Obviously for college students, money is almost always tight. It feels like there is always something that needs to be paid for. Whether it’s club dues, organization apparel, personal expenses or even just your daily Starbucks run, something is always depleting your bank account. But it’s naïve to assume a college student can just stop spending money, because some fees are necessary. But what if you really want some new clothes or that fruity drink to calm your midterm woes? Here are some tips to save cash when spending your hard earned money.
1. Rewards programs and student discounts are key!
I hate those annoying emails from stores as much as the next person, however, they can be a life saver when conserving your funds. I have the Starbucks Gold Card, which not only gives me a free drink after so many points, but also free refills, special offers (usually for a percentage off of a certain drink) and a free drink every year for your birthday. Dunkin’ also has a similar program along with almost any major chain restaurant out there! For the past 3 or 4 times that my family has been to Red Robin, we have had a coupon for free burgers, and AMC lets you upgrade to the next size while still paying for the lesser priced size (pay for a small but get a medium, etc.).
Clothing stores have these perks as well! I am an avid American Eagle customer because they have great quality jeans that actually fit my butt and thighs. However, they are getting more expensive every year, which is why my AE Rewards card from 2008 is my best friend. Yes, the catch is that the more you spend the bigger the discount card you’ll get the following month, but isn’t that incentive enough? There was a point a few months ago where I needed a lot of clothes and I received coupons for months after. And PINK Nation is such a lovely gift, constantly giving me discounts on panties, bras, leggings, shirts and their swim section. PINK is already a dangerous place, but these coupons and advantages make me feel less shameful when handing over my credit card.
And flaunt that student status with pride! Companies know – or more likely acknowledge – that you are not really making a lot of money right now, so they give a little discount if you show a valid student ID.* There are places specific to your college town (like most small businesses in Downtown Evanston) as well as online and electronic chains like Amazon, Adobe, HP and Apple and many clothing stores like J. Crew, Topshop and Kate Spade. There’s a pretty big list here.
2. DON’T shop directly at name-brand stores
While it is super tempting to just hop from store to store in a mall, the prices you’ll be paying are the highest that are being offered. Unless you go to the clearance section, you will not be receiving any mercy on your wallet. And that’s assuming there is a sale area. If you’re looking for recent styles for less, I suggest heading to second-hand shops. Plato’s closet and Crossroads are the most popular around this area, but there are some awesome boutique style shops that are local business as well, that can be easily found with a quick Google search.
Department stores actually have a pretty bomb sale rack as well. My sister bought a once $100 dress for around $20. There is almost always a sale going on besides the clearance items as well. Outlet stores and places such as Nordstrom Rack are also another great option for current looks. And you can even just go to somewhere inexpensive like Marshalls and T.J. Maxx. And there is nothing like a great haul from thrift shopping; there might be some digging involved, but I have yet to be disappointed with a thrift store.
3. Tech is your friend
We live in a world powered by technology, the easiest form to use being our phones that are plastered to our hands. Why not use this device to save money? There is a great shopping tool called “Shoptagr”* that is basically an extension on you browser that lets you surf certain sites and then click the app to essentially “track” whenever the price dips! So instead of checking back week after week for those MOTO jeans to go on sale, and then usually missing the moment it happens, you will get notified as soon as it does!
There are also phone apps like “Vinted” that lets you find used items of clothing from other people just like you, and you can either swap something of yours (if they consent) or pay their asking price, which is always less than a store price. Depending how picky you are, this might be a little tricky to find what you’re looking for. I found it pretty easy to search and find things that I liked, but Vinted might not be for everyone.
There are also great things like “Groupon” and “RetailMeNot.” The great thing about RetailMeNot is that all the coupons on their site are free! Groupon has offers that you buy, but RMN just has all their codes open for any customer to use. My friends and I always got 20% off our order at Papa John’s last year because there was a Pepsi coupon that we found, saving us at least $5-$10 every time.
4. Do NOT settle
My last tip is to know your rights as a customer. A lot of people I know will buy a product that they aren’t very happy with, either because of quality or just the overall item, but they’ll stick with it. This is not only a waste of your money because you will never truly get the most out of this piece of merchandise, but it’s also a pain. If it’s a fit issue, you won’t be able to wear it or even want to wear it and if it’s a quality issue, you’ll find yourself using it less and less despite making a promise to just power through the initial disappointment. So as soon as you know you are unhappy with an item, return it. Let the company know how you feel about your experience and 9 out of 10 times they will try and make it right.
I once had some really bad customer service with my beloved American Eagle, but after talking with someone higher up, it was resolved, no one got hostile, and I got free 2-day shipping on a future order. I recently purchased rain boots from Lane Bryant and after not even a month, the back ripped. After talking to customer service, I received a full refund. A similar thing happened with a parka I got from Abercrombie & Fitch and they sent me a whole new parka free of charge. I feel like I have really bad luck when it comes to clothes and merchandise – or maybe it’s just the way American products are made – but I don’t hide my dissatisfaction with broken items and more times than not something was resolved.
So don’t waste your money by being miserable with your purchase. You used your own funds so you should enjoy it to its fullest extent.
*shopping advice given by Erica Witte