Ahh yes, it is that time of year again. Time to go back to school! While a new year brings many excitement and renewal it also brings the stress of financials! Expensive textbooks, pricey food, those new clothes you want but just can't have. At times it can feel like attending college implies you are broke. However, may we not forget about your one and all mighty tool, your student identity! If you obtain an email ending in “.edu” and a student ID, it is time for you too use them to their full advantage! You never realize how many businesses gratify students today. You should be awarded for getting your education on!
Textbooks are something we all dish out copious amounts of money for just to sell back at the end of the year for a huge fraction of what it originally took us to buy it in the first place! Don’t limit yourself to your campus’s bookstore; in fact, try to avoid the bookstore prices at all costs, literally! Amazon Student is a program where by signing up with your student email you will receive six months of an Amazon Prime membership for free! The books are shipped to you within two days because of your “Prime” membership and on top of that, textbooks that do fall under the “Prime” book tittle will be discounted at 50% just because you are a student! I turn to Amazon for all my textbooks and save so much money compared to buying my books through my University. Some other great discounted textbook websites to look at are Chegg.com and Alibris.com. Barnes & Noble also offers great discounts on textbooks. There is a way to afford college text books without breaking your bank account, I promise!
While textbooks are a major financial burden in a student's life, so is the food we put in our bodies. We have all been there — we have no money and are forced to eat a pop tart for dinner (yes, I went there). However, there are a lot of business that give discounted meals to students, if not free attributes. At most Chipotles, Qdobas, and Chick-fil-As, you can receive a free drink just by presenting you student ID; all you have to do is ask! Buffalo Wild Wings also offers 10% off your meal by proof of being a student, as well as Subway who also offers 10% of meals for students. It never hurts to ask, so next time you decide to buy lunch somewhere, just ask if they have any student discounts — most of the time the answer will be yes!
If you are like me, food is not the only thing you blow your money on. Shopping will drain my bank account every time. However I want to share a secret with you not many college students know about but need to sign up for RIGHT NOW! UNiDAYS is a student registry that allows you to sign up with your student email to receive huge discounts on Apple, clothing for Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Levi’s, and even discounts at Bed Bath & Beyond, you name it! Just go to myunidays.com to register your student email.
As this school year begins, remember to take advantage of being a student! Never be afraid to ask a business if they offer deals for students, you would be amazed and how many discounts you will receive with the identity of being a college student!
