We have all had that sinking feeling in are stomachs when we look at our bank statement and see a slim amount of cash. We question ourselves how we got ourselves in this situation and how it happens too often… Was it going to Starbucks? Maybe going downtown last Thursday? Whatever the case may be, you now have a small amount of cash to work with either before you get payed next or your parents are gracious enough to give you a monthly school allowance. I am here to give you some tips to avoid this little predicament once and for all.
- Couponing
Yes! Couponing is one way to save money. It does take time and organization, so if you have neither, than this might not be the best solution for you. It is really easy though. Buy a newspaper on Sunday and there will be coupons inside! You can also find coupons online. There are so many websites out there that can show you how to organize and get the right deals at the right time. Cutting the coupons can be a hassle, but you can easily cut them while drinking a glass of wine and watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians on Sundays (don’t deny it, you know you watch it). Either way it’s a win win. Couponing is amazing some people out there save thousands of dollars a year. Some can walk into a grocery store, fill up their cart and leave only paying a fourth of the cost or less. It is truly a miracle and it is worth the time put into it.
- Money Saving Sites
Many people do not know this, but there are some great money saving sites online. Two websites I visit on a daily basis are the Krazy Coupon Lady and Hip2Save. The deals they find and have sent into them are amazing. One year my family was able to get all our friends and family gifts for birthdays and Christmas for close to nothing. They are always posting awesome deals that are limited for a short time. They also have step by step instructions on how to coupon and have tools to make your coupon experience easier. Hip2Save includes all the weekly flyers for the week for most grocery stores, so you can know what deals to get. She even includes videos of what’s on clearance and the deals she got for the week. I would highly recommend them!
- Discount Grocery Stores
Many people stick their noses up when they see a discount grocery store, but let me tell you, there is nothing wrong with them. Sometimes they have better products than Food Lion or Walmart. Two discount grocery stores I would recommend are Aldi’s and Save a Lot. They may look uninviting, but the prices sure aren’t. The food there is fresh, the produce is great and the meat selection is no different than Walmart’s. They also have a ton of gluten free items for a great price! When you go in and fill up your cart with food for the week and you go to the register. You will be shocked and your wallet will be doing its happy dance.
- Staying in with Friends
A way that college kids blow through their money is by going out with friends. One drink leads to another and paying to get into clubs isn’t cheap either. Even going out to dinner can be expensive! Having a girl’s night in or inviting friends over can help save money. Text your friends each to bring an item for when they come over. Someone brings the drinks, someone brings the food and so on or you can all give money to the responsible friend and that friend can bring the items. Staying in prevents you from throwing your cash away on the weekends. Having stay in weekends can save you a ton of money each month. Staying in is also a great way to bond with your friends and you can actually be comfortable in your own home for the night. What’s not to like?!
- Tracking What You Spend
Sometimes writing down what you spend can help. For a month write down what you spend money on and try to organize it into different sections. There are apps for your smart phone that you can easily put information in and it will organize it for you! Downloading apps for your bank account can also help you keep track of how you are spending your money. It will have you asking, I spent how much on wine last month?! It will help you see where you need to watch your spending and where you need to cut back.
- Bringing Drinks and Food from Home
Instead of getting a Starbucks coffee while studying at the library for your exam in Chem in the morning, you could save some money and make your own cup at home and bring it with you! Bringing food and drinks with you throughout the day can help you save money and is better for your health. Sometimes bringing something with you can be challenging. So limiting how much you buy something can help. If you are the type of person that buys two cups of coffee during the day, maybe just buy one. Think to yourself, do I really need that extra cup of coffee? Will I die if I don’t have it? If the answer is no to both questions then you don’t need it. That’s $2-$4 saved right there!
No matter what you do saving money and being frugal is a huge life change. It will be hard at first, but when you check that bank statement and see that large amount of cash, it will be worth it to you! And your wallet will be thanking you as well! Shout out to all the broke college kids out there, you can do it!