5 Ways To Save Up Money In College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Adulting

5 Ways To Save Up Money In College

Don't flinch every time you check your balance

32
5 Ways To Save Up Money In College

We all know the struggle of trying to save money in college. It seems like one minute you have plenty of money and the next it is completely gone and you still have five more days until pay day. From student loans, to paying for food, to medical expenses, the list of necessities goes on and on, but with some of these tips, you can help make living paycheck to paycheck not so horrible.

1. Set A Limit at for Groceries Each Week

Grocery shopping is always a hassle, but even more so when you know you don't have a ton of money. Each week, set a budget for how much you can afford to spend and make sure to stick to it, Go into the store with a list and your recipies written out so you aren't tempted to impulse buy things you do not need. If one week you are really struggling, remember veggie burrito bowls and spaghetti are always cheap and not horrifically unhealthy meals to have on hand.

2. Make Your Coffee At Home

As a barista, I see how much people spend on coffee each week and its horrific. A simple drink can cost you about $4 each time you walk into a coffee shop. Right now, cold brew and french presses are all the rage and you can buy the the kits for around $20 on amazon. Spending $13 for coffee grounds will save you so much money and will help you get through long days without bursting your budget.

3. BUY SECOND HAND

No it is not embarrassing. If you don't think something looks up to your standards, then don't buy it. If you need new jeans, you can get almost five pair for the price of one pair at your local mall. no one will know where it came from and you can have a new closet for summer without feeling guilty for only wearing that dress once.

4. Schedule Hangouts That Don't Include Spending Money

We often schedule lunch or coffee dates before we even see how much money id in our bank account, and if drinking is involved say bye bye to your pay check. Instead, try scheduling a walk, a movie night in, or a homemade picnic. You can spend just as much quality time together and not stress about if you have enough to tip the waiter 20%.

5. Put 15% to 20% of Each Paycheck in Savings

This is something I have just started doing. Instead of having my whole paycheck be disposable, I set up 20% of it to go straight into savings so I do not even get tempted to spend it. This way in case of emergency, I know I have enough money to cover it.

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

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14645
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
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
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.

2938
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
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.

1764
black marker on notebook

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

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments