Ever hear the phrase, "broke college student?" Well, it didn't appear out of nowhere. College students are notoriously known for being broke. But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are five ways to put more (er, some) money in your pocket:
1. Flash the student ID
Don't be shy! Some retail stores actually give you a discount for being a student! Granted, it's not a huge discount, but the couple of bucks you save each time do add up. However, keep in mind that the discount usually only applies for in-store purchases. Hungry? Food places like Subway, Qdoba, and Chick-Fil-A offer student specials. Feeling like splurging? Apple, Juicy Couture and even Kate Spade offer student discounts. So next time you're shopping around, ask the cashier if they do a student discount!
2. Buy, Sell, Swap!
If you've ever driven around town on a Saturday morning, you're probably familiar with the phrases "This way for garage sale!" or "Moving Sale!" Driving around, having to walk around and barter with people is a lot of work, but what few people know is that there are online garage sales. I know what you're thinking, used items? Are you serious? But hear me out: you're not looking to buy raggedy clothes or shoes. You would be keeping an eye out for EUC (excellent used condition), BNIB (brand-new in box) or NWT (new with tags) items. Thinking about buying an Xbox One? Search up your local "Buy, Sell, Swap" group on Facebook and you just might find one way below the retail price. Need furniture for your apartment? No problem, people post furniture all the time and sometimes they're so desperate to get rid of it, they'll give it to you for free. Looking for the discontinued Too Faced Peach Palette? There's even a makeup group! The makeup for sale is almost always BNIB or swatched only. Go ahead and take a peek at these groups, couldn't hurt to try!
3. College Amenities
What most students don't know, is that their tuition doesn't just pay for their education. Other than free barbecues on the lawn or free printing, some colleges and universities offer a car service like AAA for when you need help jump starting, towing or temporarily repairing a flat tire. You should definitely do some research because you might be missing out on some great services!
4. There's an app for that!
Ever heard of Groupon or Livingsocial? No? Well, now you have! These apps are amazing at providing you with local deals. Sometimes if there is a big event, like a county fair, you can purchase tickets at a discounted rate. These apps are also great for discounted gifts like personalized photo blankets, jewelry, electronics and tons more. Another awesome app is Coupon Sherpa. This app has hundreds of mobile coupons for all your favorite retail stores and restaurants. You can download these apps for free in the App Store or in Google Play.
5. Make a budget, and check it twice
After all these opportunities to save money when you're in the mood to spend money, the best way to save money is to be smart about it. Here's a scenario: you're in the mood to splurge on these headphones that are $100. You check out Coupon Sherpa and you find out there's a 20% off your entire purchase coupon, making your head phones $80. While you technically are saving money because of that coupon, at the same time, you aren't. Think about it this way, you're still spending $80. When you put it that way, the way you think about how you're spending money will become smarter and more savvy.
I hope you take advantage of all these tips! Happy savings!
