5 Ways To Save Money In College

Saving money in college can feel impossible. With school taking over your life, it can be difficult to work and save money. But, you don’t have to worry about pushing schoolwork aside to save money, here are five easy ways to save money in college:

1. Shop Less

It can be tempting to shop while in college. It’s fun to go with friends to the mall or relax after a long day of studying by online shopping. But, if you spend your money on unnecessary items, you’ll drain money from your bank accounts. To save money in college, it’s essential to set aside your spending habits and find more affordable ways to stay entertained. If shopping is your form of entertainment, then try window shopping and creating inspiration boards for when you have the money to purchase your dream items. You can also thrift shop instead to feed your shopping addicition. Thrift shopping is an affordable way to fuel your need to shop while also staying entertained. You can also budget every month how much you want to spend on gifts for yourself. You can set aside a certain amount of money to spend while at the mall with friends or while online shopping late at night. So, it’s necessary to avoid or decrease shopping habits to save your money for future necessities.

2. Make Food At Home

As a college student, it’s fun to go out to eat with friends or order Doordash while studying all night. But, constant food purchases can quickly add up. To save money on food, try making your own meals at home. This allows you to experiment with new recipes and possibly discover a love for cooking or baking. If your favorite Chipotle Burrito is too tempting, then try to limit yourself to only one take-out meal a week. As convinent as it may be, avoid using delivery apps such as UberEats or Doordash and opt for picking up your food to save a few extra bucks. To make cooking food a little more exciting, try out some new recipes with a group of friends. You’ll be able to spend quality time with friends while also learning how to make new delicious meals. Try to avoid the generic ramen noodles and frozen microwavable meals. Explore new recipes on websites like Pinterest to make cooking food at home a little more exciting. It’s time to delete DoorDash and make your own food at home. 

3. Find Cheap Alternatives For Going Out

It can be easy to spend so much money while going out with friends. But, you don’t have to spend tons of money to have a good time with friends. Find some cheap and easy ways to spend time with your college friends. Avoid going out to restaurants or bars every week because it will quickly drain your bank account. Opt for some cheaper activites like a movie night in the dorm room or walk around campus late at night. There are so many affordable options to have fun in college. Don’t feel pressured to spend tons of money at the mall or go out to eat everynight. Don’t stress too much about making the most of your college experience. You don’t have to go out to eat or party every weekend to have a good time. College is all about studying what interests you while being around those that support you. You can have quality time with your friends without breaking the bank. You also make the best memories in college just spending quality time with friends outside of school.

4. Use Your Student ID For Discounts

There are so many ways to save money as a student. There are also many resources to use your student ID to get student discounts at a variety of different stores and establishments. Companies like UniDays and Student Beans offer student discounts at tons of different stores. So, you’re able to shop a little while still saving money in college. If you turn to online shopping as a form of entertainment, look for stores that offer student discounts so you can save a little bit of money. Some thrift stores also offer student discounts, so you can shop affordable and sustainable items and get a little discount on top of them. Create your own free account at wensites such as UniDays and Student Beans to start getting your own student discount at various stores. Certain stores also offer their own ways to get a student discount. Here are a just a handful of brands that offer student discounts:

• Dr. Marten’s
• ASOS
• Princess Polly
• Champion
• Levi’s

There are also food companies that provide student discounts through UniDays and Student Beans as well. Here are a few of the many restaurants that provide students discounts: 

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• Domino’s
• Chick-Fil-A
• Wendy’s

There are also many other companies that give student discounts. You can get student discounts at Movie Theaters or Zoos for some affordable entertainment. For those who travel often, you can also get discounts for traveling companies and car rentals. But most importantly, your student ID can save you money on electronics and softwares for school such as Adobe or Apple. Before purchasing anything while in college, do some research to see if you can save a few extra pennies. 

5. Look For Affordable Textbook Options

Textbook and school supplies are pretty expensive, especially on a student budget. Colleges and Universities charge a lot for textbooks. But, there are so many other ways to get cheap and affordable textbooks. Websites such as Chegg and Amazon provide affordable books to buy or rent for any student. You can also opt for a digital copy of a book to save a few extra pennies. If you take notes digitally, then downloading a digital copy of your textbook is the perfect way for you to highlight or take notes in class. However, if you prefer a physical textbook for note-taking, then use affordable websites to rent your textbooks for your college classes.

So, there are plenty of ways to save money in college. You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy college. What are your money saving techniques? Let us know in the comments below.