10 TIPS TO HELP STUDENTS SAVE MONEY BY LIA MURRAY-DRIVER

PLAN YOUR SAVINGS It is important for students to plan their savings so that they can still afford to do other things as well as paying for their education, living quarters or anything else they need to pay for. Some ways to do this is to budget your savings and when buying things ask yourself, do I NEED this or do I WANT this. Some things such as your phone bill can build up quite a bill, so you need to be aware of the things you really need instead what you want.

SELL YOUR OLD THINGS A great way to get a little extra pocket money is to sell any old stuff that you don’t want anymore. Things like clothes, sports gear and furniture can help put some more money in your account. There are lots of auctioning websites that can help you get the most amount of money for your things as possible or a simple ad on social media could suffice.

CELL PHONES Using your cellular device to help get a great credit is a very good idea and applying for wireless service is the first time for many young people to receive credit. This can one of the first steps to a good credit score, increasing the ability of getting loans and increasing the likelihood of getting mortgages.

DISCOUNTS Being a student gives you the opportunity to have discounts on almost anything you buy. Some places will take off as much as 15% for your purchase. So don’t be afraid to flash that card wherever you go, because it could count for some extra money in your account.

COMPARISON SITES When you are looking to buy something you can use comparison sites to help save money. Comparison sites take the item you are looking to buy and compares the price of it in each store or online website it is sold in, so you will always get the best price.

CUT DOWN ON SHOPPING It is something that we all love to do-get new things! But when you are on a tight budget it is important to only buy the things you really need, but do allow yourself to go on a few shopping sprees now and then!

WORK WHERE YOU SHOP Employees are often granted a discount in the store they work in, so if you need to buy things, shop in your own store to save money!

PACKED LUNCHES A good way to help save money and also a good way to stay healthy is to bring a packed lunch to your University. Always buying food from the cafeteria can amount to quite a large cost so bring a home-packed lunch can help. Also it’s a good way to help maintain healthy eating habits.

CUT YOUR BILLS Always ensure that you have turned off the lights and other electric items in your home before you leave so that you can have a low electricity bill. Also if you are watching how often you heat your house and the amount of hot water you use it can help cut down on expense's.

SWAP YOUR STUFF Instead of buying new things, you could look for used things! Virtually new things are sold all time for a price much less than brand new. You can find many things up for good prices such as textbooks, bikes, sofas or really anything else.