Ways to Save Money While in College

One area many college kids spend too much money is on cars. There are ways to save on gas and other expenses with a car. First of all don't bring a car to college unless you really need it, for work, to go home, internships, etc. If you don't have a car, it will be alright. Some schools offer buses for free that take you to many places in town, and if your school doesn't offer that you can usually ride along with others. Now, if you are one of those people who has to have a car for a certain reason, you need to limit your driving only when necessary and make your trips useful. For example if you have to drive by the grocery store on the way to work, go to the store after work so you don't have to take a separate trip later. Many large grocery stores with gas stations offer discounts when you spend a certain amount in that store. Take advantage of those opportunities.

Another thing you can do as a college student is use coupons. You can find them in the newspapers or online. These coupons can be used for food, personal items and even clothes. When buying shampoo, body wash, hair styling products and make-up you can often buy these with coupons and save a few dollars each time. When buying clothes you can look online for discounts and free shipping. This is a great way to save money, all it requires is a little bit of work.

Borrow instead of buying. This rule can apply for shoes, clothes, and accessories. Do you need a pair of shoes for the night or that right pair of earrings for that one occasion? Find a friend or someone that will let you borrow them for the evening and you won't have to shell out the cash for new items each time. Just remember that when borrowing these things aren't yours and you should take good care of them. Also be willing to let others borrow your things.

If you do need to buy clothes to wear often or just want to go shopping don't pay full price. Make sure you're looking at the clearance racks in stores. Don't be afraid to buy used clothing either. Plato's Closet is a store that will buy gently used clothes from people and resell them. At stores like these you can find fashionable, used clothing for a good price.

Food is a big place where students waste the majority of their money. Most schools require a meal plan and you need to take advantage of that. You pay for it so why not use it. This may mean saying no to going out to eat but in the end you'll be happy. If you know you like to go out a lot and don't need to eat at school a lot, get a smaller meal plan for less money.

Many college girls like to get their nails done, hair cut and colored or waxes. You can often find a person on campus that is skilled in this and offers these services for a low price. If you don't feel comfortable with this you can go to a cosmetology school nearby where the students need to practice and will offer these services for free or a very low price.

These are just a few ways I found helpful in saving money while in college. Remember to always think about the money you spend and if you really need to be buying this item.