As appealing as it is, going to college isn’t exactly low-cost. Quite the opposite; it could cost you a significant amount of money.
Coupled with that, you’ll have a limited amount of time, so working can be difficult. Money could end up being tight. You’ll need to know how to save money in college.
You shouldn’t have to be the person living on Ramen noodles, like you might’ve seen in pop culture. Taking a smart approach should mean that you can save money while still having an active life.
You should keep a few things in mind when doing so.
How To Save Money In College: 3 Top Options
1. Choose The Right Accommodation
If you need to move to attend college, then your accommodation will be one of your largest expenses. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways of finding affordable student accomodation, though.
Spending time researching this ahead of time is recommended. It may also be vital to get a lease in place as early as possible. As the academic year draws closer, appropriate accommodation will be booked up.
That could leave you with only the expensive options. Getting in early could save you money.
2. Pick The Library Over The Bookshop
Every semester, you’ll need to get books for your classes. Though you may only need two or three per class, these add up quickly.
When you factor in how expensive new books can be, the costs can be enormous. You have an alternative to buying these, however; get them from your college’s library.
It should have multiple copies of each of the books that you need. While you’ll naturally need to bring these back at a certain point, there’s nothing stopping you from borrowing them again when you need them.
You shouldn’t have to pay a penny for any of this, so you could save hundreds.
3. Always Have Your Student ID
You could be surprised by the number of discounts you can get as a college student. In towns or areas known for having a large student population, that’s especially true.
There is one caveat with this, however; you’ll need to have your student ID with you. These can be used to get discounts on almost everything you’ll need for college.
Even Apple and Microsoft offer discounts on their products for students. Taking advantage of as many of these as possible is recommended.
If there’s something you need for college, try to find a place that offers this. While it may only be 10% or so per product, the savings will add up.
How To Save Money In College: Wrapping Up
When you first start going, you mightn’t know how to save money in college. That could be despite how tight of a budget you might have.
It gets progressively easier, however. Keeping each of the above tips in mind will be helpful in doing so.
You could also consider the multiple side hustles that can be done around a students’ schedule. These can often be an effective way of making money without taking time out of class.
Don’t forget to enjoy yourself while you’re there. College life shouldn’t all be about studying and working.