Going to college is a fun experience, but the tuition and the other fees are not. A lot of graduated college students are in debt, which is a big problem as they look for a job they have to pay for their student loan and also for their daily necessities, which could include their phone bills, transportation fees, rent, food, etc. If you’re a college student and is currently stressing about money, don’t be! Here, we have listed several financial tips that could help you as a college student.
Budgeting is your best friend
It is impossible to keep track of every dollars that you spend, but planning a budget every month is something you will have to do to prevent you from overspending on unnecessary things, your glass of beers can pay your next rent. Without a budget plan, you wouldn’t know where you’re spending your money.
Tip: limit the number of times you eat out or buying takeouts, and you can cook instead to help you save some money.
Avoid credit card unless there’s a discount
A credit card is very simple to use, and it’s cash-less, but it’s a good idea to steer clear from credit card and opt to use cash instead. But you can use a credit card for a discount; some restaurants will give crazy discounts up to 30-40% for a meal, which will save you a lot of money that you can pay for those bills.
Look for student promo
Since you’re a college student, you have a straightforward benefit that you can exploit, which is the student promo. Some restaurants and stores will give some discount if you’re a student, make sure you read the terms and conditions and also bring your student card!
Look around at your campus for activities
Going to the movies will cost you a lot, and buying a popcorn is expensive. Instead, you can look around at your campus for some fun activities, and for free! Some college has movie nights, social events, and seminars for free; you can look around or ask your friends if there are any fun activities to do with your free time.
Buy or rent those textbooks
Textbooks can be quite expensive, but you can buy used textbooks or borrow them from seniors or the library. If you’re forced to buy those used books, make sure you take good care of them because you can sell it again to juniors.
Tip: some websites offer cheap used books, so make sure you look around on the web.