Hi Fashionistas!
This is a post that I have been wanting to do for a very long time, especially for my new to college readers!
After high school, everyone says that you have now entered the “college life” and that these will be the best four years of your life! I quickly realized that they were right, college years are the best years of your life! You have the opportunity to pursue your passion, make lifelong friends, gain new experiences, and create lasting memories. However, all that comes with a PRICE and no, I do not mean stress, tears, and sleepless nights, I mean actual money! Doing everything you want to do on a college budget is one of the hardest tasks when you enter the college. You will be forced to stretch a dollar to the maximum due to the endless tuition bills, books, and cost of living. However, I have provided a few tips that can help you save and make money during your years in college!
This is a post that I have been wanting to do for a very long time, especially for my new to college readers!
After high school, everyone says that you have now entered the “college life” and that these will be the best four years of your life! I quickly realized that they were right, college years are the best years of your life! You have the opportunity to pursue your passion, make lifelong friends, gain new experiences, and create lasting memories. However, all that comes with a PRICE and no, I do not mean stress, tears, and sleepless nights, I mean actual money! Doing everything you want to do on a college budget is one of the hardest tasks when you enter the college. You will be forced to stretch a dollar to the maximum due to the endless tuition bills, books, and cost of living. However, I have provided a few tips that can help you save and make money during your years in college!
Sell Your Books!
This is the
easiest way to make back the money you spent on your books! Textbooks are expensive
and sometimes you don’t even need the books for more than one assignment (which
is super frustrating). It can be
tempting to throw them away or stash them far inside your closet after the
semester ends. However, you should sell them! You can get 80-90% of what you
paid. Students are usually willing to buy a slightly used textbook from a
student for $80 instead of buying one from the bookstore for $100.
Buy Your Books, Smart!
If you can,
avoid the bookstores! Don’t procrastinate and as soon as the textbook lists are
posted, go online and search! I use the following websites to find my textbooks
for 50-60% less than the retail value. You can buy them or save even more by
renting!
Buy:
abebooks.com
Rent/Buy:
Amazon.com or Chegg.com
Ebates!
It is a cash
back website with absolutely no hidden fees or gimmicks! Ebates is free to join and use. When you sign up, you'll find
the latest deals, coupons, promotions, and a specific cash back percentage for
each store. These stores include Nordstrom, Sephora, American Eagle, Target,
Amazon, Groupon, and the list goes on and on. Just search the store's website
through the Ebates.com, shop as you normally would and when you buy something,
you will earn cash back in your Ebates account!
Ebates accumulates
your cash back money and sends you a check every three months. I always go
through Ebates before buying anything! During the holiday season, I received a
$60 check from them in the mail!
Campus Jobs!
Campus jobs are
the easiest and most convenient jobs to get. They understand that you are in
school and give you hours based on your schedule. There are so many jobs where
you can even study or do homework while working, such as a desk attendant at
the libraries or dorms!
Happy Hours!
College towns
have some of the best (yet expensive) restaurants! If you and your friends are
on a budget but want to try out the great food, go during happy hour! Restaurants
offer the same quality food for reduced prices. This way you can get the most
bang for your buck!
Fashionista On A Budget!
If you follow my
blog, you know that I am obsessed with Marshalls! In my outfit posts, I wear at
least one or two things from Marshalls or their sister store, TJ Maxx. They
stock the latest trends and great brands for amazing prices compared to the
department stores. The quality is
usually great and the clothing is not crazily massed produced like stores like
Forever 21, so you are bound to stand out!
Student Discounts!
There are
numerous restaurants and stores that provide a student discount. You may have
to ask your favorite store as the discount is not always advertised to the
community. Search on Google frequently.
Speak to Your Financial Aid!
Do not wait for
scholarships to come to you, look for them! When scholarships are publicly
advertised in your school, the whole student body receives the email and you
have competition. Ask your financial advisor to let you know about private and
public scholarships as soon as they are released! There is so much money year
after year that is left untouched!
I hope these
tips will come in handy during your college years! Make sure you study hard so
you can play hard! Education is priceless!
I hope you find some of these tips useful!
No comments:
Post a Comment