Students, here are top savings hacks as you head back to campus
It’s that time of year – time to shelve the swimsuit and trade sleeping in for 8 a.m. classes and excessive amounts of caffeine. And with back to school comes something else that isn’t so fun: managing the costs of being a student.Paying for your tuition and housing will be your greatest expense, but what about the other things you have to budget for while you are a student? The small things really do add up, so here are my favorite hacks to lessen the financial burden.
Take advantage of Student discounts
It’s a known fact that certain businesses give discounts to senior citizens and military personnel – but did you know that some businesses also loop students into the mix? You can get anywhere from 10% to 85% off depending on the discount.The retailers and service providers that may provide deals range from insurance companies to subscription services. Retail stores, restaurants, and electronics and software sellers may offer discounts too. To get a student discount, all you have to do is prove your enrollment. This can be done with a .edu email address or a student ID card.Some of my favorite companies that give student discounts include:
◾ American Eagle: 20% off
◾ Nike: 10% off
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◾ Urban Outfitters: 10% off
◾ The North Face: 10% off
◾ Target: One-time 20% discount
◾ Dunkin’: 10% off (at participating locations)
◾ Apple: Reduced prices for students year-round.
You can even get some subscription plans for a lower price from companies like DoorDash, Spotify, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
Save big by renting textbooks and supplies
Consider renting when it comes to things you will never need again like textbooks and certain school supplies.
You can save up to hundreds of dollars (yes, really) from renting your textbooks. You can rent from places like Amazon, Chegg, Barnes and Noble, or even your college’s bookstore. Alternatively, see if you can get away with buying an e-book or an electronic copy of your required text to save a bit too. Rentals don’t stop with textbooks either. You can also rent big-ticket items like calculators and even laptops and tablets.
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Learn the art of budgeting (and thrifting)
Discounts and rental supplies aside, the most important thing for you to do is to change your mindset around spending. So, I suggest learning how to budget. Living on a budget at a time when your income is tight (such as being a student) is a way to pave your path to financial success early on.
Hand in hand with budgeting is becoming OK with buying used. I like to say new isn’t always better, and sacrificing the thrill of buying something shiny and new can leave more money in your pocket.For instance, buying furniture second-hand will save you a ton of cash. You can get leads for furniture on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. To take it a step further, consider thrifting your clothes. If you don’t feel like physically thrifting – going to an actual store – look on sites like PoshMark and Mercari.
Cut costs on campus
You don’t have to be on the Ramen diet to save money while in college. Putting A little bit of effort into saving money can merit big rewards long term. Fixing your mindset around spending and learning how to budget is important, too.
One final tip on the topic of saving: When shopping online, look for cash-back apps or browser extensions. My favorites are Rakuten and Capital One Shopping. You can follow me on Instagram where I give even more tips on budgeting, saving, and spending.
Erika Kullberg is a lawyer and personal finance expert. You can find more of her work at Erika.com.