11 EASY WAYS ON HOW TO SAVE MONEY AS A STUDENT

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By Erica Ofure

Putting money away, especially when you’re a student, is not an easy task. It should come as no surprise, however, that maintaining your monthly allowance in the green figures rather than the red ones will lead to less uncertainty, fewer monetary challenges, and, of course, far simpler judgments regarding your budget.

What are some good ways for students to cut their spending? Without further ado, it is time to examine how you may put any of these 11 strategies on how to save money as a student

Benefits of Saving Money as a Students

  • Helps you develop the habit of saving money at an early age

    If you get into the practice of saving money RIGHT NOW, even when your income is meager, As soon as you start receiving a legitimate paycheck from your employment, you’ll be able to put away even more cash than you now have.
  • Facilitates the development of trust and confidence in one’s capabilities

    When you’re in your early 20s, it might be challenging to build up your self-confidence. You are, in effect, taking control of your life, and to do so successfully, you need to be confident in your ability to rely on yourself.

    There are a variety of methods by which you might establish this level of confidence; but, having a safety net in the form of savings? That will go a long way toward convincing others that you are capable of handling everything that comes your way (particularly after the first mishap or emergency that takes place and you don’t have to call home for assistance).
  • Assists in covering additional costs for you

    Because you are a student, you are currently eligible for several different types of discounts. It may not seem like it, especially if student debt is paying for some of those discounts, but you are leading a life that is relatively insulated and nurturing from the outside world. This may not appear to be the case, but it is. When you have finished your education? You are thrown into the rest of society all at once. There will no longer be any student discounts. No more financial assistance from your parents or access to subsidized housing (although you can certainly continue to retain a roommate; I did so in each of my first two residences following graduation), and no more assistance from your parents with the monthly payments.
  • Puts your money to work for you in a productive way

    When you put money inside your wallet, it will remain there until you use it, even if you remove it. If you deposit money into a savings account, you won’t need it right away. It generates its own money completely on its own. This is what is known as compound interest, and what it essentially implies is that you get interested not just in the money that you put into the bank, but also in the interest that your money has earned since it was first deposited. It’s an impact that compounds over time.
  • Gives you alternatives

    Imagine for a moment that you finally obtained the ideal job you had been applying for during your whole senior year around halfway through the first year of the job you had taken in the meantime. But it won’t help you much if you don’t have the financial means to relocate there in the first place. Or it might not be so important if you don’t have any money saved up to buy a car (since this dream job is located outside of a city).

    In other terms, you need to maintain a savings account to maintain the flexibility of your alternatives. Even if you don’t have a clear idea of what your choices are at the moment! Put your attention on improving your financial situation so that you are prepared for when the chance arises.
  • Create your path in life and follow it.

    If every time you run into a problem or want to try something new, you have to keep borrowing money from other people or your parents, then. They hold some degree of influence over your life in some way. When do you use your savings? You get to determine how you want to live your life.

11 Easy Ways how to save money as a student

  • 1. In school, either purchase old books or rent them

    Avoid paying full price for your textbooks whenever possible. Instead, you should go to the bookshop on the campus of your educational institution and inquire about the availability of book rental services as well as the used book selection. In addition, look for possible price reductions on your book purchases on online marketplaces such as Amazon, Craigslist, and Kijiji. Check to see if there is a Facebook community for secondhand textbooks that are dedicated to your school. Someone may let you take an outdated textbook off their hands!
  • 2. Freeware

    An alternative to costly software is offered in the form of freeware. Many popular pieces of software and applications are notoriously pricey, making them inappropriate for the financial constraints of a student. Free software allows you to get the best of both worlds, and you may get free downloads of software for audio editing, picture editing, word processing, and antivirus protection. Other features are;
    • There is a free alternative to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that can be found in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
    • Both Avast and AVG provide free versions of their antivirus software.
    • GIMP, Fotor, and Audacity are examples of free applications that can edit images, whereas Audacity is an example of free software that can edit music.

      It’s important to have a good set of presenting tools at your disposal, and Prezi, Evernote, CCleaner, and Sketchup are some of the best. Prezi is a terrific tool for creating presentations, and Evernote is fantastic for keeping notes.
  • 3. Student discounts

    Student discounts are available at a wide variety of companies and businesses. If you present your student ID at the register while you’re doing your shopping, you could be eligible to have a modest discount applied to your overall purchase. Student discounts may be found at a variety of businesses, including restaurants, clothing and electronics stores, and even media outlets.
    • There are price reductions available on electronic goods sold by Apple, Sprint, AT&T, and Lenovo.
    • There are savings available through General Motors, Amtrak, Eurail, and Shortline/CoachUSA.
    • Several well-known retailers, like J. Crew, Banana Republic, Levi’s, and Club Monaco, provide students with a 15% discount on their purchases.
  • 4. Become a resident adviser (RA)

    Room and board are often provided at no cost to RAs. As a resident assistant, it will be your responsibility to oversee and help the students who are assigned to your hall or floor. In exchange, several educational institutions provide free housing on campus. Visit the housing office of your institution to learn about the many accommodation alternatives that are available to you.
  • 5. Grants and scholarships

    There is the possibility of receiving financial assistance in the form of scholarships. Search the website of your educational institution to learn more about the many scholarship opportunities. Then submit applications for as many positions as you see fit!

    You have a higher chance of winning some scholarships than you would imagine because there aren’t that many people applying for them. A student can significantly reduce the expense of their education by applying for and receiving any form of scholarship, grant, or bursary.
  • 6. Remove yourself from any subscriptions that aren’t essential

    Examine each of your recurring monthly payments. There is a possibility that there is a service that you have forgotten about or something that you no longer use or require. Put an end to any costly subscriptions that you don’t currently make use of, whether they be for cable, magazines, newspapers, or anything else.
    • You might avoid paying an exorbitant cable bill by switching to a video streaming provider that offers lower monthly rates.
    • A list of your subscriptions may be retrieved using applications such as TrueBill, Bobby, and Subby.
  • 7. Decrease the number of times each month that you eat at restaurants

    For those of you who are thinking, “Nah, I’m not planning to go grocery shopping hungry, that just doesn’t apply to me,” just keep in mind that eating out is a lot more costly than preparing your meals in the kitchen. When opposed to dining out every day, consuming meals that are light, uncomplicated, and involve little to no work might save you a significant amount of money.

    Keep in mind that if you are hungry when you go grocery shopping, you tend to buy a lot of food that you may be yearning for but that you will not eat once you get it home. Or, even worse, you will buy a lot of junk food, which will have a negative impact not only on your wallet but also on your health.
  • 8. Pay with money, not a credit card

    When you begin paying with your bank card instead of cash, it is easy to lose track of how much money you are spending. However, having one on hand is a good idea in case of unexpected events. Because you are not physically handling the cash but instead swiping a credit card, you frequently find that you make purchases without giving any thought to the associated costs.
  • 9. Make a plan for your finances each month

    Put some money up each week for things like groceries, electricity, and other essentials. Make a spreadsheet for yourself to use in budgeting; the columns may each represent a different month, and the rows can each represent a different part of your budget. Make an effort to create a budget that allows you to pay for both your living expenses and your educational expenses, such as lessons and books. In this way, you may avoid spending an excessive amount on particular categories!

    You may set aside $100 per month for groceries, $40 per month for mobile phone service, and $75 per month for clothes and personal care items. You might want to think about creating a second spreadsheet in which you track how much money you are making, whether it be through financial help from family, scholarships, or part-time employment.

    In this manner, you’ll be able to evaluate your monthly expenditures in light of your income! Check to see that you are not living over your means or placing an excessive amount of reliance on a credit card so that you can pay your bills.
  • 10. Keep a record of how much money you spend

    Install an app that helps you manage your finances and keeps track of your transactions. Apps such as Mint, Goodbudget, Wally, and Mvelopes are capable of keeping track of all of your purchases and alerting you if you are about to go over your financial limit. Utilize these applications to keep track of your expenditures and keep an eye out for any recurring tendencies!

    It’s possible, for instance, that you spend more money on Fridays than you do on any other day of the week. You will be able to make adjustments to your spending patterns and your budget if the app reveals that you have unhealthy spending habits.
  • 11. Sign up with a student-friendly bank.

    Join a bank that doesn’t charge any additional costs. There are financial institutions that will charge you a monthly fee for your account, in addition to costs for overdrafts. Check the websites of various financial institutions to learn about the benefits that they provide; some of them even have special prizes and advantages for their student customers.

    In the United States of America, students can open a student checking accounts with Bank of America that are exempt from both account and overdraft fees. Capital One is well known for its credit card products. Nevertheless, the financial institution also provides low-cost banking options and does not charge any fees for accounts or overdrafts.

FAQ

How can I make savings daily?

Minimize or remove dining out

If I don’t have any money, how can I save any?

Create a spending plan that fits your needs and your budget.

What are some smart ways for a student to spend their money?

  • Be cautious of your purchasing habits.
  • Consider several other options.
  • Make a plan in advance to prevent spending on impulses.
  • Be wise.

Why is it essential for students to have a healthy savings account?

It keeps you out of difficulty financially, helps you become more independent, and enables you to purchase things that may otherwise be beyond your price range. It usually indicates that you can accomplish more as a result of having more options or receiving greater funds. Subsequently, you can feel happy. The most significant benefit of saving is that it helps you to keep your sights set on your goals.

Conclusion

Students sometimes put off reaching out to those who might be able to assist them until it is too late and they are already in a difficult financial situation. Stay away from doing it. If you’re struggling financially, you should ask the people around you for assistance. Inform your family of the situation. Make a request to your parents or relatives for a loan or for them to send you money.

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