Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Lifestyle

5 Ways To Shop as a Broke College Student

It’s a big rush when you find deals as a college student

Sophia Pizzola

Jan 29, 2017

Nazareth College

5 Ways To Shop as a Broke College Student

BabaImage

I’m just as broke, if not more than, the next college student. But through my first semester and even through high school I learned a couple ways to shop smart and find deals that bring prices down to the range I can afford. I am your typically 19 year old, so I have wants and needs. I need food for my dorm room, but I also want a new sweater from American Eagle. Here are some of the ways you can find some awesome deals.

1. Make a new email

One way to help you find deals is to make a new email account. If you already receive promotional emails from websites to one account, make a new one that is specifically for your professional and school life. If you don’t receive any promotional emails, make a new one and give it to stores for coupons and the latest deals

2. Sign up for rewards

Another way to get deals to sign up for rewards at different stores such as Sephora, Ulta, or American Eagle. At some stores, if you use the rewards enough you can get free stuff or a coupon. Also at most stores, if you sign up for rewards you will get something for your birthday (either a free gift or a birthday coupon). One of my favorite deals is at American Eagle/Aerie where if you buy 5 bras/pairs of jeans in a three-month reward period, get one free! And it does not matter if these bras/jeans are on sale or not.

3. Patience is a Virtue

Finding sales is hard as it is, but finding things that you want can be even more tiring. But it takes time and patients to either rummage through the sales rack, or scroll through the website. However, you will be rewarded. There are always hidden gems in the sales if you know where to look !

4. Groupon is your friend

Groupon is a great way to find deals in cities and towns across the country. From traveling to spa days, Groupon finds you the best deals. This is a great way to save money to treat yourself.

5. Know when the seasons change

No, I’m not talking the actual season. I’m talking about the fashion seasons. These changes happen about halfway through the real seasons and that is when you will find the best/newest things on sale. You can buy a cozy sweater for half-off in the middle of January (like excuse me, it’s still freaking cold outside). If you can wait even longer, you can wait for things to go on super sale about halfway through the next season, but everything good might be gone(even worse, your size!).

Report this Content

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

Student Life

Things I Am Actually Going To Do This Semester

Or at least try to do.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

1515

CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less

new year

Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

Southwestern University

1931

woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch

Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

library

Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

Michigan State University

1217

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Student Life

Top 20 Thoughts College Students Have During Finals

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

University of Vermont

367

Thanksgiving break is over and Christmas is just around the corner and that means, for most college students, one hellish thing — finals week. It's the one time of year in which the library becomes over populated and mental breakdowns are most frequent. There is no way to avoid it or a cure for the pain that it brings. All we can do is hunker down with our books, order some Dominos, and pray that it will all be over soon. Luckily, we are not alone in this suffering. To prove it, here are just a few of the many deranged thoughts that go through a college student's mind during finals week.

Keep Reading...Show less

finals

Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

Kennesaw State University

1786

group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.