Best A Box of Stories Discounts for First-Time Buyers

There's something magical about receiving a surprise book in the mail. You know that feeling when a package arrives, and you're not quite sure what's inside? A Box of Stories brings that excitement to book lovers across the UK, curating surprise book boxes that introduce you to hidden gems you might never have discovered otherwise.

But here's the thing – while discovering new books is wonderful, saving money while you do it makes the experience even better. If you're thinking about trying A Box of Stories for the first time, or if you're already a subscriber looking to maximize your savings, you've come to the right place. Let me walk you through all the ways you can save money on these carefully curated book boxes.

The Referral Discount: Your First £4 Off

Let's start with the easiest way to save money on your first A Box of Stories purchase. When you sign up using a referral link, you get £4 off your first order. No minimum spend required. That's pretty straightforward, right?

The referral program is simple. Someone who's already a customer shares their referral link with you, you use it to sign up, and you automatically get that £4 discount applied to your first box. It works on any box you choose – whether you're going for the Surprise Fiction Box, the Crime Mystery & Thriller Box, or any of their other curated collections.

What I really like about this discount is that there's no catch. You're not locked into a long-term subscription, and you can use it on a one-off purchase if you want to test the waters before committing to a subscription. It's a genuine discount that makes your first experience with A Box of Stories more affordable.

Student Discount: Save 10% on Every Box

If you're a student, A Box of Stories has a special deal for you. Through Student Beans, you can save 10% on every box you order. This isn't just a one-time discount – it applies to every purchase you make, which is fantastic if you're planning to become a regular subscriber.

The student discount works through Student Beans, which is a platform that verifies your student status and gives you access to various student discounts. Once you're verified, you can use the discount code on A Box of Stories purchases, and that 10% off will apply to your order.

This is particularly valuable because it stacks with the subscription pricing. So if you're a student and you choose to subscribe, you're getting the subscription discount plus your student discount. That's a pretty good deal for book-loving students who want to build their library without breaking the bank.

To access the student discount, you'll need to visit the Student Discount page on A Box of Stories' website and follow the instructions to verify your student status through Student Beans. It's a quick process, and once you're set up, you can use the discount whenever you shop.

Subscription vs. One-Off: Understanding the Price Difference

Here's something important to understand about A Box of Stories pricing: subscription boxes are significantly cheaper than one-off purchases. This isn't just a small difference – we're talking about savings that can really add up over time.

Let me give you some examples. The Surprise Fiction Box costs £12.99 when you subscribe, but £16.41 if you buy it as a one-off. That's a difference of £3.42 per box. The Crime, Mystery & Thriller Box is £14.99 on subscription versus £17.99 as a one-off – a £3 saving. The Fantasy Box follows the same pattern: £14.99 subscribed, £17.99 one-off.

The Build Your Own Book Box shows an even bigger difference: £24.99 on subscription versus £29.99 as a one-off. That's a £5 saving per box.

Now, I know subscriptions can feel like a commitment, but here's the thing – A Box of Stories makes it easy to manage your subscription. You can pause, skip, or cancel whenever you want. So if you're planning to buy multiple boxes anyway, subscribing makes financial sense. You're essentially getting a discount for committing to regular purchases, but you're not locked in if your circumstances change.

If you're unsure about committing to a subscription, you could start with a one-off purchase using the referral discount, see how you like the service, and then switch to a subscription if it works for you. That way, you get to try it risk-free while still saving money on your first box.

Cashback Opportunities: Get Money Back on Your Purchase

Here's where it gets really interesting. A Box of Stories works with cashback sites, which means you can get money back on your purchases in addition to any discount codes you use. This is like getting a bonus for shopping smart.

TopCashback offers up to £4.20 cashback on A Box of Stories purchases. Quidco offers up to £3.20 cashback. These amounts can vary, so it's worth checking both sites to see which one is offering the better rate when you're ready to make a purchase.

Here's how it works: You sign up for TopCashback or Quidco (or both – there's no harm in having accounts with multiple cashback sites), you find A Box of Stories in their merchant listings, you click through to the A Box of Stories website, and then you make your purchase as normal. The cashback is tracked automatically, and once your purchase is confirmed, the cashback amount is credited to your account.

The beauty of cashback is that it typically stacks with other discounts. So you could use the referral discount to get £4 off, and then get additional cashback on top of that. Or if you're a student, you could use your 10% student discount and then get cashback as well. It's like getting multiple layers of savings.

To maximize your rewards, the strategy is to sign up to A Box of Stories using the referral link first (to get that £4 discount), then go to TopCashback or Quidco, find A Box of Stories, and click through to make your purchase. This way, you're combining the referral discount with cashback, which gives you the best possible deal.

Understanding A Box of Stories' Product Range

Before we dive deeper into discount strategies, let me give you a quick overview of what A Box of Stories actually offers. They have several different box types, each curated for different reading preferences.

The Surprise Fiction Box is their most affordable option, starting at £12.99 on subscription. It includes 2 or 4 surprise fiction books, and you don't know what you're getting until it arrives. This is perfect if you love the element of surprise and you're open to discovering new authors and genres.

The Crime, Mystery & Thriller Box is for fans of suspense and detective stories. At £14.99 on subscription, it includes 2 or 4 books in this genre. If you're someone who loves page-turners and plot twists, this might be the box for you.

The Fantasy Box caters to fantasy readers, also priced at £14.99 on subscription. The Science Fiction & Fantasy Box combines both genres, perfect if you enjoy speculative fiction. The Historical Fiction Box is for those who love stories set in the past.

There's also a Light Reads Box for when you want something easy and enjoyable, and a Young Adult Box for YA fiction fans. The Build Your Own Book Box is the premium option at £24.99 on subscription, where you get to choose your books rather than receiving surprises.

Each box comes with the books themselves, and many boxes include additional items like bookmarks, bookish accessories, or other surprises. The exact contents vary, which is part of the fun of the subscription service.

Seasonal Offers and Special Boxes

A Box of Stories also offers special seasonal boxes and limited-time collections. They have Christmas boxes, advent calendars, and other themed offerings throughout the year. These special boxes often have their own pricing, and they might be included in sales or promotions.

Right now, there's a Christmas announcement on their website reminding customers to place orders by December 18th to ensure boxes arrive before Christmas Day. This suggests they have special Christmas offerings, and it's worth checking their website during holiday seasons for any seasonal discounts or promotions.

They also have a Horror Book Club, which is a specialized subscription for horror fans. This is a newer offering that creates a community around horror literature, and it might have its own pricing structure or promotional offers.

The key is to keep an eye on their website and social media for announcements about special boxes, limited-time offers, or seasonal promotions. These can be great opportunities to try new box types or get special deals on gift boxes.

Gift Boxes: Perfect for Book Lovers in Your Life

A Box of Stories offers gift boxes, which are perfect if you want to give the gift of reading to someone special. Gift boxes can be one-off purchases, and they're a thoughtful way to introduce someone to new books they might not have discovered otherwise.

Gift boxes work well with discounts too. You could use the referral discount on a gift purchase, or if you're a student buying a gift, you could use your student discount. Cashback also applies to gift purchases, so you can save money while giving a meaningful gift.

The gift boxes are available in the same variety as the subscription boxes, so you can choose a genre that matches the recipient's reading preferences. Whether they love crime fiction, fantasy, historical novels, or prefer surprises, there's a gift box option that will work.

How to Maximize Your Savings: A Step-by-Step Strategy

Let me walk you through the best way to maximize your savings when shopping with A Box of Stories.

First, if you're a first-time buyer, start with the referral discount. Sign up using a referral link to get that £4 off your first order. This is the easiest discount to access, and it requires no verification or special accounts.

If you're a student, verify your status with Student Beans and get your 10% student discount code. This applies to every purchase, so it's worth setting up even if you're not sure how many boxes you'll buy.

Next, decide whether you want to subscribe or make a one-off purchase. If you're planning to buy multiple boxes, subscribing will save you money on each box. The subscription discount is automatic – you just choose the subscription option instead of the one-off option when you're selecting your box.

Then, before you complete your purchase, check TopCashback and Quidco to see which one is offering better cashback rates. Sign up for an account if you don't have one (it's free), find A Box of Stories in their merchant listings, and click through to make your purchase. This way, you'll get cashback on top of your other discounts.

Finally, complete your purchase on the A Box of Stories website. Make sure to enter any discount codes you have (like the student discount code) at checkout. The referral discount should already be applied if you used a referral link to access the site.

This strategy combines multiple savings methods, giving you the best possible deal on your A Box of Stories purchase.

Common Questions About A Box of Stories Discounts

Let me address some questions you might have about these discounts and how they work.

Can you stack the referral discount with the student discount? Typically, discount codes can't be stacked, so you'd need to choose which discount gives you the better deal. For a £12.99 box, the £4 referral discount is better than 10% off (which would be about £1.30). For more expensive boxes, the student discount might be better. It's worth calculating which gives you more savings.

Can you use cashback with discount codes? Yes, cashback typically works alongside discount codes. The cashback is tracked by the cashback site, while the discount code is applied at checkout. They're separate systems, so they can usually be combined.

Do discounts apply to gift purchases? Yes, most discounts can be used on gift purchases. The referral discount, student discount, and cashback all typically apply to gift boxes as well as regular subscription boxes.

Can you pause or cancel a subscription? Yes, A Box of Stories allows you to manage your subscription easily. You can pause it if you need a break, skip months, or cancel entirely. There's no long-term commitment required, which makes subscribing less risky.

Do one-off purchases qualify for cashback? Yes, cashback applies to both subscription and one-off purchases. So even if you're not ready to commit to a subscription, you can still get cashback on your one-off purchase.

The Value of A Box of Stories Beyond the Discounts

While we're talking about saving money, I should also mention the value you get from A Box of Stories beyond just the discounts. These boxes are curated by people who love books, and they introduce you to authors and stories you might never have found on your own.

The surprise element is part of the appeal. When you receive a box, you're not just getting books – you're getting a curated experience. The books are chosen to match your preferences (based on the box type you select), but you don't know exactly what you're getting until it arrives. This adds an element of excitement to reading that you don't get when you're just browsing online or in a bookstore.

The subscription model also encourages regular reading. When you know a box is coming, it gives you something to look forward to, and it can help you maintain a reading habit. For book lovers, this is valuable in itself.

Plus, many boxes include extras like bookmarks, bookish accessories, or other surprises. These add-ons enhance the experience and add value beyond just the books themselves.

Making the Most of Your A Box of Stories Experience

At the end of the day, A Box of Stories is about discovering new books and enjoying the experience of being a reader. The discounts and cashback opportunities make it more affordable, but the real value is in the books themselves and the joy of discovering something new.

Start with the referral discount to get £4 off your first box. If you're a student, set up your Student Beans account to get 10% off every purchase. Consider subscribing if you're planning to buy multiple boxes – the subscription discount is significant and worth it if you're committed to regular reading.

Don't forget about cashback – it's free money back on purchases you're making anyway. Sign up for TopCashback or Quidco (or both), and make sure to click through from their sites when you're ready to purchase.

Combine these strategies, and you'll be getting the best possible deal on carefully curated books that will expand your reading horizons. That's a win-win situation – you're saving money while discovering new authors and stories that you'll love.

So go ahead, find your discount code, choose your box, and get ready to discover your next favorite book. Your future self (and your bookshelf) will thank you.