Who doesn’t like to save money? These hacks to save money in college will help you save some money to put into what you really need.
If you are tight on tuition, or rent, or just need extra cash, check out these hacks to help you!
And let’s face it, college is the time when we are especially in need of money.
Everything costs money and you will finally experience independence- the good, the bad, and the expenses.
Adulting and independence come with spending, so learn how to budget your money and save so you don’t become too broke.
This post is all about hacks to save money in college.
Hacks to Save Money
1. Use those Free Resources!
If you don’t know already, there are a ton of free resources that you can use in college!
Search for food pantries on your campus.
Chances are, there are several free food resource areas where you can grab food from.
Printing can be free in offices and club organizations.
Usually, computer or STEM-based clubs have a meetup or spots where they have printing and 3D printing available.
There are also plenty of centers and offices on campus that are catered to students.
Go check them out and ask questions.
They are here to help you and that’s what your tuition is paying!
2. Apply for Calfresh!
If you receive an email about your qualifying for Calfresh or you don’t earn much income, then chances are you can apply for Calfresh!
Make sure to type in your county and add income limits to check if you qualify!
If you qualify you can get up to $281 (subject to change based on inflations, etc.).
That will be able to help you save on your personal expenses and worry about other costs.
Manage your money carefully on groceries.
Don’t splurge it all on what catches your eye and don’t go grocery shopping when you are hungry!
This is from personal experience in which I purchased one too many unnecessary snacks and food that I “found” to be appetizing at that time.
Go with a prepared mindset and designate a budget for how much you will be spending on that trip.
3. Meal Prep
Prepping your meals beforehand will help you save some money.
You can purchase produce, meats, and veggies that are on sale in the market.
Then using those ingredients you can plan for meals of the week.
Some items to buy when on sale:
- Beans (any kind)
- Shredded cheese
- Meats
- Veggies
- Tofu
- Eggs
You can make chili, burritos, or many different recipes with beans.
They are also very filling and healthy.
Try to purchase food items that can last long if you don’t plan on meal prepping it that week.
Also, buy items that are versatile and can be used for many dishes.
Eggs are always a great option for scrambling, stewing, boiling, cooking, or baking.
Knowing your seasoning will help you half of the way.
If you can make dishes with the flavors you enjoy, then the food items will get easier and easier!
4. Create a Mini Garden
If you have a garden club at your college, you can plant and reap the produce at the end!
What if you don’t have a garden club?
You can start your own club!
Well, if the weather and climate permit. If your university is located where you can’t garden, you can still save money.
If you need green onions, just cut the heads off and plop them in a glass of water.
They will sprout super quickly and you will have an unlimited supply of green onions!
5. Organize Your Outfits
If you wear your clothes once and throw them in the washer, shame on you!
Save the environment and your pockets by wearing your shirts and pants twice or more.
You can also separate your outfits and pair them with different bottoms or tops.
If you sweat, then that’s a different issue. Go throw it in your laundry!
Otherwise, you can wear your clothes multiple times.
A tip is to change your outerwear more often.
Instead of wearing the same sweater all the time, switch it up to a different sweater, cardigan, or pullover.
Most people don’t notice what you wore the previous day unless it was super eye-catching and colorful.
Another hack is to wear different outfits on the same class days and the same outfits on different class days.
This means if you have the same class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, wear a different outfit.
But if you have another class that is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you can wear the same outfit you wore on Tuesday to one of these days.
This way you can wear the same outfit to different classes that may be back to back in a week.
6. Plan Your Grocery Trips In Advance
Instead of going to the grocery market multiple times a week, aim to go only once per week.
Create a list throughout the week of what you may need to restock or buy.
Then on the day of your trip, grab everything so you save yourself some gas (because we all know how much gas is these days).
If your suitemates and you have cars, you can always carpool.
Go on grocery runs together and alternate between cars to save even more on gas.
Try to plan a trip to large markets where they have other stores nearby.
This way you can purchase your daily necessities, supplies, and other things you might need all in one place.
Interested in more posts like this? Check out 25 Best High School Sophomore Hacks.
7. Make Your Own Coffee/Drinks
If you like buying a cup of Starbucks or drink in the morning or day, you can be saving yourself some money by making your own drink!
Just type in your favorite Starbucks or any drink into Google and add a copycat recipe or how to make it.
Then wait for the results to load, and pick the recipe with the most stars.
Tweak the recipe how you like it and save yourself some extra bucks!
If you are in a hurry, make it the night before and in the morning add any whip cream or syrup to your coffee.
For hot drinks, you can brew them beforehand, chill them overnight, and reheat them in the morning.
Transfer your drink to a thermos to keep it extra hot.
8. Go to Club/Organizations
If you see tents or clubs opened up and recruiting students, check them out!
There are always free events, free food, and fun so don’t be afraid to join.
Many colleges and universities have a ton of organizations, so if you need to save some money on food, go check out some clubs.
You can even jot down the dates of each event and attend on the days when you need some food.
It’s also a great place to meet new people and friends!
There are usually raffles or activities where you can win prizes too so check it out.
If you are unsure of what clubs to go to, you can always look up clubs in your college.
There should be a list of clubs and organizations registered at your college/university.
Then jot down the ones you are interested in, the dates/time they are held, and follow their social media.
Oftentimes, their events and socials are held and notified online so make sure you subscribe to their email list to get notified.
9. Buy in Bulk
Usually buying in bulk can save you more money.
If you are deciding between a small bottle of laundry detergent or a large gallon that is on sale, go for the larger option.
For items that you use often like:
- Shampoos
- Conditioners
- Laundry detergent
- Spreads
- Condiments
- School supplies
- Tissues
- Water
You can always buy the bulk option if it is cheaper.
Keep these bulk supplies in a designated cabinet or corner where you will be able to access them easily.
This way you can get into the habit of checking if you have something and not buy duplicates of it at the market.
10. Use the Library
If you ever need any extra paper, pens, or workspace, go to the library.
There are always stacks of scratch paper or school supplies that the librarian will either let you use or borrow.
Make use of those resources.
Instead of purchasing a calculator for math, you can borrow one from the library.
On testing days, you can also leave your student ID or verification with the library and lend a calculator.
The library has helped me save tons of money on textbooks and supplies.
I have checked out a calculator for math and used it a few times in a quarter.
If I went out and purchased one, it would have been at least $80.
And I would have only used it a couple of times.
If you really, really need to buy supplies or calculators, check out hack #14 to save money!
11. Recycle Your Bottles
You can earn some money by collecting your cans and bottles.
Even though it’s not a lot, you can still recycle your bottles and any of your roommates’ bottles to earn a couple of bucks.
Have a recycling bin or system so it would be easy to collect and organize when you need to go sell it.
These hacks to save money may be minuscule, but adding multiple of these tips together will result in a large impact!
Interested in more posts like hacks to save money in college? Check out 17+ Jaw-Dropping Life Hacks for Students.
12. Refill Your Water at Water Stations
If you notice that you drink a lot of water and it’s placing a dent in your pocket, get a reusable bottle and refill it at water stations.
There are usually a bunch of these located across college campuses, by restrooms, and inside dining halls.
Refill your water at water stations to save money.
This not only helps the environment by reusing your bottle but also keeps you active.
If you don’t like moving around and sticking in a place for long periods, try to set some goals.
Each time you finish your water, go locate or find a new water station so you can keep yourself active.
13. Required Readings
Some professors require you to purchase required textbooks or readings for a class.
However, you don’t need to always purchase it.
You can go online first and look for free pdf versions.
There are also readings that you can borrow or check out from the library.
If you can’t find books from those areas, you can also check Facebook Marketplace or your university’s group chat.
There are always upperclassmen and alumni selling their textbooks, books, or required materials from previous classes.
It’s usually at a more discounted price too!
14. Use Mercari
So before I discovered Mercari, I did not know that calculators and iclickers can be brought at such low prices!
Yes, I got my iclicker and Ti-BA II Plus calculator for finance class on Mercari for a fraction of the price of what I would have purchased new!
Most items were in great condition, included shipping, and were super cheap!
I recommend checking the seller’s information or reviews for extra protection even though the app has protection for you too.
If you ever need to buy school-related items, I think Mercari is an awesome place to save a ton of money.
You can also check out other marketplaces, but make sure that they are safe and have rules that protect the buyer before purchasing.
15. Free T-shirts
Looking for shirts to wear or just to add to your collection of sleepwear?
Well, well, well clubs and offices are your best friend.
During the start of the school year or around the beginning of every quarter/semester, there are a ton of organizations and clubs set up.
They usually hand out free t-shirts if you join, follow them on social media, or do something.
I have gotten shirts from offices where they ask you to go check them out.
Some places on campus may be the career center, sports club, advising office, study abroad office, or front desk.
I have enough t-shirts to fill three chests of drawers and they were all from clubs, organizations, and classes!
Don’t be afraid to check out different resource centers because they are super welcoming and want you to check them out!
Implement these hacks to save money in college and within a month or two, you will notice a huge difference!
You don’t have to try them out all at once, but you can ease into it by following a few tips each time.
This post was all about hacks to save money in college.
