I realize that many people have written about this exact topic, but the student take might be less common, and the following list is completely based on my personal experiences. You may not agree with me on some points, but I have practiced every one of the following tips.
Enjoy!
1. Seriously consider working a job that has food as a perk. Not all food service jobs are worthwhile, but even if the pay itself isn't fantastic, adding the value of that food to your wages can really add up.
2. Whether or not you have a car, own a bike and lock. Then use that bike as often as possible. Take care of it. Note, however, that the bike should actually fit you and work decently, otherwise you’ll never want to use it.
3. Shop for groceries with other people. It saves gas, it’s more interesting and, for the person without a car, allows her to buy more than just what she can carry…
4. When you live in an apartment or house, cook with friends, even if you don't live with them. Of course, cooking and eating together is a fun pastime anyway, but it’s also far cheaper than eating out and is advantageous if you don’t own all the cooking supplies yourself.
5. Save glass jars (from jelly, salsa, etc), clean them well and reuse them as free glass cups! (Comments received from friends about them: priceless.)
6. Choose at-home group movie nights instead of everyone going out to the theater. That is, unless it’s the cheap theater. Then it might be worth it. Or find free movies on campus.
7. In fact, take advantage of as much free stuff on campus as possible. There’s a meeting for a club you find interesting, and they also happen to be serving pizza? Go for it. The bookstore is handing out coupons for students? Take them. Believe me, the university knows the stereotype of broke college kids, so take advantage of it!
8. Go to class and keep up your grades. Okay, so this isn’t exactly saving you money, but it’s making the most of what you already spent, especially if you’re an out-of-stater. I heard a statistic that one class period for the average out-of-state students at my university costs about $60! Similarly, if you have grade-based scholarships, keep up your GPA so you don't lose them. College already costs too much...
9. If you get thirsty during the day, bring your own waterbottle to class, instead of buying bottled water. If you want hot drinks, try to bring your own coffee/tea/hot chocolate in a thermos, instead of buying lots of specialty drinks from coffee shops. [Note: Yes, I’m a barista, and I’m still saying this.]
10. Don’t drink ‘til you’re 21, simple as that. After that, do so in moderation, if at all. Yeah, I realize this isn't a popular one on college campuses, but I'm just saying what has worked for me...
Money isn't everything, and sometimes spending it for the sake of delicious food, a night of entertainment or convenient travel makes the expense worth it. It's up to you. I'm just saying that to enjoy the college years, money isn't always necessary...
Frankly yours,
Ellen P.
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