Saving money in college is extremely hard! I mean, what do we expect? We currently live in a world where textbooks can cost up to three hundred dollars. On top of having to pay so much for textbooks, we’ve got tuition fees and class fees to worry about. However, there are a few ways to minimize spending as college students and make it through the day with a few dollars to spare.
1.TRAVELING
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Choose public transportation like buses instead of ordering Ubers or driving your own car and having to pay for gas. This can save you lots of cash especially if you are traveling a short distance and do not really need a car.
2. GROCERY SHOPPING
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If you are looking to save money on groceries, check out places like Food 4 Less, or even the Dollar Store. They have got some great deals on the food you love and you won’t be worried about whether or not you spent “too much” on food.
3. CLOTHES SHOPPING
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We’ve all done it: stared into our closet and realized that we should no longer be using clothes that we wore in high school that barely fit us now. Well, here is a tip. If you are in search of new clothing items, check out thrift shops like Goodwill or Salvation Army. I have been a huge fan of thrift shopping for the past six years and I always find something nice, for a ridiculously low price. You can also go to stores like Crossroads and trade your clothes in for either cash or clothing items.
4.FOOD
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Try to pack snacks and a lunch at home before you leave for class. If you do this, you can avoid having to buy something at the food court every day.
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This one is tough, but try to resist the urge to eat out at restaurants very often. There are so many amazing restaurants in L.A, but this quality food tends to be more on the pricy side. It helps to stick to eating out once or twice a month, but not every week.
5. TEXTBOOKS
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Look into buying textbooks from fellow students who are selling their used ones. I have purchased books for twenty dollars that originally cost two-hundred dollars. SO yes, it is definitely a good investment.
6. MAKEUP
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This is for my fellow ladies out there. Do you really need that fifty dollar mascara, or that twenty dollar lipstick? The answer is an absolute no. Makeup is great, but you do not have to spend your entire life savings on it. Rather than looking for expensive brand names like MAC or Lancome, check out your basic drugstore makeup. You would be surprised at how similar these products are to the ones that you usually buy. A foundation at Walmart or Target can cost you as little as eight dollars, and it will still be good quality.