As we near the next semester of college, we are reminded (by our bills and our bank accounts) that we are pretty much broke. It's OK; college students everywhere have this problem. While in college, we can only work so much, and there are endless expenses at school. Here are a few easy ways to cut down on your semester's costs.
1. Don't buy clothes.
Seriously. You already have them. Sure, it's nice to look stylish and up to date, but most of the purchases you are going to make over the next semester could be made into a wish list for your next birthday or holiday instead. Another way to cut down on clothing costs is to do a clothing swap with your friends, which is an easy way to get new things while getting rid of old stuff. You can also give your old clothes to a consignment store and get paid in exchange.
2. Don't buy textbooks.
Yes, of course, you need your books for the coming semester. But if you can, avoid the bookstore all together and order them at cheaper prices online, from used booksellers or even Amazon. Even better, try to get to your school library before the semester starts and check out all of the books you need. You can just keep renewing them that way, and if someone else requests them, you can photocopy the pages you need. Sure, it's not preferable but it's better than spending $200 or more on books.
3. Don't eat out.
I don't know what your meal plan is, but I am sure that you can do some tricky things to get the most out of it. A classic favorite is bringing Tupperware to the dining hall during your next meal and taking food. You can also occasionally get your friends to sneak you into the dining hall if necessary (depending on your level of security). The main thing to avoid is going to restaurants and cafes with friends. This will be hard, and you can, of course, indulge from time to time, but the whole point of a meal plan is to keep you fed and alive for the whole semester. It's a special kind of irony to spend a lot of money eating out and complain about being broke, because you are just wasting meal plan money that you already paid.
4. Budget.
There will always be expenses, which is why it's nice to have a little help staying on track. The more you budget, the better you will be able to save for your next big splurge, whatever that is. While it is not specifically romantic, budgeting will help you throughout your financial life and make your finances much less stressful. Try an app like Mint or another spending tracker to keep you accountable.
While all of these tips seem pretty basic, if you were to actually put them into practice, I am sure you would see results. Let's stop playing into stereotypes and get our finances together before tax season. Stop complaining and start changing.
