Student life in the cost-of-living crisis (or cozzie livs) is tough. There’s only so much pesto pasta you can batch cook while watching the electric meter go up 50p every time you boil the kettle. Follow Strathclyde student around Glasgow as she takes on our Spend The Day challenge, creating as much fun with as little funds as possible.

10.30am
A coffee and breakfast roll at Rose & Grant’s, £4.50

I kick things off with a coffee and vegan morning roll (served until 11am) at my staple snack spot in Trongate. This is my favourite mid-morning pick-me-up during term time. They also do vegan macaroni pies, which is important to share.

11.30am
A scenic walk around Queen’s Park, free
After scoffing my tasty vegan Lorne on a roll, I skip down from Trongate, over the Clyde and head to Queen’s Park. The park’s highest point overlooks all of Glasgow, from the West End to High Street, and I spent a lot of time here during lockdown. It’s worth the walk if you get tired of staring at Glasgow Green and the Botanics.

1pm
Vegan ice-cream cone from Ginesi’s Artisan Gelato, £2

Back down the hill for a cheap sweet treat on Victoria Road. They make everything themselves on-site and serve mostly dairy ice-cream with a few tasty vegan options on rotation. I went for the salted caramel (I was torn between that or coffee flavour).

1.30pm
Browsing around Category Is Books, Glasgow’s most popular queer bookshop, free 

For my next low-cost activity, I wander deeper into Southside for a much-needed dose of queer culture. One of G-town’s most iconic LGBTQ+ owned businesses, I prefer buying from them than the big name bookstores. However, I manage to restrain myself from splashing the cash today. When money is tight, there’s a second-hand section that guarantees more book for your buck. They also have cute pin badges and stickers.

3pm
Another culture fix: Glasgow’s Gallery Of Modern Art, free

Disclaimer! It did not take me an hour and a half to walk back from Southside; I just spent ages in the bookshop. I stroll over to explore GoMA’s free exhibitions. My favourite this time was Glasgow-based artists Helen de Main and Mandy McIntosh’s Repeat Patterns (until 15 October), a collection of printworks focusing on class and feminism in the city.

5pm
Vegan sausage supper from The Kent Chippy, £8

Peckish after all that squinting and nodding, I head along to Finnieston to finish off my day. This wee place has been my long-time favourite since going vegan. I’m pretty sure this supper is just Linda McCartney’s veggie sausages deep-fried, but it remains unmatched for flavour and value.

TOTAL: £14.50