As college students we know how tough it can get financially especially if you don’t qualify for financial aid. It can get very expensive to go to college and just being an adult period, here are a few tips on how to save money. Build A Savings Account
One thing that I do when getting my pay check is I get a certain amount each time and put in my savings account. It is a great way to start slowly saving money. You don’t have to put aside a lot, if you are just starting then maybe start with $50 or $100 as you start building this habit then you can gradually start saving more each time. You have to build a habit in order to be able to stick to it. You always want to have an emergency savings account in case of an unforeseen event.
Stop impulse Buying!
I’m sure we all have this bad habit, you see something and you don’t think twice about it. I’m sure we all want the latest shoes, newest phone, or a new beauty product but we have to learn to control bad spending habits. Before buying anything stop and ask yourself, ” Do I really need this, or is it a want?” By answering these questions it will let you know if you really need to spend the money. It is up to you to make the right choice. Impulse buying can become an awful habit but learning how to have self control makes a big difference.
Make A List
I was taught this by a friend of mine who is a financial advisor. Make a list of all your finances. I have an example here:
The total expense for this person is $1,580 so then we would have to look at their paycheck and subtract his/her income. The difference would be what they have left to spend or save. This will help you see where your money is going and if there are any expense that you can cut out. Maybe instead of buying Starbucks every morning you can make your own coffee at home. Little changes can really make a difference in your bank account.
Don’t Carry Credit Cards
I’m sure we all have those credit cards we depend on. Its easy to just swipe a credit card because you don’t see that money coming out of your bank account but if you’re not careful they can really pile up. If you have multiple credit cards try not to carry all of them with you or if you can, don’t carry any of them. Remember to only use them if you really need to, or if you have the money to pay them immediately. Make sure you are not spending more than what you can really afford because credit cards can really make you feel like you have a lot of cash to spend. Just be careful with those suckers.
Cook At Home
As a college student sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time to cook or go to the grocery store and buy the ingredients, I resort to eating out but it can definitely add up. Make time during the week to meal prep and have food ready to just warm up or easily cook it will save you time, money and not to mention maybe a few pounds. I know we might not like to cook because it just seems easier to drive to a fast food restaurant and have them do the cooking but trust me it will be more beneficial to do it yourself. Who knows you might just find a new hobby or a new career.