Almost every college student around the world understands the struggle of making ends meet. From paying for books or student activities, buying groceries or paying rent, it can feel like the expenses never end. While big expenses can never be avoided (like rent), there are smaller ways to put some extra change in the wallet.


Cook at Home 


    Don’t worry if cooking is not your passion and you have little knowledge of how to prepare meals, cooking tutorials for different recipes can be found on different platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and more. You can even have leftovers for the following day, knocking out two meals in one cooking session!


Buy Used Textbooks


    If you don’t plan on keeping a textbook once a class has finished, buy a used one! Used textbooks can cost half the price or less than a new textbook. Worn in items never hurt anybody! You can usually buy used textbooks from your campus library or from sites like Amazon or eBay.


Travel through Public Transportation


    Not every university provides campus busing as a means for transportation. If you live off campus, walk to the nearest public bus stop and take that to campus. You’ll benefit from a brisk walk and more money in your pocket –– a win-win situation!


Take Advantage of Campus Resources


    If you need tutoring, rather than paying for it, most colleges and universities offer free tutoring, after-hour study sessions, and more. Take advantage of them! If you’re struggling in different subjects, ask a professor to guide you to the tutoring center. Professors may be willing to have private sessions with you. It doesn’t hurt to ask about these different resources!


Create a Monthly Budget


    Sticking to a monthly budget can help you stay focused on what is most important for the month and tell you how much “fun money” you can spend. It takes discipline, but it pays off! You may even be able to set aside a bit of money monthly to build up funds for the holidays. 


Apply for On-Campus Jobs


    Most on-campus jobs are flexible to your school schedule, making sure your work hours stay reasonable, especially during finals and midterms. You can even bring schoolwork in your work area to do in your down time, chat with other peers, and gain close relationships with other staff members.


Sell or Re-purpose Old Clothing Items


    Buying new clothes can put a dent in your wallet, why not re-purpose or sell them? Whether you sell them online or at a store, this can be extra cash to put towards groceries, rent, or replenishing your wardrobe. Re-purposing old clothing can be a fun side activity, bringing out the creative side in you!


Avoid Drinking or Smoking


    This tip is not only beneficial to your health, but also your wallet. Going out for drinks can add up, especially if you are going out multiple times in one month. The same goes with smoking, where even a half pack a day habit costs $5/day which adds up to $150 a month! Ask your friends to just stay in and hangout ––  you don’t need to go out to make awesome memories with friends!

    Nobody said saving money would be easy or fun, but it is rewarding. With all the stressors college brings, saving money and living below your means can help alleviate many of them. It is also a good practice, which will serve you well into your adult years. Staying “in the black” in college may seem impossible, but with the help of these tips, you’ll have a strategy to get through college without going broke each month.

Credible Resources:

The Sage Millennial