College is expensive, especially if you decide to go out of state and/or live on campus. Like most of us, I come from the average middle class family; you can live comfortably, but things like college can put a toll on it. After personal experiences, and a little bit of research, I have created a go-to guide for the best ways to save money while in college.
1. Coupons are your best friend.
Every week, Sunday papers have coupon inserts. Each paper cost approximately one to two dollars; if you use at least three to four coupons per week, you will be saving money. Depending on the week and holidays, there could be five or none. Check weekly for the insert schedule. Living Rich With Coupons also has deal breakdowns weekly for each store. The website will tell you which products become free by using these coupons! Approximately every couple of weeks, 10 pack pens become free, and what college student does not need pens?
2. Saving five dollar bills stacks up.
Every time you go to the store and use a $20 bill, most likely you will receiving at least one five dollar bill in your change. Over a year, if you save at least two bills per week, you will have saved $520! That is $520 that can be put towards school and/or fun!
3. Put those bills into a savings account.
Once you start saving that $520, you can deposit them into a savings account. Savings account accrue interest every month. It can be as low as a penny the first month, but if you do not touch the savings account for a while, you will be getting free money.
4. Renting textbooks can save you about 75 percent.
Chegg is a great place to rent textbooks for the semester. Books that normally run for $200, can be rented for $35 or even lower. As a pre-health major, I am taking an abundant amount of science and math courses, and the textbook prices are ridiculous! This semester, my total I am spending on textbooks is under $100, when the retail price for purchase would have come out to over $400! I have done much research for myself, and found that renting the textbooks is the best option for my budget.
5. Apply to be a resident advisor.
When I went to my freshman orientation, I had the privilege of having an orientation leader who was well rounded. He was a part of multiple clubs, a science major, and he had just been selected to be a resident advisor. He explained that the best part about his job is that he gets room and board for free! It does not hurt to at least apply, maybe you will get selected; and if you get selected, you are saving an easy $10,000.
6. Ross and Marshalls are heaven.
These stores do not always look as fabulous as the mall boutiques, but most likely they are selling the same clothes for over 30% off the price. I just went out recently and bought four cute shirts for under $60 dollars! I looked it up online, and I should have spent almost $100! Why go all the way to the mall when you go down the shirt to the plaza where Ross and Marshall's are right next to each other.
7. Drink Water.
When going out, sodas can rack up the bill. Water is always free at restaurants; it is also cheaper in the bottle than canned soda when at home. Water can get plain and old after a while, but you can buy Crystal Light or Purell water flavor packets at the food store. After a while, the price savings rack up, and water is healthier for you anyway.
8. Take advantage of campus offers.
Many colleges in big cities have a list of offers for their students on the website. With your student ID, you can get into museums for free or discounted prices. Some student centers even have movie theaters for $2-$5; and the popcorn is cheap too! Take advantage of all the offers you can find; you can save so much money by going to an art museum on a Friday night, rather than going out on the town with friends.
