Creative Ways to Save Money in College – Tips and Tricks

August 15, 2020

Since students can’t start working full-time due to a large number of lectures and homework, the only way is to save money. In this post, we’ll review the most popular ways to save money while being a student.

Education

Expenses on education lighten students’ wallets significantly. However, there are some great ways to save on learning.

Save on Textbooks

Textbooks are required for students to learn new skills. If you want to save money, do not hesitate to purchase used textbooks. They will deliver the same information as new ones. The only difference is their condition. Alternatively, you can rent textbooks or share them with friends. Also, check out Amazon’s textbooks service that offers great discounts for students.

Look for Free Courses

Do you want to get additional education but don’t have money for extra courses? Fortunately, there are a lot of free lectures on the Internet. Surf online education platforms like Udemy, Khan Academy, or Coursera and enroll free education courses.

Save on Tuition

There are a lot of ways to save money on tuition if you’re a college student. For starters, you can consider attending a community college for the first two years to learn the basics for a low cost. After the second year, you can change your community college to a more prestigious one and start learning more specialized subjects.

Also, there are a lot of colleges abroad, especially in Europe and South America, that offer tuition-free programs in English. In some countries, living standards are much lower than in the US, which will cause fewer expenses.

Living

A costly apartment and utility bills can create a gap in your budget. If you want to decrease your living expenses, check out some tips below.

Split Expenses with Roommates

Most of their time, students spend at college, in a library, or doing homework. Therefore, there is no need to rent a large and expensive apartment by yourself. Find roommates and slit all the expenses.

Additionally, you will live with friends who will help you study. For example, you can always ask your roommates, “Guys, don’t you know someone who can write my essay for me online?” if you experience any problems doing your homework.

Take Care of Utilities

Nobody likes receiving bills that imply a lot of numbers. Thereupon, you need to spend electricity and water wisely. Switch off lighting and any other electronic devices when you live home and try not to spend half an hour under a hot shower.

Nutrition

Every student has to eat regularly. If you don’t have money to order foods and don’t want to eat noodles every day, here are some hints on how to save on nutrition.

Purchase Food that Lasts Longer

If you want to save money on food, purchase products that don’t rot in a short time. Consequently, you won’t waste your money on rotten food. Porridge, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and cereals are the best choice.

Buy in Bulk

Gather your friends and purchase products in bulk. It will help you to buy food cheaper. If you create a well-thought-out nutrition plan, you can avoid the need to go to a grocery store for one or two weeks.

Eat Out at Happy Hours

If there is no option to bring lunch from home, consider eating out at happy hours. Most eateries provide cheap meals at particular hours.

Shopping

It’s impossible to live in the modern world without a need to purchase something like gadgets, clothes, college supplies, etc. The tips below will help you save your money when you need to buy something in a store.

Find Discount Coupons

A lot of stores share coupons to attract new clients. Do not hesitate to surf the Internet to find some coupons before making a purchase. You can also install a browser plugin that will find discount coupons for you.

Use your Student’s ID

Studying at college brings one great benefit. It’s your student’s ID. Don’t hesitate to use it to get up to a 50% discount on apparel, electronics, or services. Note that some online stores will ask you to verify your student status by using particular services.

Purchase Gift Cards

A lot of people sell gift cards on the Internet. They aren’t going to use them, so they decide to sell them for a reduced price. If you’re planning to purchase something, check if anybody sells a gift card. As a way of illustration, you can get a $100 gift card on apparel for $85 only.

Sports

Doubtless, education takes a lot of time. However, you shouldn’t forget about sports if you want to stay fit and healthy. Fortunately, there is no need to pay money to work out.

Work Out at College

Being a student, you have access to all the facilities in your college. Don’t be shy about using them to gain your muscles. It’s free. However, in some cases, you will need to get permission to train after classes.

Note, if you experience a lack of time to work out, use a top-notch essay writing service via this link – https://papercoach.net/. It will help you get rid of your homework and allocate more time for sports.

Entertainment

For sure, every student needs some rest to get distracted from an exhausting daily routine. Explore the tricks below and discover how to save money on entertainment.

Save on Streaming Services

Start using streaming services instead of a cable to save money. If the content on YouTube doesn’t fill your needs, feel free to get a Netflix, Apple TV+, or Amazon Prime subscription.

Don’t forget that most streaming services provide cheap students’ plans. For instance, if you have a valid student’s ID, you can get an iTunes subscription with a 50% discount. As a bonus, you will get an Apple TV+ subscription for free.

Spend Time in Nature

There is no need to go to bars or clubs and spend a lot of money on alcohol to hang out with friends. Gather your mates and go on a picnic. It will require you to grab some snacks and drinks. Also, don’t forget to get a blanket to land on grass.

Recommendation for Students

If you don’t want to cut your expenses, there is only one option to enhance your budget. Find a side hustle while studying to earn money. Eventually, it can turn into a successful business that will help you provide yourself and cover all the education expenses.

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