Saving In and After College
Whether you are in college or have already graduated, in order to save money you need to manage it.
Entertainment and Exercise
- Pick up a local newspaper and check upcoming events for freebies: concerts, arts and crafts fairs, theater, festivals, art galleries, and museums.
- Do entertaining things that don't cost money: visit friends, hike, ride, skateboard, rollerblade, or read.
- Be creative. Watch movies on your computer or make your own movie or music video.
Food, Meals, Grocery Shopping
- Buy only what you need. Make a list before you shop and stick to it.
- Devise a budget. Stick to your grocery budget by shopping the perimeter where the necessities are.
- Eat generic. Brand name food items cost extra due to advertising costs.
Clothing, Accessories, Furniture, and General Purchases
- Avoid impulse buys. Even if it's on sale, do you really need it?
- Defer gratification. Credit card debt is rampant in the United States. Why not wait and buy with cash savings?
- Garage/yard sales. These offer a different breed of bargain than flea markets.
Credit Cards and Finances
- Avoid plastic. Use cards for emergencies only and pay off purchases before they accrue interest.
- Avoid the ATM. Fees will eat your savings. Perhaps withdraw a lump sum once a week based on your budget.
- Don't bounce checks. Doing so is costly due to bank and store fees. Plus it damages your credit rating.
Books
- Borrow if it’s possible. Before putting out money for a textbook, check to see if someone else on campus has one.
- Sell them. Sell books from previous semesters to pay for current course books.
- Check online. Many online retailers have used books for less.