College is a difficult time for students and their parents. There are numerous expenses that come with the territory of being a college student, from tuition to textbooks to rent. It’s important for students to learn how to budget properly. There are some resources available on campus not only to make a college education more affordable but also cost-effective.
Using discounts wisely can help reduce all these costs and make the college experience more manageable. Below are some of the best ways you can take advantage of discounts offered by your school or through other sources, such as local businesses and online stores. These discounts might seem small at first glance but add up considerably over time.
Tech Discounts
One of the most obvious and helpful discounts available to college students is a tech discount. These discounts are offered by companies such as Best Buy, Apple, and Amazon, among others. Some of these discounts are exclusive to students, while others are available to anyone with a valid student ID card. Regardless of the nature of these discounts, they can help you save considerable amounts of money on laptops and other tech products over time.
Also, most laptops cost at least several hundred dollars, but with a student discount, they can be found for far less. Additionally, students also have access to education pricing on accessories like printers and software.
Student Travel Discounts
Another discount that college students can depend upon is the student travel discount. Depending on your university, you might be a general student discount at the hotel or airline of your choice. Additionally, some airlines offer discounted fares for students with an Airline Pilot Student ID card.
There are also special deals offered to military personnel as well as their dependents and spouses. These deals can have some great benefits, such as waived fees, free baggage, and other discounts on meal plans and even flight tickets.
Food and Shopping
One of the biggest challenges for many college students is food and grocery shopping. With all the other necessary expenses that college adds to your budget, it’s very difficult to make ends meet on campus. However, with coupons and discounts from grocery stores like Safeway and even discount movie tickets, you can do a lot of your grocery shopping on campus.
Additionally, there are some great deals available online through sites like Groupon or LivingSocial. These deals can be found by searching for “college student discounts” or “student coupons.” You might find you get a better deal on groceries by shopping off-campus. If you have these discounts, you might be able to save enough money to stay on campus without breaking your budget.
Accommodation
Another significant way to take advantage of being a student is to find affordable accommodation. You might find a good apartment building that offers discounts for students on accommodation. You can quickly find Auburn student apartments that offer cozy and comfortable living spaces for students at an affordable cost.
Cheap Entertainment
The best option for entertainment with a college student budget is to check out the local entertainment options in your area. There are many events held at various school campuses throughout the year that are free or very inexpensive. Some options include the PHSD Concert Band, the TMS Concert Band, or their Jazz Band, among others. If you are looking for more lively entertainment, you can check out great concerts and other events held at nearby venues. These can be Falconer’s Crossing Vineyards and The Roxy Theatre.
Additionally, there is a wealth of music and theater available on campus throughout the year. Among these are choral concerts, drama productions, and musical performances by numerous groups on campus.
Shop Local
Another great way to save money is to shop around your local community for clothing and other necessities. There are a few stores run by area colleges that offer great discounts for students with a valid student ID card. For example, the San Diego State University Student Discounts website lists more than 60 locations. Among these locations, you can find great discounts on clothing, athletic apparel, groceries, and even electronics like video games and laptops.
Student discounts can help make college less expensive over time. In this case, it’s important to make sure you aren’t taking advantage of any loopholes, however innocent they may seem. Above all, the best advice for students would be to avoid the temptation to buy a lot of things. These are especially things that are not necessary for college life, even if they are at a discount price.
