"Save Money" by 401(K) 2013 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
December 17, 2024
Christmas will be here in 9 more days and after that we will start thinking about what our new resolutions will be for the coming year. It is a good time to think about how we can make our money go further. Can we save money now so we have it to use for emergencies later? How can we save money when our budgets are already tight? We have a few ideas for you to think about before you start your spring semester!
Saving money means you can pay off tuition bills, cover unexpected expenses on your vehicle, attend a concert or a movie that you really want to see, or treat yourself to coffee at our campus coffee shop! The article How to Save Money in College: 10 Tips from College Students from CollegeData.com has some great suggestions on how to find a few dollars to put into your savings. It may not sound like a lot of money, but if you think about it, over time, your savings can add up to a lot.
- $1 per week adds up to $52/ year
- $5 per week adds up to $260/ year
- $1 per day or $7 per week adds up to $365/ year
So here are some of the suggestions from the article of ways to save money.
- Eat out less - Stopping for fast food, having pizza delivered, or using door dash are not bad things to do, but if you do it frequently it can quickly impact the money that you have.
- Snacks and Drinks - Even items like bottled water can end up costing you more than purchasing a water bottle and refilling it at a water fountain.
- Transportation - Do you walk to the cafeteria or do you drive your car? Could you make fewer trips to your favorite store on the weekend?
- Want or Need? - Stop and think before you make a purchase. Is it a want or a need? This does not just work for stores but think about what you are ordering online.
- Use Student Discounts - The article has some suggestions of apps that you can use.
- Track your spending - This is a great way to find out where your money is going. We are a Google campus. Use a Google sheet. You can enter every item that you purchase on the Sheet with your phone. It will make it easier to see where all of your money is going.
- College Resources - Be sure to check for free resources on campus. Stop by the library to build a puzzle, checkout a book, or play a board game. Did you get a new computer over the holidays? You can access Word when you have opened and signed into MyApps. Looking for something to do? Download the Student Activities calendar so that you always know what free stuff is happening on campus.
The hardest part to saving is getting started, but it can be one of the most important tools you develop for "adulting". Good luck to all of you!
