1) Make Your Coffee
It seems so small, but for us coffee fans, all of that caffeine can really add up. I recently got a cold brew maker and have been using that for my daily coffees instead of the DD on top of campus and I am saving so much money! Think about it… A medium cold brew at DD is around $3, so if I get one five days a week, then I am spending $15 a week. If you do the math, that’s $60 in coffee a month which is about what I was spending last semester. I believe the math speaks for itself on this one…
2) Set a Weekly $$$ Limit for Take-Out
I know I am the worst when it comes to restraining from picking up takeout on my way home from class or after a night exam. I also LOVE to go out and get food with my friends when we hang out. I end up spending way too much on food which is dumb because I have plenty of food at my house. Setting a limit allows you to weigh your options more seriously and decide if you REALLY need that burrito or not. It also allows you to splurge or grab take-out when you’re in a rush while not feeling so guilty about it.
3) Plan Meals Ahead of Time
This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the preceding pointer, however, I feel this is an important one to mention. Planning meals ahead of time will make it easier for you to pass on that take-out. If you know you have a meal to make at home or have prepped one in advance, then you will be a bit more reluctant to just let it go to waste. I’m not saying to never eat out, as that is where the previous tip is applicable, but it’ll be easier not to. Another important note to mention is that purchasing ingredients is usually cheaper than paying for a meal and certain ingredients (spices, flour, cheeses, etc.) can be used on more than one occasion. So in this hack, you’re saving money by not going out as often AND by purchasing “cheaper” food (ingredients).
4) Take Advantage of Your Student Discounts
There are a lot of places in the Wakefield- Kingston area that offer student discounts when you present your student ID card. If they don’t offer a discount per se, then many places allow you to pay using the RamAccount on your student ID which you can add money to when you have a little extra or ask your parents to. My mom and dad like to add $20 here or there because they are awesome! I use that money to pay for takeout from the emporium or to pay for my groceries at the local Stop and Shop. It’s an especially good way to make you feel less guilty about those take-out nights.
5) Hold Off on Those Splurges
Leave those cute boots you want in your shopping cart and sleep on it a bit. If you can look at them and close out your tab in a few days with no guilt, then you probably didn’t want them that bad to begin with. If you find yourself dreading closing that tab, then maybe it’s worth the splurge. I mean… it’s always nice to treat yourself from time to time. If you find yourself “treating yourself” on a weekly or even bi-weekly basis, then this may be a good trick for you.
