Nowadays most of the students face the same old problem: how to get money for all their growing needs and desires? There are two options available – either earn more or save more. While it’s rather hard to find a well-paid part-time job when you're still a student, it seems easier to reconsider your lifestyle and start spending and saving money wisely.
And here are some important steps for you how to cut back on monthly spending.
1. Revise your eating habits.
Start to cook and eat at home. No matter if you’re used to fast-food chains or fancy restaurants, or even university cafes and canteens, the cost of eating out is still much greater than cooking your food at home, so try to limit it only to some special occasions, for example, birthday parties or anniversaries.
Besides, cooking is a great and valuable skill that will give you a good reason to call some friends to your place and, believe me, they won’t come empty-handed. The same applies to those who enjoy drinking at clubs/bars. And, by the way, quitting drinking alcohol entirely will save even more money and health.
2. Share a house or apartment with other people.
Renting alone as a student is a great expense. So try to find a cheap apartment and suggest your friends or university mates to move in together and split the renting costs – it can save you much money, as well as give the good company and help at the same time. But be careful when signing a lease agreement, as there might be additional costs like security deposits, paying upfront for a couple of months, etc.
3. Cut your bills
Now when you’re living away from your parents’ house all alone it’s high time to start paying attention to the bills you pay. Save money and the environment at the same time by cutting down on your electricity usage, that means turn off the lights during the day and when you are not at home and unplug all electronic devices you’re not using at the moment and you’ll see the difference in your electricity bill at the end of the month.
You can also save some money on your phone bills. Revise your phone plan, maybe it has some features that you don't use or could live without, or maybe there are cheaper plans available. Try to use free video chat software, like Skype or Facetime, for long calls. Besides, video chatting gives you more intimacy using both audio and visual channels of communication.
4. Save on your transport cost
You can use public transport instead of going by car sometimes. It saves you much money on gas and costs of car maintenance, and it’s also an environment-friendly decision. And it’s always cheaper to get a commuter pass instead of single rides if you often go by bus or by train.
Or there’s even a better idea – ride a bike! This will cut your transportation fees and improve your health at the same time.
5. Find student discounts
One of the best things about being a student is, of course, having various student discounts. As a student, you can get a discount on almost anything, from books and clothes in stores to tickets in theaters and cinemas or museums. Many local fitness centers and swimming pools also offer student discounts, so do your research first and don’t hesitate to ask for it if it’s not advertised openly. Maybe you’ll be lucky to be the first ☺
6. Travel wisely
A list of all the ways how to save money on traveling can be really endless. But even if you put a little effort, that can make some huge savings in the end.
Rule number one – always try to plan your trip in advance. The longer in advance your buy plane, train, or bus tickets, the more likely they will be at a lower price.
Then, look for any concession fares or discounts for students, as many travel agencies might offer you good variants at attractive prices.
Don’t forget to check out all the options available to you and compare between all different companies offering tickets, never pick up the first option that came to your eyes. Use different online services like Skyscanner or Kayak when searching for the best options at the lowest prices.
7. Open the world of swapping
Looking for a new computer or TV-set, book or movie, sofa or coffee table? Don’t rush to the nearest store to buy it. You’d better try and look into swapping instead! This new trend allows you to free your space a little by getting rid of something you no longer need or want, as well as get something in return and save money. You can start with friends and relatives and then go online. Besides, this is a good way to cut down your expenses on textbooks!
Do you know some other great ways for students of how to save money? Then don’t’ hesitate to share them with us in the comments below. And meanwhile, if you liked this post you might be also interested in reading the post why efficient education is a crucial part of your life and a way to the future is here.
With a background in education and entrepreneurship, Jake Lester currently writes for the educational blogging projects. Jake writes for many blogs and gives useful advice for entrepreneurs, students, and educators. He likes to cover stories in productivity, careers, and education. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook
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