Being in college is great. You get to learn new things, party a bit, and meet great people. The problem is that many college students are so busy studying that they have very little time to work and make ends meet, which leaves them broke and hungry. No one wants to live on noodles alone.
But it doesn’t have to be that way!
Learning how to save money in college can not only help you keep that belly full and have some spare cash for adventuring, but it will also teach you how to save money later in life. If you can learn how to master a small budget, then mastering a big budget will be cake, and this is a life skill you can’t buy anywhere.
- Save Food
If you eat at the college chow hall, then you might have the option to take extra food home to your dorm room or apartment. Though this isn’t always “condoned” by colleges and universities, it’s an easy way to save money on food for those times when you have the munchies.
- Tutor Students
An easy way to make some money to save in college is by tutoring other students. You might not need to charge a lot to make it worth your time, and every little bit adds up. Look on places like Craigslist or Facebook for people in need of help before big exams – you’ll be golden.
- Use University Resources
You don’t need to buy a new fancy computer when you can go to the computer lab and use university computers and Internet access. The same goes of buying books – see if you can use the library instead. Don’t buy a gym membership when you can visit the campus gym, etc. These are easy ways you can use for learning how to save money in college.
- Sell Text Books
As soon as the term is over, list your textbooks on Amazon.com and try to unload them before they become out of date. You can easily earn 25%-50% back each and every semester.
- Get a Roommate
This doesn’t matter in the dorms as much as it does in the later years of university life, but seriously – don’t try to pay the rent by yourself. Use Craigslist or university bulletin boards to find roommates so that you can focus on saving money and keeping your grades up.
Also, don’t move out of the dorms unless it makes sense to do so. Many colleges let floor managers live for free, so if you don’t mind doing a bit of supervision work, look into that option as well.
If you want to know how to save money in college, then start by avoiding poor buying behaviors. Don’t spend money unless you need to, and if you must, get a job to help cover your basic needs. Always use free resources when available, and don’t forget to get rid of those textbooks before they’re out of date and value-less.
May 4, 2011 at 10:03 am