"college" by Sean MacEntee is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
July 8, 2024
As you prepare for your first day on campus or return to campus, we want to help you do that as frugally as possible! Every person that you will meet on campus understands the investment of time and money that you are making. The article from Best Colleges, called 8 Tips for Back-to-School Shopping on a Budget, has some really great suggestions. Here are a few comments from our perspective on the list.
- Shop at the right time - Do not wait until you arrive at college to buy everything you need. You might find a really great deal at Goodwill that will be perfect for you.
- Make a List - This is a great way to save money! You can see what you want, talk to friends about what they felt they really used at college, look at your budget, and decide the most important things to purchase. Most importantly, be sure to stick to the list!
- Shop Sales - Look at local back to school sales but also look for online sales. Amazon Prime Days are coming up on July 16-17, 2024! Look at your list to see what is on sale.
- Look for Student Discounts - Check with your institution. Many of them provide free access to things like Word for those new computers you got at graduation. Kentucky Christian University does provide a version of Microsoft Office for all students.
- Learn how to Coupon - Practice before you get to campus. Find online coupons, app discounts, and look at coupon mailings, even try using grocery store online adds.
- Download money-saving Apps - Upside is one example. Our assistant librarian uses this app to help save money on gasoline. There are many out there - do a search in the apps store on your phone while you have the time.
- School offerings - Check out what is available on campus. At KCU, you can print in the library for 10 cents per side. You can also purchase bulletin board paper, construction paper, bulletin board border, and flash drives. What do you need to buy now and what do you want to wait to purchase on campus? Is 10 cents a side cheaper than purchasing and moving a printer to campus and then buying ink? Things to think about.
- Reuse or Buy Used - This can apply to textbooks, but also think about other items. Do you have an older sibling who just graduated from college & does not need their comforter? Is your neighbor next door having a garage sale and selling an electric kettle for $5 or less?
Just a quick side note: if you click on links within the article for essentials, remember that they are erring on the ultra comfort side. You need to decide which items fit into your budget and what you need versus what you want. Think "bang for your buck". Example, if you hate coffee but love soup, skip the coffee maker and get an electric kettle. Parents, friends, and neighbors can be very helpful with this decision making.
And so you know, we are so glad that you are coming to our campus! If you are not sure where to go or who to talk to, please ask us. Every employee on campus wears a badge. If you see us, stop us. If you just need to get cool or your parents, grandparents, or siblings need a place to hang out while you are moving your stuff up the stairs, come to the library! At KCU the library is located in the middle of campus and is a great place to meet up. We even have an ongoing puzzle that you or your friends and relatives can be working on!
Mostly, travel safely and we will see you in August!
