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As a student, you need to have a very specific set of skills. You must learn to write a 20-page paper in under 24 hours, avoid adequate sleep for as long as possible, and convince your professors that you have never missed a single class. You also often have to adapt to surviving off of nothing but frozen meals and ramen noodles, struggling to live on the little (if any) income that you have.
But it doesn't have to be this way. You don't need to live a lifestyle controlled by how little money you have - you just need to live cheaply and smartly. These money-saving tips can put any broke college student on the path to surviving off of as little money as possible, while still being able to save for the future - and having a good time while doing it.
Saving money by buying stuff secondhand doesn't mean you have to sacrifice having nice things. Not only are there often designer pieces hiding in the depths of the clothing racks, but there are a lot of other things you can find at a thrift store besides clothes. It's a great place to pick up glassware, utensils, books, audio equipment, furniture, and kitchen equipment like coffee machines and blenders. You may not be able to buy everything you need at a secondhand store, but you can find a lot more than you might think.
Ugly food is usually still good food, even if vendors don't want to put it out on the sale display. It's worth asking the folks at your local farmer's market if there is any bruised or "ugly" produce that you can have for free, and some supermarkets may even have a discounted section for their less-tempting stock items.
When stores have grand openings, they tend to offer special discounts in order to entice new customers. It's a great idea to take advantage of these early sales, but it's also important to show up for sudden closing sales where "everything must go." These discounts are often so steep that they are practically giving their stock away, so it is a great chance to grab some necessities.
College students may be burdened with part-time jobs, insane tuition costs, and the stress of living on their own, but they do have one thing no one else has: student discounts. So, take advantage of that student ID and ask about student discounts literally any time you buy anything. Seriously, you may be surprised by just how many places offer reduced prices, but you often have to ask.
Wholesale clubs like Costco are the ultimate destination for buying all your necessities in bulk, but it is also the mecca of food samples. Yes, getting a membership costs money, but you know what's free? Telling the workers at the front that your mom is already inside. Once you're in, you can sample every morsel they have to offer until your belly is full.
Textbooks are so crazy expensive that it's downright criminal: you pay hundreds of dollars for one at the college bookstore at the beginning of the semester, and when you try to sell it back in mint-condition, you're lucky if you get a few bucks back. It's definitely worth the extra effort to track down e-books or used editions on eBay, because those savings can seriously add up.
