College can be quite the culture shock for many students as they begin to navigate the adult world for the fist time. From doing laundry to buying toilet paper, many students try to find ways to make the most menial of tasks a bit more manageable. As a result, here are 10 college tips I found to make life as a college student a bit easier.
1. Student Discounts
Becoming a college student is like entering a world where stores everywhere are willing to give anyone with a valid student ID a discount. With student deals like an extended 6-month Amazon Prime free trial, and Spotify Premium for just $4.99 a month, who wouldn't want to take advantage of all the savings? For a complete list of companies that have student discounts, visit the website UNiDays to learn how you can save.
2. Earn money while you shop
While you’re taking advantage of every student discount out there, how about being paid to make those purchases? Companies like Ebates and Ibotta actually pay you back a percentage of your purchases. (I know—dreams really do come true!) All you need to do is sign up for an account on Ebates or download the Ibotta app (or do both!) and make money while you shop.
3. Rate My Professor
One of the many nightmares a college student can face (besides running out of toilet paper) is walking into a class only to find that they are stuck with the worst teacher in school! With modern technology and the advances of social media, the website, Rate My Professor tries to solve that horrifying dilemma. When picking classes for the next semester, any student can search a professor and examine their ratings and reviews which are submitted by students. Now, any student can be certain they have the best classes; as long as they don’t put off registering until the last minute.
4. Save plastic bags
Do NOT throw away all those plastic bags from grocery shopping or from takeout! In addition to being an environmentally friendly suggestion, plastic bags also function as wonderful trash bags for your room or bathroom.
5. Ask for extra utensils
I’ll be the first one to admit, washing dishes has never been my favorite chore; especially now with a kitchen in my dorm, my distaste for dirty dishes has only grown. So, if you decided to go to your favorite fast food place with your squad at 3 AM, do your future self a favor and ask for extra utensils. Now, you can have clean utensils the next time you eat without having the hassle to wash them.
6. ... and more condiment packets
In addition to extra utensils, don’t be afraid to take a few condiment packets too. Instead of spending money on sugar for your coffee or pepper to spice up a meal, take some extra packets when buying your takeout to save a few bucks on groceries.
7. College Partnerships
Many companies sponsor events or rent tables on a college campuses in order to generate more awareness for their brand amongst students. Usually these companies will either be handing out free stuff, like t-shirts or bags, or be distributing coupons/gift cards to entice students to buy their product or service. Either way, students can receive awesome deals as long as they are on the lookout for which companies are making an appearance on their campus.
8. A Laundry Loophole
Is it really worth washing that shirt you wore once to class then immediately took off the moment you entered your dorm room? Laundry can be expensive. Especially if your college requires you to keep your quarters when washing. If you want to save the amount of trips you make lugging your dirty clothes across the dorm’s hallway, try fabric-fresheners, which eliminate body odor on clothes, leaving your clothes with a freshly washed scent, and time saved!
9. Multi functional fragrance spray
All those body sprays you accumulated in middle school can be finely put to good use! Body-mists and sprays can act as great substitutes for air fresheners, fabric fresheners, and bathroom air deodorizers.
10. Car fresheners
Have a smell you can’t seem to get rid of in your dorm? Try clipping a car freshener to your air vent or fan to create a mini fragrance paradise in your dorm.
