College students probably complain about money more than any other age group. During the times of minimum wage jobs and internships without pay, it’s not uncommon for one to look at their bank account and find out that only $0.42 is left. It’s happened to us all. When I got my first job this year, my parents decided they’d give me the privilege of ‘maturing,’ and stopped giving me allowances. So, here are my top 5 tips for saving money when you’re living paycheck to paycheck.
1. Utilize your meal plan
Even though I live in my sorority house, and all meals are completely paid for, I still find myself spending most of my money on food. I have serious food FOMO–the downfalls of being a foodie. Even though it’s easy to just go to Panera when I’m not feeling taco night, I’ve had to learn to find alternatives. Like…salad.
2. If you have to shop, look for deals
One of my biggest weaknesses is that I’m a raging shopaholic. Like, it’s so bad that I have a suitcase in my car of clothes I couldn’t fit in my closet this year. Even though this flaw is all my mom’s fault, I’ve had to learn to cut back since moving to Columbia, away from all of my favorite malls back home. If you suffer from problems similar to mine, I suggest making a separate email account and signing up online with all of your favorite stores, so you know when they’ll be having sales. If you have to shop, at least do it at a discount.
3. It’s all about the drink specials, and planning ahead
I cannot stress this one enough. Even though your friends might be begging to go to that bar that has a $10 cover, it’s up to you to convince them that the place with $1 double wells will be just as good. I suggest deciding what day you’re going out and looking up what places have deals that day. Then you can estimate how much you’ll be spending and start saving early on in the week.
4. Name-brands are not your friend
I can be sort of a snob when it comes to buying off-brand products. When it’s related to things like makeup, I tend to stick to what I like, which can tend to get expensive. (Like with my Kylie lip kit. It was a must-have). So, I’ve realized I have to start buying the cheaper versions of beauty products. My oil pads are a necessity, so I’ve had to settle for buying the Walgreens brand instead of the Clean & Clear version. Sacrifices.
5. When in doubt, begging works too
Sorry for all of the ‘emergencies’ I’ve had to use my credit card for this year, mom.
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