5 All-New Ways To Rock A Student Budget | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

5 All-New Ways To Rock A Student Budget

Make a grocery list? Tell me something I don't know.

10
5 All-New Ways To Rock A Student Budget
The Odyssey Online

We all know about waving your student ID to get a discount (#ThankYouSushiQ) or using a .edu email for free Amazon Prime, but what don't you know about balling on a budget? Summer is a great time to work hard and save money for the long months ahead spent hibernating in the library or splurging on pizza because you're too lazy to cook or wash your dishes (I'm guilty). So here are a few ways to save your hard earned cash and still have the summer of a lifetime.

1. Unsubscribe From Services

Do you really need Hulu and Netflix and that really yummy monthly snack box? The hard answer? No. Subscription services that automatically take money from your account are wallet killers. Because you may never even see the money before it gets debited from your account or you can't remember what your credit card bill looked like with out those charges. It's time to cut the cord. Try unsubscribing from one unnecessary service a month and you'll be amazed at how much that extra $10-$15 adds up!

2. Save Your Extra $$$$

The key here is that you don't spend that $10-$15 on other unnecessary things. Open a savings account at your local bank and start by depositing small amounts whenever you get paid. Waiting to start saving until you have a large amount to deposit is a bad idea-you'll probably never reach that large amount because you'll spend the cash on immediate gratification. Getting in the habit of saving $40 every two weeks is much more sustainable than depositing $100 every now and again. At the end of the summer, you'll be guaranteed to have $240 in your account! And watching your savings grow will motivate you to save more and develop better spending habits.

3. Carry Cash

I got in so much trouble when I got my first debit card. Thank goodness it wasn't a credit card because my 14-year-old self was swiping that thing left and right. A movie ticket here, a meal at Olive Garden there, some new shoes...I had no idea how much money I was spending, because all I had to do was hand my card across the counter. And then I had $4 dollars in my bank account and I needed to make a change. So I withdrew $20 from the ATM, left my card at home and went out with my friends. And I spent so much less! The feeling of handing over cash and seeing my wallet get emptier and emptier made me really think about what I was buying instead of just blindly swiping for another lipstick I didn't really need.

4. Host Nights In

Are you spending money to avoid FOMO? Have your friends over for a movie night to avoid going out to expensive restaurants or activities. You'll also be forced to clean your apartment/dorm room (I need this kind of incentive-I'm lazy). Hosting a game night or a girls-night-in with the "Lizzy McGuire" movie is a great alternative to throwing a full blown party and gives you an excuse to wear your sweatpants on a Saturday night. But if you can't see yourself hosting or you're a dedicated club hopper, be honest with your group about your budget! It's likely that other people are feeling pinched as well and would be open to trying less expensive options for a great night out.

5. Make Money On The Side

Did you know that you can earn money from watching videos on the Internet? I'm serious! Companies like this one will reward you with points for taking brand surveys or watching sponsored videos. You can then redeem those points for gift cards to your favorite stores (like Starbucks or Amazon). Are you addicted to online shopping? Did you know that you can earn cashback from a huge variety of online retailers? When you shop through sites like this one you can earn a percentage back of whatever you spend (Sephora offers 4 percent). It's almost too good to be true! But do your research, if a site seems sketchy, it probably is. Stick with sites that have a lot of positive reviews or that offer customer service contact info-with people you can actually talk to. Happy shopping!

Are you an experienced money manager? What are your best tips for saving while still having fun? Let us know in the comments!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188147
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13621
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456897
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26048
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments