how can i save money while in college?
im looking for ways to save money, but not on saving money for books.
Public Comments
- get a student lone
- create an account that you have for yourself. every paycheck, put 10-15% in it for yourself. when you get up to $1000, put it in a CD for 6-9 months to accumulte interest. Easy, and no strings attached.
- Get a job, buy groceries at cheap stores, not convienence stores, bike/walk everywhere.
- Make a budget. Decide on a certain amount of money that you will spend on things (either per week or per month, I do it every paycheck = 2 weeks) and then stick to it. Try to find a coupon holder (a little wallet-sized accordian thing) to keep your CASH in. That's right, use cash for everything (except rent and other very large purchases), because it is easeir to keep track of how much you are spending. Decide on how much you will spend on food per month, entertainment, clothing, gas/car repairs, etc. and then each week put the right amount of cash in your coupon holder/wallet. Once the money is gone out of a particular category, you can't spend anymore that week. It might take a month or two to figure out how much you need to be spending on things, but it has really helped me. Some other ways to actually be saving money is mostly on entertainment. When I was in college, I spent a ton of money because I didn't know any better, and am really feeling it now. Limit the amount of money you spend on going to the movies, eating out, and other such things, as it is really tempting to spend money on those things. It is also tempting to buy the most expensive foods (because they "taste the best") when you are first in college, but don't give in. Stick to store brands and you will save a lot right there. Don't give into gimmicks. Credit card companies like to target college campuses because they give away free food if you sign up for their credit card. DON'T DO IT. It can hurt your credit score which will hurt you in the long run. Walk or bike to save money on gas. Limit your coffee/etc. intake (although I know its tempting! as an alternative, find some tea that you enjoy and bring a tea bag to a coffee shop when you meet with friends, a cup of hot water is cheap or free, and you'll save a lot). But most of all, just be aware of how much money you are spending on things. Good luck!!
