Tax Planning Ten Money Saving Tips for College Students Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by Ginita Wall Published Jun 1, 2012 - [Updated Aug 19, 2016] 3 min read Many college students are just hanging on financially, with the high cost of tuition, books, housing, and dwindling funds available from scholarships, grants and loans. But don’t despair – here are ten ways that college students can save money (and even have some fun doing it). College Savings Don’t waste money on bank fees. Find a bank or credit union that offers free checking to college students. Be sure your account includes free online banking and debit card transactions. Free checks are nice too, but in today’s electronic age most people don’t write many checks. If you opt for a credit card, get one with no annual fees and the lowest interest rate you can find. Stick to your card limit, pay your credit card bills on time so there are no late charges, and pay more than the minimum so you can minimize interest charges. Reduce food and beverage expenses. Eat in or grab fast food instead of eating out, and when you do eat out order the less expensive items or split something with a friend. Drink good ol’ American beer rather than expensive foreign brews, or gather with your friends for a party with a six-pack at home rather than expensive beer, wine, and set-ups in a restaurant or bar. Buy used textbooks if you can. There are several online textbook comparison sites where you can shop for the best prices. And when you are done with the book, if you don’t need it in your permanent library, sell your used textbooks online. Splurge on a good coffee maker – and use it. Drinking quality coffee at home is much cheaper than buying expensive lattes at your local coffee house. Tuck a thermos full of coffee into your backpack and use it to refill your to-go cup. If you do this stealthily enough, no one will even peg you for a geek. Stock up on snack foods. I know you are pressed for time and need to eat on the go a lot, but crackers, string cheese, cookies, and donuts brought from home are all much cheaper than buying them in coffee shops, and they are just as portable. Skip the bottled water. Get yourself an inexpensive bottle, fill it with tap water, and guess what – you now have bottled water at almost no cost. If the water in your area is crappy, invest in a filter to improve the quality and taste. Look for student discounts. Many retailers and service providers offer student discounts. If you don’t see a discount advertised, ask. The worst they can do is say no, and you may be able to snag a discount that isn’t widely advertised. Buy used if possible. Shop for computers and other electronics at ebay or on Craigslist and you’ll get much more for your money. It may be lightly used, refurbished or last month’s model, but it will still be functional. And let’s face it, if you bought and used a computer, it would then be a used computer, so why not start there and save some bucks? Free entertainment is, well, free. Watch television through your computer, gather with your friends at free movie screenings on campus, join in a game of touch football or tennis, or go for a swim at the Y. Get creative, get moving, and get involved. There are lots of ways to entertain yourself on the cheap. Previous Post Dating Around the World: The Cost of a Simple Night… Next Post What Is Duty Free? (How Does It Work & What… Written by Ginita Wall More from Ginita Wall 2 responses to “Ten Money Saving Tips for College Students” How about just work. Find a meaningful job. I used to tutor. How about writing for blogs? I say working is much more effective than savings alone. Reply Hi Alex, Yes, I agree working is always a good option, but you still have to work on saving your money once you earn it. Thank you, Lisa Lewis http://blog-turbotax-intuit-com-develop.go-vip.co Reply Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Tax News Intuit TurboTax April Report: A Look at Refunds and S… Tax Planning April 15 is the Tax Deadline: 6 Things You Need to Know… Tax Planning Unable to Pay Your Tax Bill? Here’s What To Do Tax Tips Tax Credits 101: What They Are & How They Work Business How to Know if You Should Invest in Business Insurance Tax Deductions and Credits What Is the Standard Tax Deduction for 2023 – 202… 401K, IRA, Stocks Should You Use Your 401(k) or Retirement to Pay Off Deb… Tax Planning What Happens If You Don’t Pay Taxes? Understanding Pe… Tax Deductions and Credits Family Taxes: Take Advantage of Tax Savings Taxes 101 How Much Do You Have to Make to File Taxes? Demystifyin…
How about just work. Find a meaningful job. I used to tutor. How about writing for blogs? I say working is much more effective than savings alone. Reply
Hi Alex, Yes, I agree working is always a good option, but you still have to work on saving your money once you earn it. Thank you, Lisa Lewis http://blog-turbotax-intuit-com-develop.go-vip.co Reply