College is hard, and it's often your first experience living on your own. I realized that my mom wasn't going to be the one replacing the empty toilet paper stand--my bank account was. Not to mention the disinfectants, paper towels, snacks, and more. Living on your own is a costly thing and a valuable experience in the long-run. Once you realize that everything you purchase isn't at the cost of your parent's limitless wallet, you learn how to live on a budget. Here are just a few tips I follow on how to save up some money:
1. Live like you have a penny to your name.
Now, you might think I sound crazy. However, this has been very successful for me. Living like you have no money forces you to stop spending money on unnecessary things.
2. Take all the "free" you can get.
If there's one thing I learned from college it's that there are so many free giveaways all the time. Many different organizations partner with colleges to hand out free samples and food weekly. Keep up to date on your emails or bulletin boards posted around the school for updates on when free food and giveaways are coming your way.
3. Buy the knock-off version.
It may not have occurred to you before now that knock-off brands can be just as good as the big guys. If you can, try to buy the marked-down version of your daily products. Your wallet will thank you.
4. If you have a job, set aside seventy-percent of your check.
If you are working a job while working towards your degree, it's time for you to start saving. I like to live by the 70-30 rule. It's something I've come up with when I took on my first job at sixteen years-old. You put seventy-percent of your check into your savings. That remaining thirty-percent is your spending money that you should try not to exceed.
5. Set a realistic goal for your savings.
Too often, you will hear someone say that they're going to save up a thousand dollars in x amount of time. By the end of said time, they most likely have not reached their goal and are really disappointed. Your goal should be well over attainable for the time frame you set yourself. So that way you not only reach your goal, but exceed it and feel really proud of yourself. Make sure that you also account the 70-30 rule into your calculations.
6. It's okay to indulge, but don't overdo it.
You will often come across opportunities to go out and spend your money with friends. I am not suggesting you turn every one of these opportunities down, but rather, pick wisely when and how you choose to spend your money. Limiting the amount of splurging you do will better help your bank account work towards your savings in the long run.
Do your best to adapt to living like such and saving money will be a piece of cake. Learning the true value of money and how to spend it wisely is an important life skill.
