It can be hard to think of ways to save money especially for students since they don’t have their own money yet. This is because at times, for all the expenses while on campus, there is barely left to save. Although it is hard, it doesn’t mean that it is impossible for students to save money while studying. All they need is to develop good time management skills, strict budgeting, and practicality. If you are one of those who are thinking of ways to save money while on campus or even before you enter one, here are some of the things that can help you get by.
1. Look for school that has low tuition fee rates. Since tuition fees—especially in private universities and colleges can change over a semester—it is best to enroll in a local state school. This is because local state schools usually offer relatively low tuition fee rates since these are supported by the local and national government. You can also apply for a scholarship before hand or get a job within the university so you will get full or partial tuition fee discount. To save on tuition fee, you can also apply for grants that are related to your major since these will be financial need and merit based.
2. Be wise in getting boarding. The best way to go about this is to file an application to be a resident assistant before hand. Being a resident assistant can offer you lots of reward because aside from slashing a great amount from your college expenses, it also allows you to develop your leadership skills since you will be held responsible for the whole floor. If you can’t get a slot for resident assistantship, the next best thing is to share a room with a friend. If you have high tolerance level for living with other people, you can get as many roommates as possible. This will be beneficial for all of you because you will be sharing the payment for the room. But, if there’s no more room available inside the campus or you can’t get a reliable or trustworthy roommate, it is best to get an apartment off-campus since some of these offer lower rates. Aside from that, you will have more freedom compared to living inside the campus.
3. Maximize the available modes of transportation. If you are a student, it is not good to have your own car yet or bring your own car because chances are you might not be using it too often. Most universities have a transportation system—the on campus shuttles–that can transfer you from one building to another or even and local buses to take you out of the campus. If you don’t bring a car, you can save lots of money on gas.
4. Manage your resources well. Money is the primary resource you have while on campus. To maximize it, it is ideal that you open a bank account so you can veer away from the temptation in using the cash you have at hand. Also, veer away from accepting credit card offers because these will only give you more financial lag. To make some money to be saved, try to get a part time job that will not affect your studies.
5. Live a simple lifestyle. This is one of the most effective ways to save money for students because this will cut down their major expenses while on campus. A simple lifestyle would mean that you won’t be eating in fancy diners, lesser or no shopping sprees at all, and no late-night gimmicks in expensive bars.
