Tips to Saving Money while in College - Money Tip Tuesday

Paying for college is expensive, from tuition to housing to room and board. On top of all that, there are other things you are going to need to buy plus you will want to have some money to have fun. Here are some tips to save money while in college.

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• Check out the education discount for Apple products
• Learn more about Spotify student discount offers
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Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 

Food is one thing that you should be thinking about when it comes to saving money. While at college, you’re definitely going to want to skip the cafeteria and either go out to eat or make your own food at some point. If you plan on making your own food, you’re going to have to go grocery shopping. Before going grocery shopping, make a list of everything you need, and stick with the list. If you go into the grocery store without a plan, you’ll probably leave with more food than you really need. Try to stick to your list and don’t overspend.  

When buying food, look to see if the grocery store has any deals going on. There’s usually tons of options for the same item, so find the best price for what you want. Usually store brand foods are cheaper than name brand. 

Always check the expiration date. If you don’t think you can finish it before then, find one with a later date. Throwing out expired food is like throwing out money.  

Another way to save money at college is to go thrift shopping. Thrifting is a great way to find name brand clothing for a cheap price. You can also find movies, games, dishes, furniture, and even textbooks at a thrift store, all for a lower price than if you bought them new.  

You can also save money on gas by carpooling with friends. This will definitely save you a lot of money if you don’t have a car, because now you don’t have to buy one and its cheaper than hiring an Uber every time you need to go out. Instead plan a day with your friends when you can all go shopping together. It’s gas efficient and fun! 

Utilize your student discount. A lot of places offer a student discount, and it can save you a lot of money in the long run. Big name brands like Apple will offer a discounted price on computers. Spotify premium offers a student discount that includes Hulu and Showtime. Anything from seeing a movie to buying clothing, you may be able to get a discount on if you ask and show your student ID. 

If there are any other tips or topics you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org and don't forget to like and follow our Making Money Personal Facebook and Instagram pages and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn to share your thoughts.  

Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  

Have a great day!