Students stretch themselves thin, often having little time to earn money. These tips will help students take little steps in daily life to save their money.
Any student knows that saving money is of the utmost importance. With tuition and book costs, project deadlines, exams and extra-curricular activities students do not have much time to earn money. But, with a few easy tips from one college student to another the pennies in the piggy bank will start to add up.
Coffee Matters
Buying coffee at school or on the road can add up quickly and empty your wallet. Perhaps one of the most student-friendly inventions are coffee makers that have a timer. You can set it the night before and wake up to the smell of fresh coffee. When buying coffee on campus, bring your travel mug – many shops offer a discount when you use your own mug.
Eat Breakfast at Home
As hard as it seems at the time, students will thank themselves for setting the alarm 20 minutes early. Nobody needs a huge breakfast, just something nutritious to get through the day. Try one of these quick & healthy breakfast tips:
- Cereal - it lasts forever in the cupboard, and is nutritious and filling.
- Peanut butter - in a sandwich or on toast, this yummy breakfast food is full of protein and will get you through to lunchtime.
- Shakes/Smoothies - throw some yoghurt, fruit and milk into a blender and enjoy a cold treat that packs you full of vitamins and energy.
Cook More than you Need
When you're making dinner, always make double what you are able to eat. The extra portion will come in handy as lunch the next day – and will be more nutritious than what can be purchased in most cafeterias.
Keep Track of Cell Phone Use
With many students relying on cellular phones as their means of communication, minutes add up and large bills follow. Make sure you know exactly what your plan allows you, and write down how much time you use each day. This will prompt you to keep conversations short if you’re nearing your monthly limit.
Keep the Receipt
Keep receipts from any purchases you make. Keep them in your log book and continuously update your bank balance so you know what you have to spend. Here are some tips on keeping track of your bank balance.
Pay the Bills
Paying your bills right away, in full, will stop interest from accruing and put a stop to late payment fees. Many students will not have the funds needed to pay a bill when it comes. Try paying your regular bills at the beginning of each month, even if they are due halfway into the month. This way, you will know what is available to be spent throughout the rest of the month.
Skip the Cable, Watch Online
Millions of videos appear online, and can be just as entertaining as what can be found on television. Many of your favourite TV shows are available shortly after they air, on the network website. Since most students need the Internet for schoolwork, use it for your entertainment as well.
Only Print the Final Draft
Students will often go through many drafts of an assignment, until they have the perfect copy. Instead of printing off every draft and editing it on the page, try editing it on the computer. Many word processing programs allow you to write edits in the margins. This will save you the cost of paper and ink, which is pricey.
Keep the Change
Always put your change in a container, and watch it grow into a huge amount of coin. Once you have enough, you can count it up and put it in the bank. Many grocery stores also have machines that will count all of your coin for you, for a small fee.
Be an Effective Grocery Shopper
Students often have a hard time grocery shopping and will buy whatever looks appealing. Always know what you want, and split large quantities with a friend to save money, and stop your food from expiring before use. Check out these grocery shopping tips.
Host a Potluck
Invite your friends over for a potluck dinner. You all make just one dish, and in return you get to feast on what everyone else has made. When the night is over, be sure to split the leftovers up and give everyone something to take home. Here are some helping words for hosting your potluck.
