College students struggle to pay for tuition fees, meet up with high costs of living, and generally how to save money in college. And most times it seems as though there aren't enough tips in the world, which is why ScholarshipTab in this article gives you 100 Ways To Save Money In College, with links and other resources you will find helpful.
This article contains information on all things on student savings, including how to save up money for college and how to save money while in college when you become a student.
The question of how to save money in college will no longer be regarded as a do or die affair by students, especially if you didn't have any solid backup you can use to fend for yourself before and during your university studies, simply apply the tips we have mentioned.
How to Start Saving Money for College
College tuition fees are expensive and continue to grow in price. If you want to further your education and you haven’t made any moves to fund your studies yet, how do you plan to save enough for college?
The surest way for you to financially prepare yourself for the university is for you to start setting goals to achieve this aim and to start accomplishing them now, as early saving prevents certain future disappointments faced by aspiring students.
To get you started, this section on how to start saving money for college, lists out 11 ways on how to save money for college tuition.
11 Ways To Save Money For College
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Apply for Scholarships and Grants
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Reduce Senior Year Spending
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Start Saving As Soon As Possible
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Get A Job
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Sell Old Items
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Start a Side Business
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Spend Less
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Apply for Loans
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Always Set Money Aside
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Make Your Savings Automated
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Opt For Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
1. Apply for Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships and Grants are top on the list of how to save money for college tuition. When applying for a scholarship or a grant, it is recommended that you start early.
To find out how to save money, scholarship for you, go for quantity rather than quality; apply for as many as you can no matter how small you think the reward may be. Smaller award scholarships are easily won as there aren’t many people applying for them and they are usually overlooked.
Another good tip is to apply for specific scholarships, like need-based scholarships, local scholarships for undergraduates in your country or course-based scholarships; specific scholarships also have less competition.
You could also use a trusted scholarship website like ScholarshipTab to find college funding opportunities that are especially tailored for students in whichever group you fit into.
2. Reduce Senior Year Spending
If you are looking for a great way on how to save for college in high school, cutting back on some fun senior year activities is a good place to start.
The parties, trips, photo shoots, dinners and numerous hang outs are all fun, but trying to do them all at once leaves a huge dent in your pocket and messes with your college budget.
3. Start Saving As Soon As Possible
Don’t wait until you apply to a university or receive your acceptance letter until you start saving for college.
Opening a designated bank account to save college funds, putting whatever little money you get together so that it grows over time is how to save up money for college.
4. Get A Job
Right from time, getting a job has proven to be a sustainable source for how to save money for college in high school. Work a full-time job during holidays, do part-time, work at retail or fast food and other side jobs you can get your hands on to increase your income over time.
5. Sell Old Items
Selling old items you no longer use is another trusted way on how to save money for college as a teenager. Items you can sell include but are not limited to old phones or laptops, shoes, clothes, antique items in your possession, musical instruments, toys, cameras, etc.
You can put these items up for sale on websites like eBay or Amazon or you can sell them on your social media pages or simply have a sale at your house.
6. Start a Side Business
If you have ever wondered what the fastest way was for you to save up for college within a short period, a side business is your best bet.
A student with sharp business acumen like you, monetizing whatever skills you have whether it is writing, photography, baking, catering, designing, etc is a solution for how to save for college in 2 years tops.
7. Spend Less
Unless you want your dreams of going to college to only remain a dream, you must curb your spending habits when saving for university.
Certain tips on how to save up money for university you can incorporate into your lifestyle include opting for a home cooked meal instead of take out or fast food, doing free hang out activities with your friends like watching a movie at home.
You could also use gift cards, coupons, and other cash alternatives you have before they expire, this is a smart thing to do. Finally, getting a prepaid debit card like the Current Visa Debit Card, is a good way to monitor your spending and set savings goals.
8. Apply for Loans
If you are looking for how to pay for college with no savings, then you can apply for loans.
There are 4 types of loans: federal need-based loans, federal non-need-based loans, state loans, and private loans. Each of these loans have different terms guiding the eligibility criteria, interest, benefits, and repayment plans.
The best type of loan to apply for is a Federal need-based loan as the repayment for it isn’t required until you graduate from college and the government pays for the interest when you are in school. To determine your eligibility for federal loans, you can apply for a Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), by filling out the form.
Other sources to get loans from include banks, credit unions, online lenders, and state agencies. Some top loan institutions include, M-Power Financing, Prodigy Finance, Citizens One, Ascent, etc.
9. Always Set Money Aside
Before you do anything else with the money you received from your job, gift cards, or business remember to remove the stipulated amount you need for your college funding so that you don’t spend all of it on expenses.
For every month, there should be a percentage of your money which you put aside in a bank account you opened specifically for saving money for your college education.
10. Make Your Savings Automated
Automating your savings is a good step on how to save up for college, this simply means that every time you get paid your employer can send a portion of your salary to an account you have opened for saving your college funds.
Another way is that your bank can withdraw the money from your salary and save it in the designated bank account, this way the money goes out before you change your mind or start paying for bills.
11. Opt For Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Taking AP courses and passing College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests while in high school is a smart move for how to save up for college tuition, because it not only helps you graduate on time as you take fewer classes in college, but it also reduces the expenses on your education.
Having an AP or CLEP exam qualifying score, earns you college credit which automatically spares you from taking some classes in college, which means that you can graduate early or get a head start on fulfilling college requirements. Taking an AP course while in high school can save you thousands of money, depending on which one you take.
In addition, enrolling for college classes at a local school for two years is another thing you can do to tick off college requirements even before you become a full fledged college student. Different schools have different programs and criteria for AP, so you can speak to your school advisor for clarification.
How to Save Money in College
Saving money in college can be difficult, with rising tuition costs, expenses and general cost of living.
Most college students will often find themselves spending more money than they budgeted for and might struggle with keeping their finances in control so that they still have enough money for their personal savings.
If this is you, and you are looking for the best ways on how to save money in college, especially if you have just been enrolled as a new student, the tips in this section will help you.
How To Save Money In College
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Draw Up a Budget
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Open A Free Checking Account
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Use Credit Cards Wisely
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Visit Your Local Bank
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Work As You Study
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Pay Early
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Start A Side Hustle
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Avoid Overdrafts
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Invest
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Start Paying Off Your Loans
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Get An Accurate List Before You Buy Books
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Don’t Buy Books In The College Bookstore
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Cutback On Textbook Expenses
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Sell Your Used Textbooks
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Focus On Your Degree And Classes
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Take General Education Classes At a Community College
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Fill Out The FAFSA Yearly
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Apply for Scholarships
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Check Your Student Loan Borrowing
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Learn To Utilise College Facilities
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Cook Your Own Food
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Take Food To School
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Use Your College Meal Plan
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Grocery Shop in Bulk
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Refrigerate Leftovers
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Look for The Best Products In a Store
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Track Restaurant Promos and Offers
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Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption
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Utilise Deals and Promos
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Do Not Buy Groceries On Impulse
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Attend Free Events
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Use The College Gym
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Stay Local
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Ditch Cable
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Reassess Your Mobile Phone Plan
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Utilise Student Discounts
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Pick Up A Free Hobby
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Frequent The Library
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Volunteering
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Join An Entertainment Group
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Use Public Transportation
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Use Free Transportation
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Live Close To College
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Get A Car And Maintain It
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Travel Cheap
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Live Off-Campus
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Live In A Good Location
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Get A Roommate
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Look For Renters’ Insurance
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Become A Resident Assistant
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Use Minimal Decorations
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Use Utilities Mindfully
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Safeguard Your Security Deposit
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Take Advantage Of Student Discounts
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Work Where You Shop
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Shop At Thrift Or Second Hand Stores
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Don’t Shop On Impulse
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Open Your Own Thrift Store
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Don’t Be Misled By Free Shipping
How To Save Money In College Maintaining Your Personal Finances
Being able to maintain your personal finances as a college student is the first step you should take on how to save money as a student.
This is because if you can manage the little money you have left after you have paid all your bills and made the month’s expenses, you will always have some cash to fall back on during emergencies and it is one way to guarantee that you don’t entirely go bankrupt after your degree.
1. Draw Up a Budget
Drawing up a budget ensures that you have most of your basic needs covered, with an amount allotted to each of them. You will know how much to spend on rent, transport, books, grocery shopping, and even the occasional hang outs with your friends.
A budget is also a good way on how to save money as a student because you can use it to track how much you are spending each month and it will help you stay within your financial limit so that you don’t spend more money than you bargain for, you can also make adjustments to this budget when necessary.
If you need tips for how to budget and save money as a college student, this part should help.
2. Open A Free Checking Account
A free checking account is a type of account where the bank doesn’t charge you a recurring fee like a monthly maintenance fee, or requires you to have a minimum balance in your account before you can be exempted from the fee.
Having a free checking account is a good tip on how to save money as a college student because most banks waive their fees for students, or for people that have a direct deposit or any other type of account with the bank. It also helps to prevent you from paying for banking.
3. Use Credit Cards Wisely
Credit cards always seem like the solution to all your problems at first, but once you have used them for a while carelessly and racked up tons of debts you can’t repay, they can turn into quite the nightmare.
So the advice is this, if you need a way on how to save money in university, don’t be careless when accepting or using credit cards. If you must use one, go for a card with a low interest rate, and charge what you can afford to pay in a month.
Doing this helps you avoid late fees and debts so that you can have a good credit score for when you want to ask for loans in future.
4. Visit Your Local Bank
When you go to your local bank, ask questions about the checking and savings accounts they have available for college students, as those ones usually have lower fee charges, and don't require a minimum balance. Another tip is to use online banking to check your balance, so that you don’t incur huge overdraft charges.
5. Work As You Study
Working as a student is always a good tip on how to save money while in college, as it not only gives you extra cash for school, but it is a reliable way for you to replenish any money you spend on monthly expenses or emergencies.
You could either work full time during holidays or part-time when school is in session to support yourself while in college. Some job sites you can use for remote work or freelancing inclue Remotasks , or Upwork.
Having a job gives you a certain level of peace of mind because you know that any money you spend, you can make it all back by the time your next paycheck comes. And if you are spending less and saving more, then you might just find yourself having lots of cash in your savings account.
Furthermore, you can read this article on Best Student Job Websites to find reliable websites where you can find good jobs.
6. Pay Early
Late payment costs you money, because the more you delay, the more your balance continues to increase and you do not need that kind of extra expenses as a college student.
Additionally, if you are using a credit card, you should pay your bills on time so that you can get a good credit score and avoid interest and late payment fees.
7. Start A Side Hustle
If you have a valuable skill you know people would be willing to pay for, you can start it on the side to support yourself in school. Furthermore, you can use this side hustle in addition to your full-time job, to make some extra money for yourself. Your side hustle can be done in addition to your full-time job or done alone as a full-time business.
Check out Freelancer.com for great freelancing opportunities that you can do effortlessly from home.
8. Avoid Overdrafts
An overdraft is when you spend money in your account, which you don’t have and the bank charges you a fee to process this transaction. An overdraft is a blow back on your savings, so try to avoid it as much as you can.
9. Invest
Investing your money as a college student is a good foundation to lay for yourself, for how to save money after college, and thankfully it does not cost much money for students to go into investing.
If you need a good way to save pocket money as a student, investment might just be the way to go. However, try to research as much as you can before you begin and make sure you speak to a trusted personnel.
These articles - 5 ways to invest money, 7 best ways to invest while you’re in college, Investments for Beginners, will prove helpful. You can also take investment courses on Coursera or Corporate Finance Institute.
10. Start Paying Off Your Loans
When paying off student loans, you don’t have to pay everything at once, you can start paying them off bit by bit. Waiting till after college to pay off student loans, makes them accumulate and a bulky payment might be heavy on your account.
Any money you get that can cover a reasonable part of your student’s loan, should go towards this cause, this way you can cover a huge amount of the loan, even before the grace period you were given reaches.
How To Save Money In College On Expenses
College is costly, so you have to think up creative ways on how to save money during college, while paying for tuition, books, foods, and other items you will need to make yourself more comfortable while you study. This section covers several how to save money tips for students.
1. Get An Accurate List Before You Buy Books
A good way on how to save money on textbooks is to enquire from students who have taken the class before, the exact materials that are needed for it. You could also email the professor in charge of the course, and ask them which books they would most likely use for the course. This way you wouldn’t have to spend too much money buying textbooks.
2. Don’t Buy Books In The College Bookstore
A great tip on how to save money on college textbooks is for you to avoid buying books at the college bookstore. This is because college bookstores charge more for the books you buy because you didn’t go off campus to buy them.
A much better alternative would be for you to rent textbooks , find editions of it online via e-book format or borrow from a friend and make copies of it.
3. Cutback On Textbook Expenses
Buying used or renting textbooks are two of the best hacks on how to save money on textbooks, as you save money doing this instead of spending to buy new books every semester.
4. Sell Your Used Textbooks
Another great tip on how to save money on college textbooks is for you to sell your used textbooks once you are done with a semester.
Selling you used textbooks that are still in great condition, helps you make extra money, and also make back the money you spent on the books.
5. Focus On Your Degree And Classes
As a college student who wants to save money in college, you need to focus on the plans you’ve made for your classes and degrees and stick to them. Go to school, attend classes and take your studies seriously.
Extra classes and semesters cost money each year and the same thing applies if you fail courses, because you have to pay for the same courses over and over again. In addition while participating in extracurricular activities and doing side jobs and businesses, also work to maintain your grades.
So, even if college is a time to make friends and lasting memories, do so wisely so that you don’t live above your means and so that your degree does not suffer as well.
6. Take General Education Classes At A Community College
College often has general education classes that every student has to take because they aren’t tied to a specific mahore and can be transferred from college to college.
Taking these general education classes at a community college for the first two years is a good way on how to save in college because they provide the same level of education while being lighter on your pocket.
Another thing you could do is to test out of a class that you confidently know about the subject and material very well. This will allow you to save money by not paying for the course because your knowledge will be simply reviewed.
Additionally, if you took any college credits in high school or from another college or university you can request for it to be transferred to your current college.
7. Fill Out The FAFSA Yearly
The FAFSA is an important tool you need to gain several financial aids like federal grants, work-study, and loans at no cost and can be applied for yearly.
Filling out a FAFSA isn’t something you should just do when you are sourcing for funding for college, while you are a student you can also apply for one to get extra financial help.
8. Apply for Scholarships
Applying for scholarships while in college should be top on your list of how to save money as a university student.
This is because scholarships shouldn’t just be applied for only when you're in high school wanting to go to college, but it is something that you can opt for even as a university student.
Most scholarships and grants often go unclaimed or have few applicants, which means they could be yours if you apply. You can apply for as many scholarships as you want, even if the price amount being offered is small.
9. Check Your Student Loan Borrowing
Student loans may be helpful, but borrowing too much of it can cause you to struggle financially even after college as you struggle to pay them off.
When collecting student loans, you have to consider how efficient your school is in putting you in a position where you can pay off your loans, in terms of job placement and the employability of the course you are doing.
Never borrow more than you think you can earn in the first year after you graduate, so that you can comfortably afford to pay the debt you owe.
10. Learn To Utilise College Facilities
If you are going to pay a huge sum of money to study at a college, and pay even more on textbooks and study materials, then you better be able to use all of your school’s facilities to the fullest to cut down on your college expenses.
The library is the first facility you can start with. Libraries have everything like books, computers, videos, software, and information, which are all free for students who want access to these things.
Educational discounts can also be another benefit of being a student at your school, you can take advantage of. Laptops and softwares, you need for classes can be bought from the education store where you will get an education discount. More so, some softwares offers discounts for students who purchase their education edition.
Another thing you can try to cut back college expenses is to print all your documents on campus as it saves you lots of money, better still you can submit a soft copy of your work if the professor will allow for a paperless submission.
How To Save Money In College On Food and Groceries
Food and grocery shopping gets really expensive in college, and can take quite a toll on your finances if you do not budget well enough for it. If you ever needed some great tips on how to save money on food in college, the points we have outlined below can prove useful to you.
1. Cook Your Own Food
A home cooked meal is not only healthier for you, but it is also a good start on how to start saving money as a college student.
Instead of blowing all your cash on ordering take out or eating out, you can stock up your house with groceries and food stuffs and cook a healthy filling meal that won’t cost you anything. Reserve the take outs for special occasions and treat yourself moments.
2. Take Food To School
How to save money in college articles online, recommending taking your own food and drinks to school for lunch, see it as a good way to minimise the amount of money you would usually spend on buying lunch.
3. Use Your College Meal Plan
Utilising your college meal plan to the fullest is a good tip for how to save money during college, especially if you insist on eating out. You can use your meal plan to get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks at college, and can combine it with taking your own food to school or use it as a stand alone option.
4. Grocery Shop in Bulk
Bulk buying of groceries may seem expensive when you first make the purchase, but in the long run, you will see how cost effective it is, because you won’t be needing to grocery shop again for another 1 or 2 months.
Bulk buying stocks up your house, making sure you have everything you need to prepare a variety of meals for yourself without spending too much money or making frequent trips to the supermarket.
5. Refrigerate Leftovers
This plan will require you to have a refrigerator, but if you already have one, you can preserve leftovers and preserve meat, poultry, fruits, and any other product that could benefit from being in there. Try to consume leftovers as soon as you can, so that they don’t go to waste.
6. Look for The Best Products In a Store
Grocery shopping requires patience as it’s how you find the best alternatives to products that are usually costly, and also find the best products that will offer you the best value for your money, no matter how costly they are.
When grocery shopping try to opt for cheaper alternatives to your favourites, that are still on the same level of quality, this saves you a lot of money for grocery shopping.
7. Track Restaurant Promos and Offers
Okay, we know we said you shouldn’t blow your money on take out, but if you must, might we also suggest that you track restaurant promos and offers so that you can eat at those places for reasonable prices you won’t regret the next day.
Establishments like KFC, Taco Bell, Dominoes, offer special promos for specific days of the week, those can be the days you and your friends can go to hang out at these places to have a cost-effective good time.
8. Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption
Whether you are having a party or just drinking with your friends, watch the amount you spend on buying alcohol for the occasion, as you can rack up costs fast. You can drink beers which are on sale or your friends can contribute to the payment to reduce the cost for all of you.
9. Utilise Deals and Promos
Coupons, discounts, sales, deals, or promos, whatever method you can apply to get lower prices for items and spend less on your grocery shopping, don’t hesitate to use them.
These things allow you to eat well,and have a good time exploring different cuisines, while still maintaining your personal savings target as a college student.
10. Do Not Buy Groceries On Impulse
Grocery shopping is more about what you need, than what you want at the moment because you suddenly had a craving for it. Do not shop on impulse, and even if you must, do so only after you are done buying the essentials and have some cash left.
How To Save Money In College On Entertainment
The most motivational how to save money in college speech, would still tell you that having fun in college, and making memories with friends are things you should never miss out on even while you are focused on your education and trying to save up enough money as a college student.
To help you live out your dream of having the best college experience ever, below are some tips on how to save money as a college student on entertainment.
1. Attend Free Events
Attending free events is a tip on how to save money in university, because most colleges have events like live music, concerts, shows, sports, seminars, sports tournaments, movies, festivals, and training which are free for students that you could attend to keep yourself entertained.
Try to keep track of the activities that happen in your school, and attend the ones you find interesting the most. All you need to do is show your student ID card, and you are good to go.
2. Use The College Gym
If you are someone who is committed to fitness, then this particular tip on how to save money while in college, should interest you. The college gym is free, well maintained an equippen and you also get the chance to make new friends at no extra cost, just pay your school fees and you use the gym.
3. Stay Local
During breaks, you can save money as a student, by choosing to stay local and spending time at the local park , having dinner at a restaurant close to your school, and learning a new skill, rather than going on an expensive trip you know you cannot afford.
4. Ditch Cable
How to save money tips for students swear by ditching your cable which is really expensive as the best option for you. There are better and cheaper alternatives to cable which you can use to watch movies and films, so there is no need for you to still renew that cable subscription.
Use apps like Amazon, Netflix, Showmax, BBC,or Netflix to stream movies at cheap subscription prices. you can minimize the money you would spend on subscription, by opting for the cheapest of all these alternatives, and use that one.
5. Reassess Your Mobile Phone Plan
Reassessing your mobile phone plan means that you should use your college’s wifi instead of your mobile phone data, since most of your work is done in the school anyway.
Another thing to do is to go for a smaller mobile data plan if you notice that the larger plan isn’t necessary.
6. Utilise Student Discounts
Utilising student discounts from restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and theme parks is a smart hack on how to save pocket money as a student, because you gain a lot without having to spend all your money. Just flash your student ID card, and you could make good use of a student discount.
7. Pick Up Free A Hobby
A free hobby is your best bet for how to save in college, because you can have fun and boost your productivity level at no extra cost. Free hobbies to add to your list include running, hkinhg, reading, drawing, listening to music, etc.
8. Frequent The Library
For the university student who loves to read, the library should be top of your list of how to save money as a university student because it is the one place you can attend to your passion for free.
Libraries also have other resources like games, magazines, and videos you can use to keep yourself entertained for hours.
9. Volunteering
Gain experience and contribute to a cause by volunteering at national organizations, charities, or even at a school event.
Volunteering opens you up to the opportunity of meeting and networking with people who can become friends and possible business associates in the future.
10. Join An Entertainment Group
Get your creative juices flowing, by joining either a band, the press club, literature or drama club, or another group you know will be free and fun for you.
How To Save Money In College On Transportation
If you want to work towards how to start saving money as a college student, ensuring you manage how much you spend on transportation to and fro school is a great place to start.
1. Use Public Transportation
Taking the bus or train to school saves you lots of money on transportation.
Pro tip: if you are going to use public transportation, get a bus pass and most colleges partner with transit companies to offer their students discounts, so you can take advantage of this offer as well.
2. Use Free Transportation
Using free transportation like buses and shuttles offered by your college or lift from friends to get to classes or your apartment is another good way on how to save money during college.
3. Live Close To College
How to save money in college articles advise that getting a house close to the college if you must live off-campus, is how you avoid high transportation expenses.
However, most houses close to college are usually expensive, so if you are going to get one, ensure that the rent doesn’t exceed the transportation you will pay if you live far from campus.
4. Get A Car and Maintain It
If you already mastered how to budget and save money as a college student, then a car won’t be as tedious for you to maintain.
Do not drive your car recklessly so that you don’t get into accidents as the cost of repairs and host bills are high, and that’s not the kind of bills you want to incur.
Learning how to make minor auto repairs and maintenance on your car like oil changes, air filter replacement, washing and changing tyres from online lessons and experienced friends, saves you money you would have taken to a mechanic to do these things for you.
Always have gas in your car, fill up your tank for as long as it can last so that you don’t always have to spend money buying gas daily.
Finally, once in a while ditch your car and walk to school , ride your bike, or take public transportation. This saves you money on car maintenance because of overworking your car, plus it is good exercise for you.
Some online courses on car maintenance you can take are available on platforms like Udemy, Reed.Co.UK, Alison, and International Open Academy.
5. Travel Cheap
We know that you might want to travel in college, and doing so is quite expensive, so if you must travel, travel cheap.
Travel websites are a good place to find travel deals that you can utilise for your travels. This might take a lot of time but if you do it diligently you will find something that is good for you.
Additionally, most of these websites offer students travel tours with great discounts so you can use those as well. You can check our Student Universe for offers on flights.
Set up flight monitoring for the regular flights you take so that you can be alerted for price changes and you can know how much to budget for these flights.
Consider other travel alternatives to flying like carpooling, driving, train, or the bus. These flight alternatives are cheaper and can be as comfortable as a flight as well, and they work depending on where you are going and the distance from your college.
How Save Money In College On Housing
Finding housing alternatives that are affordable whether you live on campus or off-campus, or even in your parents house is how to save money in college.
Below are tips you can combine with your search for affordable housing to save more money as a university student.
1. Live off-Campus
In addition to getting benefits like privacy, more space, and freedom to do whatever you want, getting a house off-campus is how to save money as a student, because it is cheaper than living in one of the college hostels.
2. Live In A Good Location
While living off-campus is less expensive than living in the college hostel, you also need to do your part to find a house that isn’t too far from your school, so that you don’t incur high expenses from transportation.
In addition, wherever you are, there should be a location that is safe and surrounded by students like you, so that you won’t feel lonely or out of place where you live.
3. Get A Roommate
It is understandable as to why most students wouldn’t want to live with roommates, but if you have a friend that is up for both of you getting a place together, then do it because it is cost effective as you can split the bills and chores with them.
4. Look For Renters’ Insurance
Students living in the USA, a renters insurance policy protects you and also helps you with the option to replace or repair any property in your house after damage or theft, it also provides accident coverage for your residence.
The prices for a renter’s insurance come with affordable annual premiums, but it does not cover your belongings.
Most landlords require a renter’s insurance should you wish to change something about your residence, so you can find the best deals for you.
5. Becoming A Resident Assistant
Becoming a resident assistant is another tip on how to save money as a college student living in school. You not only meet people, but your room will be completely paid for by the college in exchange for working for them as an RA.
6. Use Minimal Decorations
If you are looking for how to save money in university, then using minimal or no decorations at all is your best bet.
College is not the time to go all out on decorating your space, the space you are using might be unique and you won’t be able to use your decorations when you move out so it will be a waste, just save money by getting the essentials you need.
You can also shave off costs, by buying second-hand furniture like chairs, tables, bed frame, cupboard, that are still in good condition, instead of buying brand new ones that cost a lot more.
7. Use Utilities Mindfully
Mindfully using utilities like air conditioning, light, or water heater is a habit you need to master for how to save money while in college, this is because utility bills can skyrocket when you misuse them and leave a huge dent on your savings.
8. Safeguard Your Security Deposit
If you use the utilities in the house well and maintain it, you have a higher chance of getting your security deposit back when you want to move out of the house.
So, try not to do any damages to the house or break any property that was already in the house when you moved in.
How To Save Money In College On Shopping
Most how to save money in college articles would advise that you should shop for only the essentials like food, but just because you are in college., doesn’t mean that you can’t do the occasional shopping for clothes and shoes and other items, while still saving money.
This section covers steps you can use to shop in college, which gets you the finest products in the market, but are also cost-effective for students.
1. Take Advantage Of Student Discounts
Utilising Student discounts whenever you shop is top on the list of how to save money during college as you can get almost anything with it from school materials to tickets to events and movies. Just show your student ID for proof, and an available discount will be applied to the purchase you wish to make.
2. Work Where You Shop
You can get a job in the store where you shop for clothes, shoes or other items, to enjoy benefits they offer like employee discounts.
This is a good way to save money while in college and even for how to save money after college.
3. Shop At Thrift Or Second Hand Stores
Shopping at thrift or second hand stores couts back the amount of money you would usually spend on shopping by a lot.
This is due to the fact that while new clothes and other new items like furniture are costly, you could get the same quality for a lower price at your local thrift or second hand stores.
If you must shop for new items, do so occasionally but combine iw with thrift shopping whenever you can.
4. Don’t Shop On Impulse
Most advertisements that promise discounts for items if you shop from their website immediately, can be misleading and make you spend money on impulse for items you may end up not wanting after you buy them.
Before you shop on impulse, take some time away to really think about it.
5. Open Your Own Thrift Store
You could also have a thrift store of your own online or offline where you can sell the clothes or items you no longer need, this way you can make back the money you spent on buying those items.
For your thrift store to work you have to maintain those clothes or items you want to resell in good condition, so that they will still be valuable when you want to sell them to their new owner and you can make good money off of them.
You can open up your own thrift store on websites like ThredUp, Depop, Tradesy, and Buffalo Exchange. You cpuld also read these articles on how to start a thrift store - How to Start an Online Thrift Store and 10 Tips for starting an Instagram thrift store according to an owner who got it right.
6. Don’t Be Misled By Free Shipping
Shopping on websites that encourage you to buy more items so as to get a free shipping offer, are misleading because the cost of the items you shopped for might actually outweigh the shipping itself even if you had to pay for it.
The question: how can students save money? Can often be a source of worry especially for students who don’t know what to do to curb their spending habits in college and save more money.
Thankfully this how to save money for students essays will break down all the tips you need so that you can manage your finances better.