25 Ways to Save in College that Work
Let’s face it, most college students are flat out broke. Yet the temptation to live it up and blow through whatever money you do have is absolutely crazy.
I’ve been there. Hell, I practically lived there.
During my freshman year, I blew through most of my savings. It was so bad I really had to start getting serious and see where could I cut back so I could still enjoy going out with my friends occasionally. It was hard at first because I was so used to not thinking about how I was spending.
But saving is like a superpower once you realize it’s possible it becomes easier. You don’t have to fall into the broke college student stereotype! College is filled with tiny ways you can save that will save you thousands over the long hall.
Now if you’re like me you’ve probably read a few of these “10 easy ways to save” articles a million times and the advice can be pretty sketchy and not easy to implement in your life at all.
Well here are ways that I’ve actually used as a college student myself, to not only save but still have fun while doing it.
Shop at the dollar store
You would be surprised at what you can get at the dollar store! Everything from small personal care items to cleaning supplies. My favorite thing to do is to stack up on all the cheap snacks and host movie nights in my dorm room.
2. Share account access to streaming services
This was something my roommate and I did. We wanted to watch more shows that were not on Netflix so we decided that I would pay for Hulu and she would pay for HBO. Our dorm was the best place to be because just about every movie or tv show you could think of, yet neither of us had to foot the whole bill. So try sharing accounts with friends and family.
3. Stop buying books use your college library instead
For over two years now I've worked at my college library and it blows my mind that a lot of students don’t know that they can find textbooks at their college library.
Not only do professors sometimes submit copies of books to the library, but a lot of humanities textbooks are in the general collection! Always always check your library to see if they have a copy of your textbook before you start looking online.
4. Don't do unpaid internships/ apply for college funding
I have a secret. I’ve never done an unpaid internship (and I don’t plan to). Not only am I broke but it’s unethical to work for long hours without getting paid and not everyone can do that.
As a history major almost ALL internships are unpaid. I’ve gotten around that by applying for internship stipends through my college.
Almost all colleges have them, so if you get internship contact your school’s career center and ask about funding opportunities! You don’t have to use your own money and you really shouldn’t have to.
5. Unsubscribe to marketing emails
Yes, I’m looking at you with an inbox filled to the thousands filled with promotional emails.
Something I did this year when I was trying a no spend month was to unsubscribe from particularly tempting stores. It’s hard to focus on what you have and what’s important to you when you’re always being sold to. Do yourself the favor of cutting that shit out. Marketing emails are truly the devil.
6. Download coupon apps
This one is such an easy fix and yet so many people don’t do it! I use Honey for my online shopping purchases and I’ve never not saved on a purchase! For in-store shopping I use retailmenot to find coupon codes. These are such passive ways to save you’re losing money if you don’t use them.
7. Abandon your cart
This is a sneaky trick I learned by accident. Once I was looking for a backpack and I was browsing through and I added the bag to my cart but I was still on the fence of dishing out 60 dollars for a backpack. When I checked my email only to see the company sent an email to remind me of the bag in my cart and offered 30% off. I was blown away and ever since then I always abandon my cart to see what kind of deals companies give.
8. Use influencer codes/links
You really should be doing this. The people you follow should add value to your life and one way that can add value is to provide you with discount codes! If there’s a product you're interested in you might want to look up reviews of that product or just mentions and see if there are any influencers who have codes for that product. Not only do they get a commission but you get to see the product in action and then save on your purchase.
9. Pack your stuff well at the end of the year
If you live out of state (or even in-state to be honest! ) you can lose massive amounts of money at the end of the year by throwing out perfectly good items because you have nowhere to put them. To combat this start packing your stuff early like a week or two before moving out and strategically pack your stuff and put a protective covering over things that can be damaged easily.
There’s no reason for you to have to keep repurchasing the same items every time you move back into college.
10. Read the instruction on your clothing
This is something I recently started doing and it was an eye-opener. If you don’t do this you might not realize a lot of clothing have specialized care instruction and most time you just throw everything into the washer without looking to see what those care tips are.
If you’ve ever had a nice top that looked raggedy after you threw into the dryer then you might not realize that item was supposed to be air-dried. Save your self the time and money from constantly having to repurchase items due to improper care.
11. Practice gratitude journaling
Gratitude journaling is something that a lot of people are raving about for good reason. Gratitude journaling helps you to focus on what you have instead of always feeling this itch to have more.
Sometimes we spend because society is always selling something but focusing on gratitude can help you to find more value in the things you already have. You don’t need to buy a fancy journal for this but I write every day in my notes app something that made me happy or smile that day.
12. Shop on off seasons
Oof this is something I still struggle with. Stores always bring out the latest and greatest stuff each season but then you pay for it in an upcharge. I’ve found designer winter coats for dirt cheap on the clearance during the summer and amazing shorts for a steal in the winter. This little trick could save you so much money on pricier items for each season such as coats or bikinis that are super season specific.
13. Ask for practical gifts
When I was going to college and people wanted to buy me gifts it was super tempting to ask for fancy bedding or intricate wall art but instead, I asked for things like a mattress pad and vacuum cleaner. Items I still have and use as a junior! Whenever I'm getting gifts I also ask for the more practical items that I can get more use out of! The decor and stuff I can always buy later but you don't want to have a gorgeous room but not have all the essentials you need on a daily basis.
14. Don't be afraid of DIY
Diy isn’t only for the super crafty! I don’t think of myself as someone who is very artistic yet I’ve created simple prints online and framed them in my dorm room and it looks like I bought them from the store.
I used Canva to create some simple black and white phrases and printed using my school printer and got some cheap frames from amazon. The whole thing cost less than 20 dollars for 3 amazing pieces artwork.
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15. Go to college-sponsored events
If you follow the event programming people from your school you’ll be able to see all that happening on campus and see which events sound fun instead of spending money to go off-campus. Sometimes you’ll even be able to snag cheap tickets to events in your area.
16. Don't buy textbooks
I haven’t bought a textbook since my freshman year and I have 4.0. You don’t need to buy textbooks 9 out of 10 ten times I’ve gotten most of my textbooks from the library, even borrowed extra copies from my professors, or rented for a small fraction of the cost.
I also use my college textbook exchange Facebook page and that has been a godsend. Basically saying there are so many ways to get around paying hundreds of dollars for textbooks.
17. Apply for emergency funding
If you are having a hard time covering your expenses and it’s truly dire you don’t have to suffer through it. A lot of schools have emergency funds for students who need it. So if your parent lost their job or you're just having a hard time supporting yourself, speak to someone in administration and ask about the possibility for emergency funding.
18. Use competitor apps/ service
You don’t have to be loyal to companies. I know some people have strong preferences for companies but ultimately you should be shopping at the one who offers the most value so don’t be afraid to switch up where you shop if one is having a better deal.
I use both Uber and Lyft and check to see which is cheaper and I also use have all the food deliver apps on my phone to cross-reference which one has cheaper delivery at any given moment. Sometimes the price disparity is so huge you don’t realize how much you could save with a competitor product.
19. Utilize student services/ shop from your friends
Shopping with local or student brands means not only directly supporting people you know, but it also mean you can get these products and services at a slightly discounted rate. I know people at my school who give haircuts or sell products that are genuinely good and much more affordable than some store-bought items.
20. Take food to go from your campus dining hall
This is an easy fix if you have a schedule that makes you miss dining hours. Instead of going to your closest restaurant. Get to-go containers or zip lock bags to grab snacks, fruit, yogurt, or a full meal while you on your way out so you’re less tempted to eat out.
21. Bundle your subscriptions
Some subscription services offer more value that others. With my Spotify student account I also get Hulu. Other companies do this as well like if you get Disney + you also get Hulu and HBO included.
22. Get samples before you buy skincare/makeup
This will save you so much money in the long run I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought the full-size version of a product only realize it irritates my skin or it isn’t my shade. Don’t be afraid to ask for samples of products or take your time doing the research before you settle on a product that supposed to go on your skin.
23. Don't buy pricy software
Computer software can get really pricy, especially in college when you might some of them for classes. Most college IT departments can get you everything from antivirus software to adobe photoshop. So always check first to see what kind of software your school covers.
24. Buy essentials in bulk
If you live close by a Costco or even a walmart you can get items you use on the daily in bulk so you’re paying less per item. Items such as body washes, toothbrushes, floss, tampons are all things you can save massive amounts of money and time by buying them in bulk. Stay away from buying food in bulk though unless you truly eat it every day.
25. Don't replace non-essential items until they're done
I have this pesty habits of buying replacements for things when I have half a bottle left. Don’t let buyers adrenaline get to you. Wait until you’re truly about to finish a product before you rush out and buy another one. That money could probably be used for other things.
So that my savings list yall!
I hope you found a few ways you haven’t tried to save you money while in college. You don’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle on a big scale if you make tiny changes that will save you money in the long run.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these tips and if they worked for you