We all know that as college students it is very hard to save money a lot of the time. Between books and rent, it seems almost impossible to have a meal that consists of more than just Ramen noodles and Capri suns right? WRONG! Pull up a chair my friends, I am about to tell you all of my tricks to save a little money and be able to afford that night out with your friends.

The first thing you are going to want to do: download an app from some of your favorite stores, I have Joann Fabrics and Kroger on my phone, and also download the Ibotta app. Most grocery store apps have a coupon section, you can make a shopping list and download your coupons right to your rewards card so you don't have to carry around a bunch of paper ones. The Ibotta app allows you to make money off of some items you purchase. For example, if you have $2 off coupon for toothpaste on your grocery stores app, and that toothpaste is on sale for $1.75, your toothpaste is already free. But let's say you have $1.00 coupon for toothpaste on Ibotta, you will actually just get that extra dollar. You can cash in at $20 on Ibotta. Your days of Ramen noodles are over!

Another way to save money is second-hand stores or going out of business sales. One of my favorite stores was going out of business during the summer and I scored 3 rompers and a tank top for $23. There are also stores like Plato's closet where you can find quality, gently used items very cheap. Or even if your friend wants to go to the mall there are always sale racks. I recently just bought a sundress on an 80% off rack and even though it's almost winter, I can dress it up with tights and a cardigan and make it work.

Everybody likes going to concerts and sporting events right? Save money on tickets by downloading an app called SeatGeek. I use this app religiously during baseball season. I almost never pay more than $10 for mezzanine tickets at Comerica Park. I've paid as low as $20 for tickets right behind the dugout before. The best part is a lot of the time there isn't a processing fee. I've used this same app for tickets to concerts and also tickets to a Yankees game on one of the trips to NYC.

Also, if you're planning to go on a trip, don't stay at a hotel. Airbnb is another great app. You stay at somebodies home instead of in a hotel so its a little more intimate but they are almost always cheaper. Some friends and I just booked a trip to NYC on New Years and we found an Airbnb that's only about 6 miles from Times Square for $90 each of us and we are going for 4 days.

My last little trick is coupons and special nights. If your friends want to go out you can almost always find a coupon or go to a place that offers some specials. For example, Applebees has half off appetizers after 9 pm or Buffalo Wild Wings has cheap wings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or if your friends want to go out somewhere that doesn't offer specials, look up coupons on Google. 9 times out of 10, you will find a coupon for $5 off your meal or a free appetizer/dessert.