With the Fall semester behind us, we can finally get excited about Christmas and Winter break. While you relax with your family and get back to work, here are some money-saving hacks you can use in the Spring. We're all balling on a budget, so why not try and save a little more?
1. Use extra pages in notebooks for new classes.
In high school, I would get new notebooks every single year for new classes. It didn't matter that half the time I didn't use the whole notebook. But once I got to college, it finally clicked that I was only using half a notebook.
Don't throw out your notebooks until you've used every page. If you had a class last semester and you used maybe two-thirds of that notebook, keep it and use the last third for a new class that you don't really take a lot of notes in. That way you're buying only a few notebooks a year.
Let's be honest. Notebooks are expensive.
2. Reusable folders are a must.
I never liked paper folders. Sure, they're cheap, but they fall apart. Get reusable folders, so each semester you can clear out old paperwork and fill it with new classwork. Paper folders may be cheap, but if you need one for every class you're ever going to take, it's not worth it.
3. Say no to paper and plastic dishes and silverware.
Paper products, like folders, are easy. With paper plates and plastic utensils, there aren't any dishes to be done. But paper products, besides being bad for the environment, are expensive. All you need is one plate, one bowl, a cup, fork, knife, spoon and you can for rinse them off in your dorm room. Don't break the bank because you can't wash a dish.
4. Invest in some larger appliances.
There are two larger and more expensive appliances that are worth the investment. A printer and a Keurig. For all those Liberal Arts majors, chances are you're writing a lot of papers and some professors are going to want hard copies. Sure, most universities offer printing money to students, but it's limited. If you're going to be printing a lot, invest in a printer; it'll last you long after college, too.
If you're an avid coffee drinker, like me, invest in a Keurig. They come in a variety of prices and sizes to fit your needs. Even if you aren't a coffee drinker, you can make tea and hot chocolate with a Keurig. My favorite Keurig hack is cooking pasta, Ramen included, with a Keurig. All you need is a Tupperware with a sealable top, leave for 10 to 15 minutes, drain, and there you go: pasta.
