I’ve become a true minimalist. I tell people it’s because I hate clutter, but honestly it is mostly because I can’t afford much. I hate clutter as well, but that’s not what keeps me from H&M. People constantly rave about how they’re “college-kid-broke” or they work extremely hard to be able to survive. There is no healthy medium. This happens in a variety of ways; “Let’s go out this weekend!” “Wanna get something to eat?” “How’d your Netflix expire?” etc. Money is such an awkward topic to discuss with people. Is it because it’s supposed to be a private aspect to one’s life? It’s not, it is very obvious when one has money versus an individual who has less. The fact is, that person doesn’t need to know your financial status because it’s YOUR financial status. I’m not hating on anyone who has money, because some of you very well may be working really hard for it, and good for you. Some students may be struggling with the thought of a job with classes or they can’t find a job at all. Everyone has their own path and they know best what’s good for them. No matter what your financial situation is, you don’t have to be broke to want to save some money and I’ll be able to share with you some ways in which I save some cash.
First we need to establish if existing is in fact pricey.
Housing, utilities, food, water and insurance; a lot for just being the absolute minimum. Move on to university and you will need tuition, books, a laptop or tablet and you will have many college fees every semester. You will also need a little cash on you in case you need to print something at the library. You will obviously need a phone, maybe a TV, you might enjoy the luxury of Netflix so you will need Internet, you’ll also need internet to do homework because everything is done over Blackboard.
I mentioned housing briefly but what about furniture? You need something to sleep on. I think they call those mattresses, and the cheapest back-breaking one is still around $200. You’re starting to smell and it’s because you don’t have a washer/dryer in-unit. You head to the laundromat and wait for your clothes to wash and dry while some old man named Rick shouts to you about how much he hates immigrants and he’s doing his part in making America great again, “Are you?” he shouts. You leave the laundromat nearly three hours later and $25 poorer because you waited forever and now the laundry gods are punishing you. Also have you seen the price of detergent? You’re lugging your mountain of somewhat damp but admittedly pretty clean clothes, you’re getting hungry. Do you have food at home? If not, it’s time to throw down some serious cash at Kroger. You’re already so tired from the experience that was laundry day you decide to treat yourself to eating out. After the wonderful dinner, you realize you just spent ten bucks on one meal and you’re still obligated to the hell that is grocery shopping. Do you have car? If so, you have car insurance, inspections, gas and upkeep. Do you have a significant other? Birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, randomly going out for food or going to the movies. No car? So that card better be connected to Uber or you could possibly find yourself in a rough situation you can’t get out of without transportation. Want to visit family? Jump on the Greyhound or Amtrak. God forbid you have a pet because s/he will need food/accessories like litter etc., vet care. Literally, the list keeps going, and I didn’t even go into how much it costs to have friends. Yes, it costs to have friends because you’ll start becoming that person that people stop inviting out because you always have to say no. My point is, existing is pricey. However, It doesn’t always need to be. So here are some tips because by changing your life in small ways you can save BIG.
1. This might seem like the most obvious statement in the world, but you need to know how much money you have at all times. We’ve all done it at least once, treating your debit card like a gift card “Uh, I’m not sure how much is on there but give it a shot.” It’s extremely easy to spend money, so get ahead of it by knowing how much you actually have.
2. Look for generic everything. Aldi is perfect for this! Drop the Nutella and grab the “hazelnut spread.” Who has $5 for Clorox wipes? Do you mean disinfectant wipes? Because those are $2. If you don’t trust them, look at what is in the product itself. If you’re still buying Kleenex (not just tissues, but “Kleenex”) but can’t afford necessities, you’re doing something wrong.
3. Invest in a water filter system, and buy a cheap water bottle. Brita is awesome. I drink an absurd amount of water so this saves me about $20 monthly at least. Limit your Starbucks as much as possible. Investing in making your own coffee and tea saves a significant amount of money.
4. Save on makeup by investing in a possible monthly makeup subscription. I have yet to buy makeup since July of last year. It’s high quality products for cheap. Spending money for teeth whitening strips? STOP. Turmeric and water will 100 percent bring you results literally immediately, and its actually way better for you.
5. Utilize student health for all your medical needs if you don’t have insurance. You pay for it anyway amidst the many fees you pay your university. Utilize the $60-a-semester unlimited healthcare your university provides while you can.
6. Limit how much you go out. This may be hard but honestly a night out with friends is probably what college students spend most of their money on.
7. Have a talk with your SO about your situation. If they’re worth sticking with they won’t be mad that you can’t really swing the whole reciprocation thing right now, at least financially. Pinterest has the cutest DIY gift ideas.
8. Go thrifting. If you’re still getting your clothes at a mainstream mall, but you can’t afford food for the rest of the month you may not be making the best financial decisions. If you aren’t a fan of thrift shopping (my number one recommendation), then Marshalls, Ross and Burlington Coat Factory are where you need to be.
If a job is something you’re interested in and it won’t get in the way of classes, don’t feel like you need to abandon the search in a heap of hopelessness in a bundle of poor on your floor. Keep applying, because after a couple dozen applications it just becomes a matter of odds, you’re bound to get something eventually. Ultimately a job will have to be in your future, but if it’s not something you can take on right now, these tips might help out a bit.