As a student, it is important to be smart about how you spend money. Living an extravagant life is everyone’s dream, but you are already on a tight budget, so it’s better to make the most of it.
With tuition fees, textbooks, and other school-related costs, you are already spending thousands a year. Cutting down on those unnecessary costs would help in the long run.
Financial liberty doesn’t start outside school; it starts in college and is enhanced or impeded by your decisions at this stage. If you don’t want to graduate university with a string of debts, then there are several simple ways by which you can save money—and still live comfortably.
Make A Budget
We get it. That feeling when your account has just been credited, and you have that little voice in your head telling you to live a little. Everyone has been there. But guess what? That’s the wrong path to take.
That moment when you hear that little voice, that’s a perfect time, so sit down and make a budget.
Plan how much money goes into what; the exact amount you need for groceries, textbooks, rent, and other bills, just plan.
When you make a budget, it is easier to restrict yourself to only the necessary stuff. Your essential bills will be sorted, and you will know the amount of money you have left to spend on other expenses.
Swap And Sell
This goes for everything you can think of. From furniture to school supplies, everything! Thankfully, swapping is like the new craze amongst students, so it shouldn’t take you too much time to find someone willing to part with that thing you need in exchange for what you can offer.
Especially for textbooks. At the beginning of the semester, your textbook list can probably run-up to a huge cost. It might seem very daunting at first, but soon, you’d realize that some books on the list are not an absolute necessity. Nip them out.
For the important ones, find someone —probably a senior, who has used those books before and is willing to sell for a lower price.
Get A Side Job
If your program allows you enough free time on weekends or certain days of the week, this is a sure means of earning money.
Students use weekends to catch up on homework or write a few school projects, but if you’re in dire need of money, you can employ a personal statement writing service for university. These platforms were built to offer students help with assignments, essay writing, and other related stuff.
With the availability of these platforms, you can afford to go out there and put in a few hours of work in exchange for cash. This would provide you an extra source of income.
Cook For Yourself
It’s okay to splurge in a fine restaurant once in a while, but don’t make this a habit if you’re looking for how to save money. We all know that eating out is the most expensive thing ever. Cooking for yourself just saves you a whole lot of money and stress. You can also cook ahead of time to avoid splurging on take-outs due to hunger.
To make it even better, you can cook with your housemates. This saves even more money because you pool together ingredients, and you don’t use up as much compared to cooking alone.
Don’t Buy A Car
A car is a liability, no matter how beautiful it is. What does this mean? It means it is a bad investment if you’re looking to save money as a student. When you buy a car, you have to think of fuel costs, regular maintenance, insurance fees, and other out-of-the-blues costs that come with owning one. It’s tempting to get one, but when you think about it, there are several reasons not to.
Go for cheaper means of transportation like biking, cycling, or even skating. You’d be saving not only money but the environment at the same time. That’s a great deal.
No Pets
If there is anything worse than getting a car as a student, it is getting a pet. Don’t do it for no reason. It might be a buzz-kill, but in the long run, you’d be glad you didn’t.
Pets are cute but super expensive, more than you think. Think about their feeding costs, grooming, treatments, and the time you’d have to spend taking care of them. You really can’t afford one right now.
Conclusion
Education on its own is expensive, with tuition fees, textbooks, and other school-related expenses. Now when you take out feeding, housing, and additional equally important costs, you might not have much money left. That is why it is important to save, no matter how small.