Frugal Spending Tips for College Students

Frugal Spending Tips for College Students
  • Opening Intro -

    If you're a college student, money is probably on your mind as you rack up thousands of dollars in student debt each year.

    It's a good idea to make a little extra money to offset some of the costs associated with a college education.

-------------------------------------

Ridester can show you how, but one of the best ways to take control of your finances is not to spend money in the first place.
Get that part-time job to make a little extra cash, but make sure you follow the spending tips on this list so you can stretch every dollar you make.

Buy Textbooks Wisely

Textbooks can cost hundreds of dollars every semester. That’s an awful lot of money to spend on something that you won’t ever look at again when the semester is over! Save as much money as you can by purchasing used books.

There are a couple of other ways to save on college textbooks that include:

  • Only purchase books that are listed on the syllabus, not the campus bookstore list
  • Ask the professor if older editions are acceptable to save even more
  • Try renting your books online or see if they are available at the library
  • See if there’s an eBook available

Take Advantage of Student Discounts

You wouldn’t believe how many places offer student discounts! Unfortunately, most of these discounts aren’t advertised, so most students pay full price without knowing about all the money they could be saving.

Just a few places that offer student discounts include:

  • Banana Republic
  • Apple
  • Microsoft
  • Greyhound
  • Choice Hotels
  • State Farm Insurance
  • Verizon

And these only scratch the surface. You can save at some restaurants, at the movies, and more. No matter where you are shopping or what you are buying, it always pays to ask if they have a student discount.

Don’t Lean on Credit Cards

Credit cards sound like a good idea to college students, but they will likely end up costing you a lot more money in the long run.
It’s really best to avoid credit cards altogether. Just having them can encourage a poor college student to use them, which means paying interest on all those purchases later.

If you do need to have a few cards, or you simply want one to help build your credit, make sure you’re smart about how you use it. Only charge what you can afford so the balance can be paid in full at the end of each month.

Set a Budget for Discretionary Spending

Spending a few dollars here and there on lunch and coffee can add up fast. Many students are surprised to learn that they spend over a hundred dollars a month on little stuff!

Set a budget, take out the cash you’re willing to spend, and don’t go over, no matter how tempting that latte is.

Spending some money is inevitable while you’re in college. Getting a job can help, but so can being mindful of your spending. Follow these tips and save as much money as possible.

College Financing reference:

reduce college costs

 
Bestseller No. 1
Retrospec Harper Single-Speed Fixie Style Urban Commuter Bike with Coaster Brake, Matte Black 53cm, M
  • This is the best bike for the rider who wants the sleek style of a fixie but the exceptional ease of a cruiser
  • Premium hand-built, tig-welded, high-tensile strength steel frame absorbs the bumps in the road and is as durable as can be
  • Includes all the tools you need for building and maintaining your own bicycle
Bestseller No. 2
Huffy Hardtail Mountain Bike, Summit Ridge 24-26 inch 21-Speed, Lightweight
30 Reviews
Huffy Hardtail Mountain Bike, Summit Ridge 24-26 inch 21-Speed, Lightweight
  • With a charcoal gloss hardtail frame and 21 speeds to conquer the trails, the Huffy Summit Ridge is ready for outdoor adventures; just follow the...
  • An exclusive: ideal for ages 13 and up, and a minimum rider height of 5 feet; durable steel frame backed by our limited lifetime (see owner's manual);...
  • The indexed SHIMANO TZ-31 rear derailleur combines with the micro-shift twist shifter to deliver 21 speeds on-demand for uphill climbing, downhill...

Last update on 2020-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

end of post idea

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helpful article? Leave us a quick comment below.
And please share this article within your social networks.

facebook linkedin pinterest

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: SayCampusLife.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The commission earnings are used to defray our cost of operation.

View our FTC Disclosure for other affiliate information.

Categories: Money Tips