So y’all should know by now that I graduated college back in May 2019 from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Business and Marketing. But as a recent graduate and a person who did this whole college journey for four years there is so much advice and information that I feel I can pass on to current college students, people that will be in college soon and people who are almost done.
People try to make it like going to college isn’t hard and it’s just school etc. but I’m here to tell you that college is hard AF, it is like a full time job, homework and assignments take blood, sweat tears and hours to do, there will be overnighters, there will be procrastination (because it just happens sometimes), there will be some grades you don’t get that you may have wanted and you will be exhausted. For some it’s more than just attending school like for me I was a full time student as well as internships and jobs at the same time and sometimes multiples all at the same time. But one thing that you can do to minimize your stress is minimize spending money or spending as much money because that “broke college student” thing can be very real especially when going out to parties, eating out etc.
So I’m here to give you some tips on how to save some money while in college….
Cook at home as often as you can: If you have a kitchen available to you in your living space whether that is on or off campus then you need to stop eating out and just go grocery shopping and cook at home because that will save you a lot of money. As a student and also working and being out and about its easy to just grab some fast food, or grab a coffee or grab a snack but those small prices daily and sometimes multiple times a day adds up.
You can meal prep and take snacks with you to have throughout the day so that you can minimize stopping at places like Starbucks or a cafe to buy food or snacks.
If you are a coffee or tea drinker and like Starbucks or anything else like it start minimizing how many times a week you go and make your coffee or tea at home some days because that money daily adds up quickly
Try to cook majority of the days out of the week, and eat breakfast at home before you leave the house. You can treat yourself but don’t make it an everyday thing.
You don’t have to go to every party: I know that when you’re in college parties and going out with friends kind of become apart of your norm but you don’t have to do it everyday. Most of the parties end up being the same each time and the same people are there so if you miss one or a couple you will be fine. You and your friends don’t always have to go out to have fun, you can group together the food you have and get wine or drinks and go over one person’s house or to one person’s room and have a great time (me and my friends used to do this all of the time) and honestly after sophomore year partying gets old.
Use the hell out of your student discount: There are a lot of different businesses brick and mortar and online that offer student discounts or promotions at certain times throughout the day, but a lot of the time its not advertised so you have to ask. You are a student and you pay a tuition for every year (per semester) so get as many discounts as you can because you deserve them all.
Unidays and Student Beans are apps and websites that you can sign up for using your school email that gives you coupon codes for different online shopping stores, for ordering food online etc.
StudentUniverse.com: Flight discounts for students
Movie theaters and restaurants: Ask if they have a student discount (normally they do)
Go to the free stuff!!!: When you’re in school there are some events and parties that will cost but there are also some free events that may have light refreshments and some parties and clubs that may be free before a certain time. You don’t always have to come out of pocket if there are options for you not to.
Ask any place that you go if they have a student discount it doesn’t hurt to ask. I graduated but will be using my student id until I can’t any more, they got a lot of money out of me while I was in school so I’m going to milk it as much as I can to get some too.