Despite being the best time of your life, it can also be the most expensive. With the cost of college significantly rising every year, who doesn’t need to save a little money? Here are 10 different ways to save money in college.
1. Always ask about a student discount.
No matter what you may be looking to buy or do, ask about a student discount before purchasing anything. There are thousands of businesses that offer discounts for college students and the closer you are to campus, the more likely you are to get a discount.
2. Avoid getting a meal plan if possible.
The average price per meal if you are relying on a college meal plan is anywhere from $7-$11. You can save $6 or more for every meal you cook at home. There are plenty of recipes online intended for the typical broke, college student that are easy to make regardless of your experience in the kitchen.
3. Shop smart.
If you are buying your own groceries, there are a ton of ways to save money on your weekly grocery bill. From simple tricks to try during your normal shopping trip to price monitoring, there are lots of suggestions online for new money saving methods. In addition to those helpful online tips, there are numerous apps that pay users to simply take a picture of their receipt.
4. Conserve energy.
For those paying for their own electricity, there are plenty of ways to chip away at the price of your power bill. Unplugging things even if they aren’t in use, making sure your ceiling fans run in the right direction for the season, and using the toaster oven rather than a conventional oven a few times a week are just a few ways to save energy.
5. LIke/Follow local businesses on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Businesses often have coupons, deals, or even free items featured online that aren’t normally available in store. If you are a regular at a local spot, be sure to keep up with their social media presence. It could definitely save you some money on your next outing.
6. Make friends in your major.
You can cut your book costs in half just by finding someone reliable to share books with. Even if you can’t find someone to split books with immediately, plan ahead. Ask around in your classes or on social media to see who has a book that you may need next semester.
7. Look into your own finances.
If you are putting yourself through college, there are tax incentives for qualifying students. These incentives include things like credits or even deducting the amount you paid in student loan interest. Although dealing with finances in detail can be complicated, there are plenty of online resources to help you understand the options available to you.
8. Take advantage of every service your school offers.
Colleges offer services from student lead tutoring services to medical care. Instead of planning all of your appointments during your break or while you are at home, take care of needs on campus. You are already paying your college to provide you things like gym access and sometimes even transportation services, so use them!
9. Spend your time wisely.
There are many popular sites that are willing to pay a user money for either simply taking a survey or trying out their products. Spend a few extra minutes a day checking out websites like PointClub or MySurvey to rack up some extra cash.
10. Graduate early.
If there is any way you can accelerate the degree process, do it. Taking just one additional class per semester or looking into classes over summer or winter break can help add to the credits you already have and get you a little closer to the finish line. At a public university, graduating a year early can save you upwards of $20,000.
The plight of the broke college student is far from complicated. Putting a little more effort into managing your money can help make you a happy, healthy, and wealthy college student in the future.
