overdraft up to £3,250 by year 3 — for new students (17+, lived in the UK 3+ yrs, full-time UG 2+ yrs, UCAS code; not if you'd had a NatWest student offer since 1 Jul 2022). If you've already graduated, the NatWest Graduate account has no cash reward but an interest-free overdraft of £3,250 → £2,250 → £1,250 over three years (then 39.49% EAR above the limit) plus a tastecard: NatWest Student · NatWest Graduate.
HSBC student & grad accounts worth knowing:
the HSBC Student account has no cash reward but an interest-free overdraft of up to £1,000 guaranteed at opening (rising to £3,000 by year 3, subject to status) and a 5.00% AER Regular Saver (£25–£250/mo, 12-month term). For grads, the HSBC Graduate account offers an interest-free overdraft of £3,000 (Yr 1) → £2,000 (Yr 2), then converts to a standard account with up to £1,000 interest-free (39.9% EAR above the limit); you must have graduated within the last 2 years and apply in branch: HSBC Student · HSBC Graduate.
- Out of contract on your phone? Cheap SIM-only deals are around — Lebara does 35GB for ~£3.49/mo on a 1-month rolling contract (see Tech above). Around 14m people are out of contract and overpaying; compare before you switch.
Sky broadband
top picks: fast fibre (100Mb+) £18.59/mo, ultrafast (900Mb+) £22.17/mo — worth a look if you're setting up the first flat: Sky.
Our honesty note: bank-switch, savings and investment offers are regulated promotions. We're not recommending a specific account or code here — just pointing you to the providers' own pages so you can decide. Never switch bank accounts right before a mortgage or loan application, and read each provider's own terms first.
The small print
- Is this advice? No. We write what actually helps graduates, generally. Your money is your own — if something feels wrong for your numbers, trust you.
- Links are clean. Every link goes straight to the retailer's own page. We never send you through a third-party tracker, and we don't republish other sites' referral codes.
- Check before you buy. Prices, codes and expiry dates were live on 2026-08-29 and change quickly — verify each one on the day.
- Not professionals, not robots: GradIRL helps graduates with jobs, money and wellbeing — kindly, plainly and free.
About GradIRL
Founder-run, small but sharp. We help graduates navigate the jump into "adulting" — jobs, money and wellbeing, plainly explained. Free, always.
Week of 23rd August 2026
Prices/codes below were live on 2026-08-23 and change fast — re-check each before sending.
Welcome to a slightly different kind of GradIRL email — this week it's all about the stuff that makes the jump after uni cheaper. We've combed the live deals across tech, your first flat, food, workwear, gyms, travel and freebies, and pulled out the bits that genuinely apply to graduate life.
A few house rules so you can trust what you read:
- 🎓 = student-only — needs a StudentBeans or UNiDAYS check (free to set up, takes a minute).
- ✅ = anyone can use it — no verification needed.
- Every link goes straight to the shop, never through a tracking middleman. If a code is involved, we've told you plainly where to find it.
- Codes and prices move fast — give each one a quick check before you rely on it.
Right, here's the good stuff.
📱 Tech & your first phone
Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB)
£559 (saves you £340) ✅ — at giffgaff. A genuinely strong price on a current flagship if you need a proper phone for the new job.
Lebara 5G SIM, 10GB, no contract
£1.63/mo for 9 months ✅ — Lebara. Brilliant stop-gap while you settle in; cancel anytime.
Vodafone student SIM
70GB for £9/mo 🎓 — Vodafone. Needs UNiDAYS, but hard to beat for data on a budget.
Currys student
15% off laptops & more 🎓 — Currys. Worth it if you're buying a study-and-work machine.
Apple education pricing
up to 10% off MacBook/iPad 🎓 — Apple education. Often comes with a free gift card on top during term time.
Our take: grab the Lebara SIM now and the Galaxy if you need the phone — both are "do it" wins. The student SIMs are "try it" once you've set up UNiDAYS.
🏠 Setting up the first flat
OHS Rainbow Print Duvet Set
£3 (was £14) ✅ — OnlineHomeShop. The cheapest way to make a bedsit feel like yours.
DeLonghi Micalite jug kettle (1.7L)
£45 (was £114.99) ✅ — Currys.
TP-LINK Deco BE25 WiFi 7 triple pack
£149 ✅ — Currys. Whole-flat Wi-Fi without the engineer callout.
Dunelm student
10% off kitchen & home 🎓 — Dunelm. Their cook starter pack is a solid first-kitchen buy.
IKEA student
10% off 🎓 — IKEA.
ao.com
£50 off domestic appliances ✅ — AO.com.
Our take: the £3 duvet and the £45 kettle are the easy wins. Student home discounts (Dunelm, IKEA) are "try it" once your UNiDAYS is set up.
🍽️ Food shop & takeaways
Iceland
£15 off your first order over £65 ✅ — via Iceland.
Uber Eats
£10 off your first order over £25 ✅ — Uber Eats.
- Deliveroo — £8 off 2 shopping orders over £20 ✅.
M&S Food
25% off "food on the move" (student) 🎓 — M&S Food. Handy for lunch at the new office.
Greggs
student in-store offers 🎓 — Greggs.
Domino's
student Buy One Get One Free 🎓 — Domino's.
Our take: the first-order offers (Iceland, Uber Eats, Deliveroo) are zero-effort "do it" savings. The student food discounts are "try it" for your regular runs.
🧢 Workwear & wardrobe on a budget
M&S
20% off workwear ✅ — Marks & Spencer. Safe, smart, and the discount isn't student-gated.
Charles Tyrwhitt
20% off orders over £150 ✅ — Charles Tyrwhitt. Good for a proper interview shirt or two.
ASOS student
10% off full price & sale 🎓 — ASOS.
JD Sports student
10% off full price 🎓 — JD Sports.
The North Face student
up to 50% off + extra 10% 🎓 — The North Face.
boohoo student
up to 70% + extra 16% 🎓 — boohoo.
Our take: the M&S and Charles Tyrwhitt offers are open to everyone, so start there. The rest are "try it" once UNiDAYS is sorted.
💪 Health & gym
The Gym Group
student membership 30% off 🎓 — The Gym Group. Cheap, no-frills, and the student rate helps.
PureGym
up to 30% off the first 6 months (student) 🎓 — PureGym.
Boots
20% off student discount (The Ordinary, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Beauty of Joseon) 🎓 — Boots.
LOOKFANTASTIC
20–22% off your first order ✅ — LOOKFANTASTIC.
Oral-B iO 6 electric toothbrush
£99 (was £349) ✅ — AO.com.
Our take: pick one gym and use it — the student rate makes either a "do it" if you'll actually go. Skincare at Boots/LOOKFANTASTIC is "try it" for the brands you already use.
✈️ Trips & getting away
National Express / TrainPal
20–23% off intercity & airport coaches (student) 🎓 — National Express · TrainPal.
FlixBus
20% off in the app (student) 🎓 — FlixBus.
Expedia 9% / Trip.com 6% / Travelodge 5% off
✅ — Expedia · Trip.com · Travelodge.
Center Parcs (Les Ardennes, May 2027 half term)
from £434.88 ✅ — Center Parcs.
Buyagift
25% off days out ✅ — Buyagift.
Our take: if you commute home by coach, the student National Express/TrainPal saving is a quiet "do it." The rest are "try it" for a planned trip.
A quick, honest note on railcards: a railcard can knock about a third off train fares for a year and is worth having as a grad — check Railcard for the current offers (we don't republish other sites' codes, so look there directly).
🎁 Freebies & easy wins
- Free Wendy's Single on Burger Day (Thu 27th) — for newsletter subscribers (a freebie promo; check Wendy's for the live offer).
Uber
£5 off your first ride ✅ — Uber.
Open House Festival (Sept)
free entry to 700+ historic London buildings (BT Tower, BBC Broadcasting House and more, usually closed or paid) — details via Open House.
- £10 welcome bonus on a cashback app (complete tasks/play games — read the T&Cs first) — offers vary by app, so check the app's own terms.
Our take: the free London buildings day is a lovely "do it" if you're near the capital. The cashback bonus is "try it" only after you've read the small print.
💷 Money worth knowing (no codes, just the tip)
A few money moves doing the rounds this week. These are general tips, not advice, and none of them are GradIRL affiliate links — we've linked only to the provider's own page where one was given.
Switching bank accounts can still pay you.
Several banks give new customers a cash incentive if you move across 2+ Direct Debits (there's a free ~10-day switch service). If you're moving house or starting a job and changing your banking anyway, it's worth a look — but eligibility and spending rules vary, so read the bank's own terms first. The Santander Edge Student account is one to know about: a 0% overdraft, a free 4-year Railcard, and a small spend incentive.
- Premium Bonds prize rate has risen to 4.35% — edging toward the top easy-access savings rates.
- 0% balance-transfer cards exist that give a definite 3 years interest-free if you're shifting credit-card debt — worth knowing before any fees stack up.
- M&S sale has been boosted to 70% off (online and in store) — e.g. a £35 shirt down to £10.50.
- Free/cheap flu jabs — NHS bookings open early in England.
Our honesty note: bank-switch offers are regulated promotions. We're not recommending a specific account or code here — just pointing you to the banks' own pages so you can decide. Never switch right before a mortgage or loan application.
The small print
- Is this advice? No. We write what actually helps graduates, generally. Your money is your own — if something feels wrong for your numbers, trust you.
- Links are clean. Every link goes straight to the retailer's own page. We never send you through a third-party tracker, and we don't republish other sites' referral codes.
- Check before you buy. Prices, codes and expiry dates were live on 2026-08-23 and change quickly — verify each one on the day.
- Not professionals, not robots: GradIRL helps graduates with jobs, money and wellbeing — kindly, plainly and free.
About GradIRL
Founder-run, small but sharp. We help graduates navigate the jump into "adulting" — jobs, money and wellbeing, plainly explained. Free, always.