5 Tricks to Help College Students Save Money

Image Source: Envato

If you are a student who has been living on campus, chances are that you need a few tips to help you save money on rent. Most students are working part-time jobs in order to make ends meet and navigate the costs of living while attending college. While there are plenty of ways that you can cut down on your expenses, here are few tips for students that are living on campus to help cut back on expenses.

Subscribe to a Meal Plan

Another cost-effective benefit to living on campus is subscribing to a meal plan. Most schools will offer some kind of access to an on-campus cafeteria. These plans will typically vary widely so that you can choose a plan that best fits your needs. For example, if you need lunch 3 days a week but you have the means to provide the rest of the meals for yourself, there is likely a plan for that. On the other hand, if you need 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, there is a good chance your school can accommodate you as best as possible. A meal plan will help you save money because it is definitely cheaper than eating out and typically will give you more balanced, nutritional meals than any fast-food chain. It will also help you save time because you will not be spending any of your precious time cooking for yourself when you could be studying or enjoying what little precious free time that you have.

Research Your Living Options

The first thing you should do is research all of the living arrangements available to you on your school’s campus to find which arrangement is most cost-effective for your situation. While most schools offer dorm rooms that are much cheaper than private apartments, the costs of dorms can vary depending on the amenities available in each building. For example, some dorms offer private kitchen, bathroom, and living areas, while others offer shared spaces including bedrooms, public bathrooms with bathroom partition hardware, and shared kitchens with shared refrigerators and cabinet space. Chances are your school has dorms for a variety of costs. There are quite a few advantages to staying at a dorm on campus since you have access to many of the same amenities as other students.

While it is unlikely that you find a cheaper option than living in a dorm on campus, it might be a good idea to research living situations off-campus as well or if you have family members in the town where you will be attending school, perhaps they would be willing to house you for a cheap price.

Buy or Rent Used School Supplies

It is also a good idea to research the school supplies you will be needing, including textbooks and computer software, before your classes begin. It is no secret that the price of textbooks can often be very expensive. You may be able to find these supplies being sold used at a discounted rate online, or in bookshops. Many times, this is an even better way to save money since you can take the time to plan ahead, and you can often find some discounts and save money on things. You may also be able to find the items that you need for rent, which might be a cost-effective way to pay for your supplies.

Likewise, you may be able to sell these items back to your campus bookshop or even directly to another student when you are finished using them. This will help you make back some of the money that you spent on these supplies.

Getting a dorm room is a big commitment and one that many people are afraid to make but there are plenty of ways to cut back on the expenses of renting out a dorm room. By using these tips you can cut down on expenses and pay less than what it actually costs to live on campus.

Living on campus is a great option, especially if you can learn how to save money by being realistic about what you have to spend. This is also a great lesson to learn that will serve you well for the rest of your life, not just during college.