Student on a Budget!
Six Basic Tips to Save Money as a Student
By Amani Makki
As the new semester approaches, to the U.S. college students, it is very important to be wary of the cost cutting ideas that not only help us save a couple of bucks but also teach us how to best use available resources.
First: Getting the right books at the right price!
As students (specially students on scholarships), money is tight and school requires tons of expensive books. Therefore, the best solution would be to check out the available book deals at the following websites:
https://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/
Don’t throw away your books or textbooks. If you know any students taking your classes just resell it to them or if you want to keep the books just rent it out (therefore, you earn some extra pocket money)!
Second: Students discount
Being a good student doesn’t just mean getting good grades, it also means getting awesome student discounts from restaurants, grocery stores and clothing stores. In the U.S. students get great discounts and special offers at a variety of stores around the U.S.
Find great deals and stores at the following websites:
· https://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/100-stores-that-give-a-student-discount/
· https://www.thesimpledollar.com/60-awesome-student-discounts-on-clothes-tech-travel-and-more/
· https://www.businessinsider.com/34-amazing-student-discounts-2014-7
Always carry around your student ID and ask if the place you are at offers student discount!
Third: The One Dollar store is your best friend!!!
Before I found my local One-dollar store I would always spend more money than I should on plastic cups, utensils and tissue paper. Since finding the Dollar store or five below whichever is available in your area, I have saved a tons of money that was later allocated to more important things than disposable plastic cups.. like FOOD!!
· https://shop.dollarstore.com/
Write a list of what you want to buy before you go or else you will end up buying more things than what you need!
Fourth: Take advantage of what your campus has to offer
Most college in the U.S. host many events around campuses.
· Take advantage of sporting events instead of registering at an expensive gym
· Attend pizza parties or college mixers for free food (while meeting nice people of course)
· Spend time studying in the library instead of at home to save on your electric bill
· Walk to campus every now and then to save on gas
· Most universities during orientation week or club registration week give away lots of freebies like pens, highlighters, pencils, notepads, key chains, water bottles, headphones, flashlights and other useful stationary, so grab a bag and go freebie shopping!
Register your email at the social events calendar to get news and updates on what’s going on around you.
Fifth: Cut costs by spending smart
You know it as much as I do, that feeling of waiting for Saudis in USA to post “the money is out” post, and you get the best text message or email of your day saying that money has been deposited in your account. You smile brightly because you know you’ll get to eat something else other than the stale bag of bread and cup of indomi in your kitchen. Well I’m here to tell you my friend that you are not the only one suffering from lack of monetary funds at the end of the month as we’ve all BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT! Therefore, you will find below a list that I’ve compiled from my experience as a poor student at the end of the month:
· Invest in a coffee maker that is small and convenient so you can take it with you later to Saudi, instead of the daily trips to Starbucks where you spend 5$ on a black, bland venti coffee.
· Learn to COOK!
· Freeze the food that you cook in small portions that can be heated right away.
· When you are looking for apartments. Look for apartments where the sun can shine through, therefore you save on lighting during the day time.
· ترى الشابورة و الجبنة رهيبين للجيب
· Buy a nice warm blanket to keep you nice and cozy during the harsh winter instead of cracking up the temperature.
· Be practical! Get a bike instead of a car or at least get a hoverboard.
Always open a saving account and save as little as 10 $ per week. That’s almost 2000$ by the time you graduate from undergrad. If you are a graduate student you need to save more than 10$, buddy!
Sixth: Lets fly, fly away but economically
If your sponsored by a Saudi institution like SACM or ARAMCO that provides you with air plane tickets then GREAT, if not then join the many who are not and who have to pocket their own tickets. Well, true to the matter is that even if you are sponsored this is still a very helpful tip. Don’t just go to the airline website to book your ticket, research and compare prices between airlines to get the best and most convenient trip for you. For example, usually when I travel from or to the U.S. I usually like to take the road less travelled by, longer trips that are cheaper but allow me to visit different airports around the world. Therefore, I get to save money and still tell people I went to Europe J
· https://www.studentuniverse.com/flights
· https://www.kayak.ae/flights
This also works for hotels too! I recommend downloading Airbnb because you might want to spend a night in an igloo
