Where to Skimp without Missing Out on the College Experience
OMO is real, and when you’re in college, it’s as common as ramen noodles. Whether you’re going to school in a big city, a rural town or even close to where you grew up, you’re bound to experience everything in a new, more exciting way. Unfortunately, new and exciting experiences don’t tend to come cheap — but sitting one out isn’t always an option.
The Flipside
What if we told you there was a way to have your cake, eat it and pay less for it? By learning some new money saving tricks, you’ll set yourself up for a fun college experience you’ll look back on favorably for the rest of you life. What’s more, since you’re on the very brink of financial independence, these new habits will serve you well into adulthood.
Here are some things to try, before you settle into the new school year.
Get a Side Gig
Even if you’re a full time student, you can most likely squeeze in up to 15 hours of work per week, cutting down at crucial times like finals season. Finding a side hustle is easier than you think, and can be as simple as helping out your favorite Professor crunch numbers. Other classic income-generating options are babysitting and tutoring, but don’t neglect to look for part-time work in the field you’re hoping to break into after graduation!
Discover Thrifting
College campuses can feel like a runway, with everyone magically sporting the latest threads and accessories, looking impossibly put together. Sure, it’s nice to be able to online shop without first sorting by “Price: Low to High”, but that will all come soon enough. During your college years, flex your creative muscles and venture out to your city’s best thrift shops and vintage stores, offering merchandise in excellent and even new condition, at a fraction of retail. With today’s excessive consumption, you’re bound to find some trendy treasures, not to mention one-of-a-kind vintage pieces — if that’s your thing.
Develop a Money-Saving Hobby
Despite what you may have been led to believe by countless teen TV shows, college isn’t an endless string of study groups and parties. There’s actually quite a bit of downtime, much more than in High School where you were likely preoccupied with extra curriculars and maybe a job. You’d be wise to use that free time to take up a productive hobby such as cooking, or knitting, which could help you socialize and even save you money. Think about it: A stove-top cooked casserole is better, more nutritious and less expensive than pretty much any fast food combo you can find. If you have a hidden talent, such as dry cleaning, cutting hair or doing manicures, you could even make a name for yourself in the dorms and charge a pretty penny.
Plan & Spread Out your Indulgences
College can be hard work, and you’ll naturally want to reward yourself for the daily grind. Be careful not to get into a cycle of #treatingyourself to massages, fancy meals or other indulgences for mundane achievements. No, staying up all night studying or finishing your required reading aren’t prize-worthy.
To avoid losing sight of truly celebratory events, take a look at your workload and denote milestones on your calendar: The end of exam season, the weekend after your thesis is due, the end of Rush Week, and the week the Dean’s List is published.
Learn to appreciate — and seek out — freebies
By virtue of being a college student, you’re eligible for numerous freebies and special discounts other don’t have access to. For example, did you know you could get a 50% discount on Amazon Prime? While that’s essential, healthcare and transportation are even more essential — and you can probably get a break on those, too, if you inquire in your city. Moreover, if you’re in the mood to learn outside the classroom, you can enjoy discounted admission to almost every museum out there (including beyond the US).
Work with a Budget
Did you think we’d skip over this one? Hear us out, though. Budgeting is as inescapable as taxes, and sooner or later, you’ll need to master this life skill — and it might as well be in college, before you’re saddled with so many financial responsibilities you’ll want to weep. There isn’t much to it, but working with caution: If you lowball for income, over-budget for miscellaneous expenses, and save as much as you can, you’ll be way ahead of the curve.
College life isn’t as carefree as popular culture makes it out to be. However, if you prepare for the reality of budgeting and spending, it can be every bit as fun as you imagined. And if at any point you feel you’re nailing it and have cash to spare, tread carefully: Maybe there are a couple $150 books you forgot to purchase?
Originally published at gochange.co on September 24, 2017.
