It's that time of year again to dig far into your pockets and get the money together to purchase books you MIGHT look at twice this semester. Goodbye to the money I made over winter break! Here's how to get the most out of your money and save for your spring break adventures!
1. Speaking Of Books...
Books can be some of the most expensive things you will have to purchase all semester. Be sure to buy used books or look into renting. A lot of schools require professors to recommend a book in the syllabus, ask around campus for students that have taken the classes you're taking, you may not even need to buy it. This can save you hundreds of dollars.
2. Download A Finance App
Personal finance apps link to your debit/credit card and help track spending in different categories such as clothes, food, coffee, and more. I downloaded Mint and was astounded by how much I was ACTUALLY spending. You can then set budgets for how much you aim to spend in each of those categories throughout the month. They will send you notifications when you have gone over and when you have more room to spend. Aside from Mint, I suggest Acorns which is free for students.
3. Break Your Starbucks Habit
I run on coffee like any other student there is and having 2 Starbucks on my campus doesn't make it any easier to avoid it. However, buying a $4.00 coffee three times a week can cost you up to $650 annually. Try making coffee in your apartment or pick some up at the dining hall.
4. Take Advantage Of Student Discounts
Your college ID card can do a lot more than just grant you entry into your dorm building. Websites like UNiDAYS and Studentbeans provide verification of your student status and grant you discounts to some of your most beloved websites such as Gymshark and Missguided. Huge electronic retailers like Apple and Dell offer major student discounts on almost all products. Hulu and Spotify teamed up to provide premium memberships to both for only $4.99 a month with confirmation of your student email.
5. Campus Amenities
Take advantage of your campus amenities while living on campus. I cancelled my gym membership at home because I had multiple to use on campus. Don't bother to pay for TV and Cable when you are provided those in university buildings and have your student discounted Hulu to rely on.
6. Avoid Annoying Fees
Stay away from ATM's that aren't with your bank to avoid the few dollar extra charge. Make sure to pay your rent on time to avoid late fees which can be up to $50 per late day.
7. Limit Your Nights Out
Painting your college town 4x a week can get expensive. If you're notorious for impulsive spending on your late nights, take out a certain amount of cash and only let yourself spend that.
