Cut Out Eating Out: The easiest way to save on campus is actually in the kitchen. Eating out drains every student’s wallet, whether you are a Freshman or a Senior. Underclassmen should try to stick to their meal plans as often as possible. Although a meal plan may seem like Monopoly money, you spent every penny and any unused money will vanish at the end of the semester. Upperclassmen who live off campus can save by eating home cooked meals. Grocery shopping may seem like a drag but many stores enable you to plan ahead. Make grocery shopping quick and easy by making a list of what you need and researching discounts and coupons online. Another thing that drains your bank account is your Starbucks habit. Lets say you go to Starbucks twice a week and spend about $4.00 each visit. If you cut out one visit a week you would save $64 each semester.
Use Cash: Using your ATM card can incur fees from your bank. Each bank charges a different amount, so check to see what your card is costing you. Using cash to make a purchase makes a person physically see how much money they are spending. It is very easy to lose sight of a budget by swiping a credit card. While using cash make sure to always save your change. Personally, I keep a coin purse in my car for meter money and a piggy bank in my room. At the end of my semester I bring the change to my bank and deposit it into my account.
Clean Out Your Closet: When you finally have free time after the semester is over, take a few hours and sort through your closet. Make three piles: to keep, to sell, and to donate. Then, put away everything you are keeping and download the app Poshmark. Poshmark is an app that enables users to buy and sell clothing. You take a picture of the item you are listing, fill in information about the garment, and set a price. Once an item has been purchased Poshmark will email you a prepaid shipping label. Since the buyer pays for shipping and payment gets released when the buyer using Poshmark accepts the item is virtually risk free. Personally, I have made over $400 in less than 6 months selling clothing and accessories.
Shop Smart: You might have some extra cash to spend after all of this but try not to go overboard! Keep what you already own in mind, this way you will not purchase doubles. Look online for coupon codes and discounts. Unidays.com offers student discounts for a few websites; all you have to do is verify your school email. Also, many stores (including Urban Outfitters) offer student discounts; so make sure to bring your Flashcard!