As a college student, money is scarce— there's no way around it. We go from Ramen for a straight week to not buying the textbooks we need. So here are some ways to save you a little change now and a lotta cash in the long run.
1. Stop eating out.
I know, it's so hard! Going to grab a bite is such a common thing to do with friends, but those $5-$10 meals are really adding up! Have a meal always made at home or something easy to put together. I normally have pasta made, with a jar of spaghetti sauce and pre-shredded cheese in my fridge. Yeah, it might be lame to be the odd one out, but your bank account and bill-paying you will thank you later.
2. Be a smart online shopper.
Free shipping is a must, so drop your fav website if the shipping costs you $8 every time you want a new staple piece. Nordstrom is the best ever about free shipping, and then many sites have free shipping over a certain amount, like ASOS.
Also, use online coupons and rebate sites! Honey is an extension that finds coupon codes online, and Ebates gives you cash back for however much you spend! And on holidays, they have extra cash back, like Friday the 13th had 13% off on many sites. I literally get checks through Paypal every couple months for over $50!
3. Save some gas.
Simple, time-saving tricks that also save gas are the key! Buy all your groceries at once, drive eco-consciously, and walk and bike places if possible! I live 10 streets away from campus and bike every single day.
4. Thrift store it up!
Thrifting is one of my favorite past times—there can be super fun things to find and your probably supporting a good cause while saving the environment. Need a themed party outfit? Goodwill will be 10x cheaper than Party City!
5. Sell your things.
Not only can you sell old belongings that you don't use anymore on places like eBay and Poshmark, but you can also buy good items at thrift stores (like Ralph Lauren pullovers) and sell them for more online. There's nothing wrong with re-purposing your great finds! I've been selling on eBay for over five years and have made some great money from it.
6. But other's things.
Recently I wanted Lululemon's Swiftly Tech Shirt but didn't want to spend $68-$78 on one. I found quite a few on eBay for an average of $30 in great condition, and now I have way more than I would've been able to afford if I bought them new. eBay has great policies, so if the item says excellent condition and it clearly isn't, you can take it up with the website and most of the time get your money back. Just read the item descriptions and search for listings with great prices! Other places with good deals to buy used rather than new include resale apps, Plato's Closet, and sometimes even Facebook marketplaces!
7. Drink water!
Quit buying sodas from restaurants and the grocery stores—get free water when you eat out and drink tap water or out of a Brita filter to quit buying wasteful bottled beverages. I have a Camelbak water bottle that I carry everywhere, and the only money I ever spend on beverages is a couple dollars for a gallon of milk and orange juice that last me weeks.
8. Budget weekly.
Know how much you can spend and how much you want to save. Don't go over for things you don't need and plan out exactly what to spend on. Any leftover money should be saved for future needs!
