Here are 6 ways that you as a college student can save money. Even though this school year will be different I still wanted to share ways you can save money whether you are doing college online, hybrid or in person. If you want to learn more about saving money on college check out my blog post here.
1. Give yourself an allowance
What you do is set aside x amount of money each month that you can spend on yourself. This way you can still do fun things or have that coffee. But you have to prioritize how you spend it. Right now I do $200 a month and for me that covers
- Transportation (When I occasionally use public transportation or Lyft)
- Food when I eat out
- Cosplay related expenses
- Gifts
- Charitable donations
- Clothes
- and more
You can adjust the amount and what it covers so it works for you. I like this because I can do fun things without feeling like I am overspending.
2. Attend free or inexpensive events at your school
Don’t ignore those flyers in person or online promoting free events.
Some of my free or inexpensive events I have attended so far (some are before covid 19)
- graduate school information session (this is where I got the free headshots that I used for my blog)
- Theater department student performances
- Haunted House
- Pumpkin Carving
- In-person and Virtual Bingo
3. Buy your clothes on sale or secondhand
4. Pack your own food or use your meal plan
You can save a lot of money by packing your own food or using the meal plan that you already paid for.
5. Use the resources that your college offers
Regardless of if you are learning from home or a dorm you can still use the services that your school offers. Check your school’s website or ask about how student services will be offered this year. Many schools will have staff working remotely that can help you virtually. However, every college is different and I encourage you to ask your school.
Some examples of services that you can access for free from your school.
- Gym (Ask your school if your school’s gym is open)
- Library
- Health services
- Tutoring
- Career Services (Resume & cover letter help, mock interviews, job search, and more)
- Virtual or social distant events as mentioned above.
6. Line dry your clothes
You can make a DIY clothesline, drying rack, or a clean flay surface to dry your clothes. If you choose to line dry your clothes you can be saving money, energy and make your clothes last longer. I have tried air drying my clothes a few times and it does take longer but it can save you money long term.
Comment down below if you have any tips that you use to save money in college.
