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7 Money Saving Hacks for College Students

College students are notoriously poor. Here are seven fairly easy hacks that save you tons of money annually and still boost fun and healthy living.

Become a Specimen

specimen

Image via Flickr by US Army Africa

Lots of colleges need people for research projects. These paid jobs offer a lot of diversity and opportunity for college students to earn income. The amount you earn varies from one study to the next. The amount of time also varies from one study to the next. The two major benefits are that students earn supplemental income and that the student’s time frame for working is project oriented. The perks might include free products.

Brew At Home

Avoid those social trends that cost a little bit of money each day, but add up to significant costs throughout the month. A prime example is studying or hanging out at the coffee-house. It is fine to indulge in a cup of coffee now and then, but coffee usually costs $1-$3 a cup and that adds up quickly. $3 a day for a month is $90. If you love coffee brew your own. Your investment in a coffee maker makes coffee a less expensive indulgence. The same goes for water. Buy a filter and save.

Student ID and Discounts

The student discount is a highly overlooked benefit that when used saves money. Don’t be afraid to ask local businesses about student discounts. Your student center will likely have a list of businesses that take part in student discount programs. There are also national chain lists that offer student discounts. Study these lists and focus your spending in establishments that offer a discount. You can even upload the list to your cell phone for easy reference.

Focus On School

focus on school

Image via Flickr by English106

If you develop a healthy ratio of school to play you will naturally save money. The reason you are a college student is to learn. Focus on learning and less on social and play time. You pay a huge amount of money each semester to sign up for classes. Make the most of that investment by putting school and homework ahead of everything else. Not only will you receive a better college education, you will save a lot of money in the process. Most extracurricular expenses for college students are socially related.

Be a Frugalist

A frugalist is someone who focuses on saving money. It may sound a little fussy, but wealthy people are frugalist, especially if they want to stay wealthy. Learning to save money is not necessarily about being cheap. Being frugal is about living beaneath your means. Frugal people focus is on long-term costs. A frugalist looks at the cost of something and then finds an alternative that costs less in the long run.

An example of being frugal is brewing your own coffee. Filtering your own water is another example of being frugal. Buying food in bulk because it is less expensive is an example of being frugal. The art of being frugal boils down to long-term cost savings over short-term usage. Be a frugalist and save.

Be an Outdoor Recreationalist

outdoor

Image via Flickr by Taber Andrew Bain

Enjoying the outdoors is usually a free experience. There are a lot of activities that college students do outdoors for free. A game of frisbee is not only fun, but also a healthy and free form of exercise. If you have a ton of reading, try doing your homework in a local park rather than in the library. The great outdoors is full of fun activities and alternatives to the same old routine. Take advantage of all the free things around you and you will discover that there is a great deal of fun that is free.

Become Health Minded

Healthy is a state of mind. Save money by not smoking, drinking or enjoying recreational “perks” of college life. Instead, focusing on being healthy. Being healthy does not need to cost a fortune. Exercise like running is free. Learn to cook healthy, but good meals. Make your own lunch. Drink plenty of water. Learning to live a healthy lifestyle is an investment in your own longevity.

Although being a college student can be pricey, there are several ways to save money, while still living out the college life. Follow these simple steps to become more money-conscious, so you can start having fun in a more responsible way.

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