College. It is a challenge to budget in college. How do we all pay for school, clothes, food, fun and the necessities? It isn't easy, but here are some tips on how to stretch your "college currency" into way more than it is.
Plan your week! This is seriously the most important thing you can do as a student. Before you go out shopping or buy a coffee at Starbucks everyday, make sure you have enough money to pay for what you need. Like your phone bill or gas. Those are things that come before the cute pair of shoes you saw at the mall last Saturday.
Find out what kind of free events are going on locally. On the weekend, see if there is a farmers market or a coffee shop that is having a jam session (free concerts are golden). Go on a walk or tour some local historic sights. There are so many free things to do around college areas; students need to take advantage of them.
Going to dinner? See if there is a restaurant close by that you can get a student discount at. Local restaurants typically offer some sort of deal on food. They want your business just as badly as you want cheap food.
Coupon, coupon, anyone coupon? Always look for a coupon or a sale before purchasing something. It is better to take longer shopping then it is to waste the money you didn't have to spend. For example, I wanted to buy Vans and I waited until I found the best deal I could. I ended up with a pair of gray Vans on clearance and used a 20 percent coupon which brought them down to $20. It was worth the wait.
These are just some basic tips on how to stretch you college currency. Making minimal amounts of money each week is hard to handle, but even if you only have about $150, it can last a really long time if you are wise with it. Moral of the story, don't be frugal.
